Allegiant Air Scam - Do Not Use Debit Card There

I know Allegiant Air is as low end as an airline can be. They are great for Las Vegas though as they connect small cities here. They have all sorts of absurd fees but if people are willing to pay them then that is fine. I wanted to make sure everyone knew not to take advantage of their debit card discount. I used a credit card for this purchase so I am able to make a chargeback.

Allegiant decided to take off to Rapid City, SD yesterday knowing the airport was closed. We got diverted to Casper, WY. Long story short, after 9 hours we ended up in Las Vegas. I was told by the gate agent I would get a refund if I called the CS.

Their live chat was useless I called them and the rep was useless. They put me on hold to talk to their supervisor and came back and told me that I did not buy the trip insurance so I was out of luck. They refused to allow me to talk to their supervisor, then claiming there was not one on duty.

Their T&Cs are clear:

Quote:

Flight terminations or involuntary cancellations – If a passenger's scheduled transportation is canceled, or terminated before the passenger has reached his or her final destination as a result of a flight cancellation or omission of a scheduled stop, Carrier will, at the passenger's option, transport the passenger on another of Carrier's flights on which space is available at no additional charge, or refund the fare for the unused transportation, or provide a credit voucher for such amount toward the purchase of future travel.

They did none of these and refused to consider it, even after I was told I was entitled to a refund at the airport.

My solution was simple, I called my credit card company and initiated a chargeback that I will easily win. They offer a $5 discount per ticket if you use a debit card but then you would lose the chargeback rights. I suppose they do not accept AMEX due to them being so customer friendly. The only way to get a refund if you used a debit card would be to take them to small claims court. I have to wonder how many millions of dollars they steal from people that use debit cards for canceled flights that never go to the trouble of suing them or do not know they can initiate a chargeback.

Different story but as long as we're griping about Allegiant, I wanted to share.

Last month I was flying out of Des Moines on Allegiant. I had pre-paid for my carry-on (ridiculous, but I know that's what you get with Allegiant). When I was checking in, the counter agent told me my carry-on looked too big and I would need to check it. I told him that is ridiculous, I travel with it year round for business and never have an issue with it fitting in the overhead bin. He told me that it would be more expensive to check it at the gate and I should really consider checking it at the counter. When I refused he said it would be his supervisor's call at the gate and that if I 'broke' the overhead bin, everyone would be delayed because of me.

While that attempt at high pressure was unprofessional enough, I was even more surprised that when I inquired about the checked bag fee and he told me that the money I had already paid for carry-on would not be refunded and that I would be paying the full amount for checked baggage and not the difference. What a scam!

I seldom use Allegiant and this experience just reminded me why I usually use a full service (which itself is an oxymoron) air carrier.

And of course, my carry-on fit easily in the overhead bin.

I'm pretty sure that you can use a debit card to chargeback. I know with an online game it was extremely common.

Two words: Jet Blue

Quote: Paigowdan

Two words: Jet Blue

Allegiant has a monopoly on most of their routes, including where I was headed.

As for the carry on issues, before they had a fee for carry on bags they tried to tell me mine was too big even though it was the same bag I used every trip. They forced me to check it. I initiated a chargeback for that and Allegiant did not even bother to respond to it.

Quote: Paigowdan

Two words: Jet Blue

Hear, hear! I hate flying for multiple reasons, but I use Jet Blue when I do. I also like that they have the same initials as me.

Quote: JB

Hear, hear! I hate flying for multiple reasons, but I use Jet Blue when I do. I also like that they have the same initials as me.

jetBlue was a godsend to upsate NY when it came in thelate 1990s. Fares to NYC were cut by a huge actor and you got a real airplane, no more puddle jumpers. Hard to believe service was so bad before they got there, but it was. On long flights I gladly pay a few bucks more for the TV sets, actual snacks, and better seats they have over legacy carriers or Southworst.

