Allegiant Airlines' A320 Economy Class Flight Experience as Recounted by My Relatives [AVL-HOU]
Budget Travel: Family's Affordable Journey on Allegiant Air
A family of four embarked on an economical journey from Qatar to Texas in July 2025, choosing Allegiant Air for their travel needs. The family, who had a special request for their twins' 11th birthday - visiting their grandparents in North Carolina - found round-trip direct flights on Allegiant Air for just $102 per person, booked through eDreams due to issues with AllegiantAir.com and a foreign IP address.
Their flight was on an Airbus A320, featuring an all-economy cabin with several rows of Allegiant Extra seating at the front, offering extra legroom. The standard seats had around 30 inches of pitch.
Upon boarding at 5:20 p.m. in zone 4, the family settled into seats A to D in row 20, a few rows behind the emergency exit rows. The seats were outfitted in gray and navy leather with orange accents, and the tray table, while thick but narrow, didn't accommodate a 15.6-inch laptop well.
The family had to travel super light, personal bags only, and drive a few extra miles to Hobby Airport. However, they found plenty of space in the overhead bins for their luggage. The standard air nozzles, reading lights, and flight attendant call buttons were overhead, and the seatback had a plastic restraint at the top for a literature pocket and a chunky tray table.
The exhibition at Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), which they passed through after disembarking, was "Mountain Memories," a mixed-media collection themed around the impact of Hurricane Helene. The new concourse at AVL had seating with privacy dividers, power outlets, traditional seating, curved banquette seats, a workstation-style high-top table, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Allegiant’s baggage fees include charges for both carry-on and checked luggage, with a free personal item allowed. The free personal item must be no larger than 14 x 18 x 8 inches. Carry-on bags are not free, and fees vary depending on when you pay:
- At booking: $15 to $41 (route dependent)
- Before departure (online/app): $15 to $70
- At airport ticket counter: $75
- At the gate: up to $75
Tips to reduce baggage fees include only bringing a personal item that fits under the seat to avoid carry-on fees, prepaying all bags during booking to get the lowest rate, and considering military discounts if applicable.
Onboard, food and drink must be purchased separately, with prices such as $4 for soft drinks and $13 for cocktails. Rewards cardholders may get one free drink onboard.
The family earned 304 Allways Rewards points for the cheap flights, worth $3.04. They also had Global Entry memberships, which they received as a benefit of several credit cards.
Allegiant Air started service from Hobby Airport in 2020 and operated 5 routes from there at the time of booking. The flight departed from gate 10 and boarding began at 5:13 p.m. The family didn't have much of a wait on the jet bridge and got a sunny view of the Airbus A320 taking them to Houston.
Overall, Allegiant’s base fare is low, but expect to pay extra for carry-on bags, checked luggage, seat selection, and changes, so budgeting carefully and prepaying when possible is advised to minimize expenses.
[1] Allegiant Air Baggage Fees: https://www.allegiantair.com/Content/Help/Baggage/Baggage-Fees [2] Allegiant Air Change Fees: https://www.allegiantair.com/Content/Help/Change-Flight/Change-Fees [3] Allegiant Air Seat Selection Fees: https://www.allegiantair.com/Content/Help/Seat-Selection/Seat-Selection-Fees [4] Allegiant Air Rewards Program: https://www.allegiantair.com/Content/Help/Rewards/Rewards-Program [5] Allegiant Air Trip Flex Option: https://www.allegiantair.com/Content/Help/Change-Flight/Trip-Flex
- Despite having a limited budget, the family managed to find an affordable travel option, booking round-trip direct flights with Allegiant Air for their family holiday, which included visiting their grandparents in North Carolina, allowing them to experience new food, cultures, and lifestyles during their journey.
- To save costs on their travel, the family avoided purchasing food and drinks onboard Allegiant Air, opting instead to have their meals prepared beforehand, and they ensured they only brought a personal item that fit under the seat to avoid carry-on fees, thus reducing their overall expenses during their budget-travel adventure.
