Ticket prices, baggage fees, Mesa flights
For every week, I flew each new airline providing flights between Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Solar Nation, JSX and Frontier all launched new flights between the 2 locations in September. I wished to see what you get for the bottom fare so I flew with this self-imposed restriction: I might pay no additional charges.
And I wished to place these experiences in perspective in contrast with the extremely low-cost airline that constantly presents the most affordable tickets from the Phoenix space: Allegiant Air.
The Las Vegas-based leisure service presents flights between McCarran Worldwide Airport and the Valley’s reliever airport, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in east Mesa. Allegiant flies Airbus A319 and A320 plane.
My one-way ticket value $21, shocking even to the ticket agent who helped me e-book.
To place that $21 fare in perspective, it value me $44 to get a Lyft from Mesa to central Phoenix at rush hour. After I drove to Las Vegas from Phoenix this summer season, it value me $66 for 2 tanks of fuel.
However it is best to know what you are getting if you buy a ticket on this — or any extremely low-cost — airline. If you do not know what prices additional, the charges can simply exceed the value of the fare.
Allegiant’s unbundling technique
My ticket value was so low as a result of I purchased it in individual on the airport. Allegiant has set occasions when you should buy in individual, which saves you the Digital Provider Utilization Cost of $18 every method if you happen to e-book on-line.
I used to be not charged for choosing a seat, so once I arrived on the airport for my flight, I used to be stunned to see I had an aisle seat within the bulkhead row. On Allegiant, bulkhead and exit-row passengers are amongst the primary teams allowed to board. The cost to pick out the seat I used to be assigned would have been $19.
I additionally opted to not pay to place a carry-on bag within the overhead bin, which might have value $30. As an alternative, I stuffed all the things I wanted in a “private merchandise” sized bag that matches underneath the seat.
However as a result of I used to be in a bulkhead seat, the flight attendant requested me to place my bag within the overhead bin.
There are not any complimentary drinks on Allegiant. In order for you a drink, you will must pay for it. Printing your ticket on the airport? That is $5. (I downloaded Allegiant’s app with a view to get a cell ticket.) Seat choice can run as excessive as $80. Baggage charges rely in your vacation spot.
Think about these charges when evaluating costs. Your remaining value can be not less than $40 to $50 larger than the bottom ticket value if you happen to use the overhead bin or examine a bag.
Allegiant’s schedule
Additionally know that as a result of Allegiant targets leisure vacationers, it does not fly each route on daily basis.
Often that is not an enormous deal, particularly if you happen to’re simply going to Vegas for just a few days. Nevertheless it signifies that if you happen to miss your flight or it’s canceled for any cause, you are out of luck for just a few days.
For this story, I flew to Las Vegas with Solar Nation on a Monday and deliberate to return with Allegiant. There was no Allegiant flight till Wednesday, which is one thing to take into consideration if you end up reserving.
General evaluate of Allegiant Air
My flight was easy. It departed and arrived on time.
Should you stay within the East Valley, Allegiant could also be a extra handy choice than driving to Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport. You will save time on driving and cash on parking.
Should you do not stay within the East Valley, you will must do some extra math. Calculate the commute time in addition to the price of parking at Mesa Gateway ($7-11 day by day) to determine if it is sensible for you.
Join with Arizona Republic shopper journey reporter Melissa Yeager via e-mail at [email protected] You too can observe her on Twitter and Instagram.
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