Allegiant Air is known for its ultra-low fares on flights around the United States. The airline keeps costs down by charging fees for extras like seat assignments, carry-on bags, and snacks on board. This à la carte pricing model helps Allegiant offer some of the cheapest airfares around. But is it possible to score free seats on Allegiant without paying their seat assignment fees? Here are some tips and tricks to get free seats on Allegiant Air flights.
How Allegiant’s Seating Works
First, it helps to understand how Allegiant’s seating system works. On Allegiant, all seats are initially unassigned. Passengers can pick their seats when booking or check-in online for a fee. Seat fees range from $8-$50 each way depending on the seat location. Exit rows, for example, cost extra. Allegiant says assigning seats in advance helps them board flights faster.
Here’s the key point: Allegiant leaves a portion of seats unassigned. These are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis during check-in at the airport. So if you don’t pay to pick a seat, you can still get one for free at the airport. You just won’t know the exact location until check-in.
Check-in Early for the Best Free Seat Selection
The best free seats on Allegiant go to those who check in first at the airport. Most travelers who purchased seat assignments will be issued their pre-selected seats during online check-in. That leaves the leftover middle seats and undesirable locations for anyone checking in at the airport counter.
To grab the better remaining free seats, arrive at the airport early. Be one of the first in line to check in with an agent. The earlier you check-in, the better your free seat selection will be.
No Seat Assignments on Short Flights
Allegiant does not assign seats at all on flights under 1.5 hours. That means all seats are up for grabs on shorter routes. This policy applies to most Allegiant flights, as their route network focuses on regional journeys like Los Angeles to Las Vegas or St. Petersburg to Knoxville.
For short hops where Allegiant does not allocate any seats in advance, the first passengers to board can sit anywhere, even exit rows. Checking in early is still advised to improve your seat selection.
Exit Row Seats Often Go Unassigned
Here’s an insider tip: exit row seats sometimes go unclaimed on Allegiant. The airline charges extra for selecting these seats with extra legroom. But not every exit row is sold in advance. So if you check in early enough, you may find empty exit row seats available for free.
This tactic isn’t a sure bet since it depends on how many exit row seats Allegiant pre-sells. But if getting an exit row matters, head straight for them during onboarding to see if any are unoccupied. Be ready to show the flight attendant you meet the exit row eligibility requirements.
Avoid Seat Fees on Overbooked Flights
One of the easiest ways to get a free seat assignment on Allegiant is by taking advantage of overbooking. Like other airlines, Allegiant intentionally oversells flights expecting a certain percentage of passengers will cancel or not show up.
When a flight is oversold, some passengers will be involuntarily denied boarding. If this happens, you’ll be entitled to compensation under federal regulations. This usually means a free flight voucher and any seat you want on the next Allegiant departure.
The key is not to voluntarily give up your seat on an oversold flight. If you do, you won’t get any compensation. Only passengers involuntarily denied boarding qualify for vouchers. So hold your ground if initially asked to take a later flight – there’s a good chance you’ll eventually get rewarded with a later free flight.
Use Allegiant Credit Card Rewards
The Allegiant World Mastercard offers one free seat assignment per booking as a cardholder perk. The annual fee is $59, which you can quickly recoup in seat assignment fee savings on just one roundtrip booking for two passengers.
Other Allegiant credit card bonuses include discounts on checked bags, priority boarding, and one free alcoholic drink per passenger on each flight. There is also a signup bonus offer that varies by month. Considering the free seat alone, the credit card is worth it if you fly Allegiant frequently.
Take Advantage of Special Promotions
Keep an eye out for periodic Allegiant promotions that include free seat assignments. They offer deals around major holidays and sometimes when launching service to a new city.
For example, Allegiant offered a Cyber Monday promotion in 2022 with roundtrip flights under $50 including two free seat assignments per booking. Similar offers may pop up for Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July, Labor Day, etc. So signup for Allegiant’s email list to stay on top of promotional sales.