Only complaint I had from it was from two of my bosses. One wasn't a complaint as the guy never flew it but he thought it was some cheap, discount airline and insisted, I mean INSISTED I did not have an assigned seat. The other was my direct boss who grudgingly took a flight on them but kept complaining about it. Seems he hit a fairly bad air-pocket right before landing. The fact that said flight landed at 5:00 on 9-10-11 never helped my argument later, he never flew then again. He said I was welxome to pick "that airline" if I wanted to but he would fly AMR or whatever.

Hello ... I just booked a flight with "flexpass" but to use it I have to call reservations and wait over 30-45 minutes but more like an hour
before I used to be able to go to myallegiantair on the website and make date changes with flexpass and find another date suitable with same
pricing... but not anymore...I called reservations and the very pleasant agent said that feature has not been on since a month ago....

If that's the case why bother with flexpass since I use it to be flexible on date changes...

If Allegiant air is removing this online change dates with flexpass , then allegiantair should not promote the flexpass anymore?

Has anyone encountered this issue on the flexpass?

freechoice

They have commercials with a Clark Howard look-alike talking about free soda, which is a tell for people whom know better. Their whole business model is making money on unsuspecting people whom rarely travel, so having problems, when you know they're coming for you, should be expected. It's basically a con game but lawyer approved, is it not?

I hate high pressure sales tactics. The rules are that you pay for a carryon, and you did. The only reason they could make you pay for it if it's too big according to their policy. They should have the sizer or scale at the check-in counter if that is the case. If they don't have it there, then the only way your should have to check the bag is if the bins are full or you can't fit it up there.

I picked up my daughter's new laptop at BestBuy the other day, and they asked me if I needed help to set it up. I said no, I know what I'm doing. They said, "have you done Windows 8", to which I responded "no. He then said "do you know DOS, because that's what you will have to do when you install Windows 8". He then went on to say that it took 8 hours to install. I just looked at him and laughed. Nonetheless, I was done in about 2 hours, and the installation was extremely easy. I was finished in less than a hour.

Nonetheless, a letter is going out to that Best Buy. Hell, I might even do it online. No more best buy. Just give me my computer and f*** off.

Quote: boymimbo

I hate high pressure sales tactics. The rules are that you pay for a carryon, and you did. The only reason they could make you pay for it if it's too big according to their policy. They should have the sizer or scale at the check-in counter if that is the case. If they don't have it there, then the only way your should have to check the bag is if the bins are full or you can't fit it up there.

I picked up my daughter's new laptop at BestBuy the other day, and they asked me if I needed help to set it up. I said no, I know what I'm doing. They said, "have you done Windows 8", to which I responded "no. He then said "do you know DOS, because that's what you will have to do when you install Windows 8". He then went on to say that it took 8 hours to install. I just looked at him and laughed. Nonetheless, I was done in about 2 hours, and the installation was extremely easy. I was finished in less than a hour.

Nonetheless, a letter is going out to that Best Buy. Hell, I might even do it online. No more best buy. Just give me my computer and f*** off.

I would go back to the store and to that again, then document it. Bring it up to a manager. I see a big discount on your next visit. That's total BS.

Allegiantair had taken away the online change dates with flexpass... now that's is a ripoff since you cannot change dates without calling the reservations which can take up to an hour... poor customer relations ...would like feed back on this issue please? thanks freechoice

I fly Allegiant often and have had no more problems with them than other airlines.

I flew JetBlue this morning to get back to Las Vegas at around 1am and sadly my luggage got caught up in customs and didn't show up in Las Vegas. It took about 30 minutes to get through the claim process but they said my luggage will be returned delivered to my house by 5pm today. Despite this problem I also recommend Jet blue because they still give a free checked bag, free Directv at every seat, and free snacks.

Quote: boymimbo

I picked up my daughter's new laptop at BestBuy the other day, and they asked me if I needed help to set it up. I said no, I know what I'm doing. They said, "have you done Windows 8", to which I responded "no. He then said "do you know DOS, because that's what you will have to do when you install Windows 8". He then went on to say that it took 8 hours to install. I just looked at him and laughed.

LQTM at the DOS comment. Really? That's pretty funny.