Over the past few weeks, travel has been a bit… treacherous. Overlooking international matters, here at home, several airports have been inundated with long lines and closed checkpoints due to the partial government shutdown that’s left TSA workers without pay. But, a silver lining has emerged as Allegiant has just launched a new flyer-friendly policy update.
Allegiant has announced its “Travel with Confidence” program, which is meant to bring more peace of mind to passengers during this turbulent time. Specifically, the airline is currently waiving change fees on eligible bookings and giving flyers the option to cancel for a refund without penalty. These updates apply to new and existing bookings.
The catch? This policy is for flights “scheduled to depart between now and the end of the partial government shutdown.” In other words, this is a limited-time offer and not a permanent change. Womp womp.
Now, if you’re thinking that this policy really just puts Allegiant in line with what other airlines already offer, you’d be right — but Allegiant also isn’t like other airlines in general. For one, it’s a budget carrier that features “a la carte” pricing for everything from carry-on luggage to in-flight beverages. That’s why it’s not really a surprise that their change policy isn’t as flexible as some of the big airlines (and, mind you, many of those guys only did away with change fees a few years ago).
In contrast to other budget airlines like Spirit, though, Allegiant has a unique business model that focuses on connecting smaller markets to popular vacation destinations. That’s a huge reason why I fly them fairly often — they allow me to fly from my home airport in Springfield, Missouri directly to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando (Sanford), and more. Plus, even after all the bells, whistles, and upgrades, I still end up saving money versus other carriers. And I don’t have to worry about connecting at one of their hubs!
Commenting on this temporary shift in policy, Allegiant’s Chief Commercial Officer Drew Wells summed it up, saying, “We know travelers want to feel confident and in control when they book a trip. This policy gives them the flexibility to adjust plans if needed, while our network — which includes many smaller, easier-to-navigate airports — helps make the travel experience simpler from start to finish.”
Nevertheless, Allegiant also took the opportunity in its press release to warn passengers about current TSA waits. They advise that flyers follow their departing airports on social media, pay attention to their websites, and be prepared so that they don’t miss their flights.
Overall, I’m glad to see Allegiant making some positive changes during this challenging travel period. However, I not-so-secretly hope that this policy update does well for them and that they end up keeping it around. After all, technically, there’s a chance that this shutdown could end any day now, and it would be a bit silly to revoke a policy you just rolled out.
Besides, “Travel with Confidence” seems like a great fit for the Allegiant leisure travel brand. What’s more leisurely than not having to stress about vacation plans changing? So, Allegiant, please seriously consider making this policy permanent!