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For travelers who don’t mind flying budget airlines to save some money, there’s a new best airline in town.
America has a plethora of budget airline options, making it difficult to know which is the best choice for you.
But now it’s official: Allegiant has been named North America’s Best Low-Cost Airline of 2024 by Skytrax.
Here’s what you need to know:
Is Allegiant the Right Choice for You?
Allegiant offers an affordable and reliable travel experience, flying from 117 airports across the United States.
It’s the 9e the largest airline in the US, but does not currently fly non-stop outside the United States, so this should only be your choice if you want to fly domestically.
There are many reasons why Allegiant was named North America’s best low-cost airline: friendly staff, reliable service and high customer satisfaction.
But let’s be honest: the main reason why an airline is named Best Low-Cost Airline is because it’s cheap! And there’s nothing I love more than cheap airline tickets.
So let’s take a look at how affordable Allegiant flights can really be.
How cheap can Allegiant flights really be?
When I’m not traveling, looking for cheap flights is one of my favorite hobbies. So I turned my attention to Allegiant.
I looked at what flights the airline still had available for travelers this summer and rounded up some of the cheapest deals.
Doing the hard work so you don’t have to!
- If you fancy a long weekend away, you can fly away Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) for a break from Friday to Monday. This flight departs on Friday, August 2 at 9:31 PM and returns at 7:30 AM on Monday, August 5. The total price for this non-stop return flight is $108.
- By Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Intl. (CVG) to Charleston Intl. (CHS) you can enjoy for just one round trip $85. This price is based on a non-stop round trip with departure on Sunday September 1 (departure at 12:00 noon and landing at 1:35 PM) and return on Thursday September (departure at 6:53 PM and landing at 8:35 PM).
- My third, and cheapest, example takes you through Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) to Nashville International Airport (BNA) for only $76 yield. This is the cheapest return trip I could find. To take advantage of this flight, depart on Monday, September 9 at 11:24 AM and return on Friday, September 13 at 8:00 AM.
There are currently dozens of options available on the Allegiant website with departures in August and September with prices under $100 for a return trip. Visit the ‘deals’ section of the Allegiant website here and select your departure airport to find the best available prices.
Of course, it’s worth noting that the prices mentioned above are only correct at the time of writing, so if you want to take advantage of one of these deals, be quick!
How to stay within budget when flying on budget
The kind of prices you find on budget airlines, like the examples above, can seem too good to be true. And for most passengers that is the case.
But if you’re a super savvy traveler, there’s no reason why you can’t take advantage of the cheapest flights you’ve ever booked and beat the system!
The base fares offered by Allegiant are advertised at an extremely low price, but very little is included at that price. You get a standard seat that gets you from A to B and 1 personal item (such as a backpack, handbag or laptop bag), but no other extras.
The fewer extras you add, the cheaper your flight becomes. So my advice is not to be too liberal with the add-ons!
For example, if you’re traveling with friends and relatives, is it really necessary to sit together? I plug in my headphones and listen to a podcast or take a nap as soon as I get on the plane, so I’m happy to sit wherever I am and save a few bucks on reserving a seat.
Luggage is also a big area you can save on if you like to travel light. You have to pay for a checked bag and a carry-on bag.
But you can pack more in a small backpack (which is free) than you think! I once spent an entire week in Lanzarote with nothing more than a backpack full of swimwear!
Not willing to make the sacrifice? Expect to pay between $13 and $22 each way for a checked bag at Allegiant.
Finally, print your boarding pass at home before heading to the airport. You will be charged $5 per boarding pass so Allegiant staff can print it for you at the check-in counter. That’s money you can spend on your next flight!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
