Allegiant Expands Service in Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

I haven't flown Allegiant but did well with their stock before cashing out last year. I have flown Spirit a lot though.  I've never had problems with Spirit and have saved a ton of money taking them out of Orlando over the years.

I'm a no-frills type of guy and I like my flights that way. I have no problem packing light, I don't care where I'm seated, I'm aware of the fee structure, and they can keep their peanuts and soda as far as I'm concerned. For on-flight entertainment, I'll read a book or go to sleep and dream. Just get me from point A to point B, on time and for the cheapest price available!

On the other hand, I can't stand Delta and try to avoid them and Atlanta like the plague. I have lots of horror stories flying with them.

If you live in Jax, your Delta experience is probably mainly or only on tiny little jets (routes from both Atl and NYC are on smaller planes).  My experience is mainly on brand new 737 ERs, 757s, or wide bodies, and is likely radically different.

I'm from and still visit/work in Central Florida quite often, so most of my past experience with Delta was out of MCO and TPA.

[tufsu1]

Has anyone flown Allegient? Are they  decent airline?

do some research regarding maintenance issues and on-time performance.   

[Gators312]

Its probably some new Allegiant destinations.

If Allegiant does JAX to BLV or MCI, I would be jumping on that. Those are old ExpressJet routes that did well before they got out of commercial air.

Allegiant (G4) has big announcements scheduled for tomorrow according to their facebook page. 




Maybe IND-JAX gets restarted.  (One of WN's cuts from recession time)   

Glad to see the additional service, just disappointed it will be on G4.

Looks like Allegiant (G4) has been listening to our suggestions.      

New routes released today, and interestingly enough the article lists JAX as a focus city for G4

Jacksonville, Fla.

- Asheville, N.C.: Begins May 27

- Belleville-Mid America/St. Louis (Ill.): Begins May 27

- Columbus, Ohio: Begins May 25

- Indianapolis: Begins June 2

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/03/08/fast-growing-allegiant-adds-3-new-cities-22-new-routes/81459670/

[ProjectMaximus]

Ha, just as I read this thread I get an email from Allegiant stating the new routes.

Anyway, this is good. I hope they can maintain most, if not all, the routes. Looks like I will get to fly G4 at some point...

[dp8541]

direct to Asheville?  Yes please

[spuwho]

I will be using the JAX -BLV route for St Louis trips.

Still checking on the JAX -IND option in June.

As tufsu noted, they have had some maintenance issues, mostly over in St Pete and Las Vegas. Most was attributed to the fact that their fleet age is high because as they grow they lease older less expensive planes.

The pilots union even complained about it.

But much of it was addressed last fall after the summer travel season ended.

Allegiant is picking up alot of MD-80's that are being retired by AA. Some of them date back to TWA pre merger.

I am not sure where they get their Airbus models from. One that I flew awhile back was brand new as I looked at the manufacturers plate as I walked in. No doubt a lease.

[spuwho]

They announced new flights out of Sanford today.

Akron-Canton OH
Evansville IN
Wichita KS
El Paso, TX

I cant use the JAX-IND flight it seems. The frequency during the week is too odd.

They are expanding very quickly, I just hope their operations can keep up. Everytime we get these spurts with Allegiant, they go through a rash of ops problems.

[spuwho]

Per the Belleville News-Democrat:

MASCOUTAH
Allegiant Air is adding a new destination in Florida for people to fly to from MidAmerica Airport, the airline said.

Starting May 27, Allegiant will have a MidAmerica to Jacksonville International Airport route twice a week.

"We're excited to give folks in the St. Louis-area another Florida destination to visit this summer," said Jude Bricker, Allegiant chief operating officer. "We're sure that travelers will enjoy taking their vacation to Jacksonville for ultra-low costs."

The low-cost airline said fares for the seasonal route are starting at $39; tickets must be purchased by March 14, for travel by Aug. 15.