Book Award Tickets with Hotel Packages
Allegiant partners with hotels in its leisure destination cities. One way to redeem Allegiant flight awards is by booking hotel packages. Packages that include airfare and a hotel stay for 3+ nights sometimes come with free seat assignments.
This perk is more common on higher-end hotel packages. For example, a 4-night Las Vegas package with The Mirage including roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles offered two free seat assignments. Keep the hotel portion in mind when comparing pricing on Allegiant vacation packages.
Get a Free Seat with a Travel Disruption
One circumstance where Allegiant may grant a free seat assignment is during flight delays or cancellations. When flights are disrupted, the airline’s priority is rebooking passengers and getting them on their way as quickly as possible.
That means exceptions are sometimes made for seat fees. If your original flight is canceled or significantly delayed, ask at the rebooking counter about a free seat on your new itinerary. Allegiant agents have leeway to waive fees during operational difficulties.
Book with a Travel Agent
Some traditional and online travel agencies can book Allegiant flights and add seat assignments for free. This works similarly to booking directly on the Allegiant website – they simply cover the seat fee cost.
The advantage of booking through an agency is having a travel advisor handle the transaction. They may be able to request or upgrade your seat for free as part of their service. Agencies aim to simplify the booking process, so taking advantage of their seat assignment assistance is worth considering.
Travel During Off-Peak Times
Allegiant’s seat fees vary based on flight demand. In-demand routes and travel dates cost more for seat reservations. Conversely, seats cost less when demand is lower.
If your schedule is flexible, consider traveling during Allegiant’s off-peak times. These include red-eye flights, mid-week departures, and off-season leisure routes. You’ll have access to cheaper seat fees, so minimal upcharge for picking your seat in advance.
Join Allegiant’s Loyalty Program
Alllegiant’s loyalty program is called AllWays Rewards. Members earn points on flights and ancillary purchases that can be redeemed for free flights and other perks.
One AllWays Rewards benefit is discounted seat assignments starting at $4 each way. That’s up to 50% off regular seat fees. If you fly Allegiant frequently enough to earn elite status tiers, seat discounts increase to as much as 75% off.
Use Allegiant Vouchers
Allegiant issues vouchers for a variety of reasons – canceled flights, schedule changes, compensation for operational issues, etc. These credit vouchers can be applied to future bookings including seat assignments.
Next time you receive an Allegiant voucher, save it to cover the cost of seat fees on an upcoming trip. Depending on the voucher amount, you may be able to redeem it for multiple free seat selections.
Book with Allegiant GoPoints
Allegiant loyalty members can use accrued GoPoints towards flights and fees like seat assignments. GoPoints essentially function as cash credit toward Allegiant reservations.
Instead of paying cash for seat selection fees, apply your GoPoints balance at checkout. You can cover the entire cost or pay partially with points and the remainder with another payment method. Using points is an easy way to score free seats.
Get a Refund After Booking
This tactic requires a bit of luck and timing. When booking flights on Allegiant, you have 24 hours to cancel the reservation for a full refund under their policy.
That means you can book seats at checkout, wait for the 24 hour period to elapse, then cancel the booking. Your refund will include the base fare but Allegiant will retain seat fees. So you’d effectively get the seat assignments for free.
The downside is your booking will be canceled, so this only works if you can rebook the same flights afterward. Flight prices may also change after canceling. Still, it’s a crafty way to snag seats if you cancel shortly after booking and rebook basically the same itinerary.
Fly with Someone Who Has a Credit Card
As mentioned earlier, the Allegiant credit card provides one free seat assignment per flight booking for the primary cardholder. Authorized users also receive the same seat benefit.
If you frequently fly with someone who has an Allegiant Mastercard, book together and let them assign your seat for free. As long as they’re on the same reservation, you can take advantage of their free seat perk. This works on award tickets too.
