We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children

Georgetown, Kentucky
Level Contributor
698 posts
20 reviews
51 helpful votes
Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

Hi,

I am traveling with Allegiant Air with my family for the first time in December. We have two small children (our daughter will be 2 weeks shy of two and our son is 4 1/2 years old). I bought a ticket for my daughter (she could have been a lap child).

I didn't pay for seat assignments. That would have been an extra $110 dollars on tickets that only costs about $500 dollars total for 4 (including luggage fees). It says that the computer will assign seat from the remaining seats at check in. And that once assigned the seats cannot be changed.

Anybody have experience with this airline's seat assignments by the computer. I am hoping we can at least be seated with two sets of two seats together. I am hoping they would not seat my less than 2 year old beside a stranger. How worried should I be about this?

California
Level Contributor
182 posts
33 reviews
37 helpful votes
1. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

We flew Allegiant to HNL and we were given 2 seats together. My observation was that most pax waited until checking in to get a seat assignment. I say this because as soon as the seat belt sign was turned off, half the pax jumped up and changed seats. Apparently, these were the ones to check in later. So the earlier you check in the better chance you will have to get the seat arrangement you want. I would suggest calling them to ask since you have young children but it can be frustrating to actually reach someone. It would surprise me if they assigned your children to seats that were not with at least one parent.

Also, this airline makes money by selling everything including water so be prepared with your own snacks and drinks. The seats do not recline and there is no in flight entertainment. However, we found the crew to be professional and flight was ok.

Hanau, Germany
Level Contributor
2,857 posts
24 reviews
19 helpful votes
2. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

I would not worry, I mean if you think about it even if you get seats all over the plane who wants to sit beside a small child baby sitting for the whole flight, the little one might cry during take off and landing, needs a diaper change during the flight, so even if the worst case happens, I think that would be one situation where people happily change seats with you so at least one parent is with one child.

Oregon
Level Contributor
5,305 posts
26 reviews
22 helpful votes
3. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

Instead of looking at the additional cost of reserving seats compared to the base fare, compare the flight cost to a full service airline. I wouldn't count on displacing someone who has paid for their seat assignment because you don't want to.

That said, I have flown Allegiant twice in the last couple of months and during online check in I was given the option of changing seats, I think that there was a small fee though, depending on the seat. I think that the lowest was $9.

From Allegiant's website:

"Seat Assignments When You Choose Not to Reserve a Seat

At check-in, whether online or at the airport, our system will assign you a seat from the remaining available seats on the plane. If you want to change your seat, you will have the opportunity to do so during check-in or you may log-in to Manage Travel at any time before check-in."

Hanau, Germany
Level Contributor
2,857 posts
24 reviews
19 helpful votes
4. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

I don't know Allegiant, but to me it looks like Ryan Air in Europe and only a few people used to pay extra for piority check in, maybe 1/4 of the pax, seat assingments came into play beginning of this year with RA, so if people flying Allegiant are like the people using RA over here not to many people will have paied for a seat, #1 seems to support that.

Iowa
Level Contributor
10,760 posts
32 reviews
27 helpful votes
5. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

I fly Allegiant often. I always pay for the exit row seat- it's a bargain.

I would agree many people do not pay in advance. Allegiant counters at small airports are usually only staffed when flights are due to leave. Be at the airport before the counter opens and you'll get good seats.

Oregon
Level Contributor
5,305 posts
26 reviews
22 helpful votes
6. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

Allegiant has online check in now. I would suggest using it as soon as possible. Don't wait until you are at the airport to check in! They even have a smartphone app. I found them very good about informing you of schedule changes. On my last flight I got an email, a text and a phone call advising me of a delay.

Edited: 9 years ago
Seattle, Washington
Level Contributor
10,856 posts
86 reviews
212 helpful votes
7. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

From Allegiant's webpage:

"If you want to ensure that your party is seated together, we do recommend reserving seats when you book your travel. While we will do our best to accommodate families, the availability of seats together cannot be guaranteed."

If you want seats together, pay for them now so you aren't a poster who comes back here and starts a thread such as, "Never fly Allegiant - they refused to seat my family together".

I have never flown Allegiant, but have noticed people being less willing to change seats lately. I know I am tired of being asked by people who refused to pay for a seat assignment or were just poor planners.

London, United...
Level Contributor
4,382 posts
129 reviews
87 helpful votes
8. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

I fully understand that the price of paying for seats can be more money than you would want to part with but it is also not fair for families with small children to expect passengers who have paid for their seats to move to accommodate them, I for one do not want to have to give up my seat paid for with hard earned cash to a family who did not want to pay extra, but often passengers are guilt tripped into giving up seats because they don't want to see parents with small children put under pressure, and am sorry to say that some parents rely upon this and so exploit it.

Am sure you don't want to fall into this category, so would pay for seats now in order to avoid any hassle when boarding the plane.

Edmonton
Level Contributor
8,300 posts
14 reviews
21 helpful votes
9. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children
Save

I agree 100% with the above poster. I have 4 small children and if I want to sit with them I pay. Once when I only had two of them I didn't pay and we all got split up. My kids are good travelers and it was only a 3 hour flight, so I didn't care and I knew the risks, but I would not move for a family that didn't pay. You have the option, so just pay for it IMO.

10. Re: Allegint Air Seat Selection for a Family with Small Children

This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor community and has been removed.