Jessica Wheeler, a spokeswoman for Allegiant, said the destination has been popular as people go the beaches in northeast Florida.


Wheeler added there's "a lot of demand (for Jacksonsville) as a vacation destination."

Whether the route becomes year-round has yet to be determined.

"After we run the route for a while, we evaluate to see if its possible, but right now we're committed to it as a summer seasonal," Wheeler said.



The new MidAmerica to Jacksonville route is one of 22 Allegiant is announcing across the country on Tuesday.

Jacksonville would be the fifth route to Florida Allegiant has committed to out of MidAmerica. The airline already flies to Orlando/Sanford, Tampa Bay and Fort Myers. Flights to Destin/Fort Walton Beach are slated to start in June.

"Area residents who want to take the easy way out to Florida now have another terrific destination in the Sunshine State that they can reach via Allegiant's latest non-stop service from MidAmerica," said St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern. "Just like Destin, this new route represents the region's only direct flight to Jacksonville and brings our total number of Florida destinations to five that local travelers can enjoy, along with the hassle-free flying experience that is unique to MidAmerica Airport."

Allegiant last year brought back flights to Las Vegas from MidAmerica.


As part of the new flight launch, Allegiant is offering refunds to people who book flights early. The first 22 travelers to book their flights on the new route will receive a refund for their round-trip airfare, the airline said. There is a limit of one refund per person.

The airline also plans to refund airfare-related ancillary fees, but not government fees and taxes, according to a news release.

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article64610952.html#storylink=cpy

[spuwho]

Now we just need Visit Jacksonville and the PV/St Augustine Tourism board to do some targeted advertising in the St Louis metro market to raise awareness and see how well it performs.

[ProjectMaximus]

^That's funny. Cause I was actually thinking about how I'd like to take a vacay up to STL this summer to get out of the heat. I guess summertime is the traditional "vacationing" season but for people with flexibility, we would not want to come to FL during the summer.

[Tacachale]

Jax to Asheville is great. Many Floridians vacation in the mountains in the summer. I may try it out in June. Virtually any flight with a layover is too long to be worth it.

[spuwho]

^That's funny. Cause I was actually thinking about how I'd like to take a vacay up to STL this summer to get out of the heat. I guess summertime is the traditional "vacationing" season but for people with flexibility, we would not want to come to FL during the summer.

STL can get just as humid as FL in the summertime.  But it is a great place to visit. Lots to see and do there.

Some people yesterday remarked that Jacksonville should "adopt" St Louis Rams fans and with Allegiant offer Jaguar package deals to fly fans here for our home games.

Since we were threatened to lose our team to LA for years, but St Louis actually did lose their team, they said we have something in common and should plug into that.

I doubt that would happen, but it would make for some interesting billboards in St Louis metro.

"Lost team to LA?...they tried on us too...come join the Jaguars Nation....fly down to Jacksonville with special deals"

[ProjectMaximus]

^It's certainly a legitimate idea although it might be a bit edgy for an official govt entity to sponsor that idea. But individuals and sportswriters have taken that torch with perhaps tongue-in-cheek appeals and open letters.

Re: weather, yeah I see it's only about a 5 degree difference in the summer months and a 5% difference in humidity, but still for my psyche it helps. We spent 6 weeks up north between June-Aug last year and even though at times it wasn't any relief (upstairs Minneapolis apt with no AC...) it just felt like the right time to get out of Jax. 

[RiversideHusker]

The article linked to in the original posts mentions year round service to/from New Orleans, but I tried booking a flight to New Orleans in mid-January and there are none available. I called and the person I spoke with that it is a seasonal route that only operates between May and January. Not sure why the wouldn't fly from January - April and I couldn't find this anywhere on their website. It'a shame because I don't know of any other direct flights to New Orleans.

[acme54321]

My dad was looking at the Asheville flight but none were available.  I bet it's seasonal too since he took it over the summer.