Book with Allegiant Vacations
Allegiant’s packaged vacation brand includes flight + hotel bundles similar to those sold by Expedia, Priceline, etc. These Allegiant Vacations packages contain a few key differences.
First, packages offer exclusive Allegiant discounts and perks not available when booking flights and hotels separately. Second is the ability to earn AllWays Rewards points from packages. And the third perk is that packages include two free seat assignments.
If you’re booking a Las Vegas or Orlando vacation, price out Allegiant Vacations and look for free seat inclusion. The same goes for any other destination Allegiant serves with vacation package availability.
Switch to a More Expensive Flight
Here’s one final creative approach to scoring a free seat with Allegiant. When booking, pick a flight with prices higher than the lowest available fare. For example, choose a mid-day departure rather than the cheapest red-eye itinerary.
Paying a premium for the flight may allow you to select a seat for free. Allegiant sometimes offers free seat assignments on higher-priced tickets since you’ve already paid more upfront. You’re essentially prepaying a premium to get a “free” (included) seat.
Downsides to this method are the higher base fare and no guarantee of a free seat. But it’s worth trying on less budget-conscious trips where a preferred flight time holds more value than the lowest ticket price.
Conclusion
While Allegiant tickets themselves are ultra-cheap, seat assignments add to the total cost. But passengers have many options to get Allegiant seats for free – you just need to know where to look.
Booking off-peak travel dates, using credits from promotions and loyalty programs, checking in early, and taking advantage of overbooking are some of the best ways to avoid seat fees. Combining tactics can further reduce or eliminate fees.
Ultimately, Allegiant’s à la carte model means diligent flyers have multiple opportunities to get seats for free. The airline may nickel and dime passengers on extras, but resourceful travelers can work the system to their advantage.
Helpful Tips to Remember
- Arrive early at the airport to get the best remaining free seats at check-in
- Exit row seats sometimes go unassigned and are available for free
- Take advantage of overbooking situations to get future flight vouchers with seat assignments included
- Redeem Allegiant credit card rewards, vouchers, or GoPoints for free seats
- Book off-peak flights and vacation packages to score seat discounts or inclusion
- Sign up for Allegiant promotions and loyalty programs for free seat perks
FAQs
Does Allegiant assign seats?
Yes, Allegiant assigns seats, but most seats are only allocated for a fee. A portion of seats on each flight are left unassigned for free distribution during check-in. Exit rows also typically go unassigned until check-in.
How much does it cost to select a seat on Allegiant?
Seat fees on Allegiant range from $8-$50 each way depending on route, demand, seat location, and other factors. Tickets booked with Allegiant Vacations packages include two free seat assignments.
Can you get free seat assignments on Allegiant?
Yes, there are many ways to get Allegiant seats for free. Options include booking off-peak travel, checking in early for the best remaining seats, using vouchers or rewards points to cover fees, scoring operational upgrades during cancellations, and taking advantage of oversold flights.
What is the best way to get a good free seat on Allegiant?
The best way to get a good free seat is to check-in as early as possible at the airport counter. This gives you access to the emergency exit rows and remaining unsold seats before other passengers. Arriving early maximizes your chances of getting a preferred seat location for free.
Does Allegiant charge for carry-on bags?
Yes, Allegiant charges seat assignment fees ranging from $5-$50 per flight segment depending on route and demand trends. Personal items like purses and backpacks can be brought onboard for free, but standard carry-on roller bags incur a fee.
| Route | Seat Fee |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles to Las Vegas | $20 each way |
| Phoenix to Honolulu | $40 each way |
| Cincinnati to Orlando | $25 each way |
Key Takeaways
- Check-in as early as possible to grab the best remaining free seats
- Redeem vouchers, points, and credit card perks for free seat assignments
- Travel off-peak, book direct vacation packages, and watch for sales
- Take advantage of overbooking situations to score future flight vouchers
- Booking more expensive flex fares sometimes allows seat selection at no extra cost