Sometimes Allegiant is the only choice for point-to-point, especially smaller cities. I fly a lot, and commuting an hour or more from the airport to where I actually need to be is the most time consuming aspect I face when traveling. Allegiant Air caters to less frequented destinations and helps me reduce those lengthy commute times. Instead of going 60 miles from Provo to Salt Lake City, I could fly right out of Provo on Allegiant.
Allegiant air helps me cut down my commute time outside of Utah as well.For instance, I visit Phoenix often and its often far more practical to fly out of Mesa(airport code AZA). These options underscore the benefits of regional airlines in offering closer, and sometimes cheaper, alternatives to major airports.
I prefer using regional codes over specific airport codes in my flight searches when planning trips between major cities. This approach uncovers more cost-effective or direct flight options. For instance, instead of searching for flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) alone, I use the regional code QLA. This search strategy reveals flights to all five regional airports in the Los Angeles area – LAX, Burbank, Long Beach, and Ontario – providing a broader range of choices and potentially better deals.
I’m personally connected to Allegiant Air through my good friend Alex Brant, an Allegiant pilot I met during his time at BYU. Our conversations have shed light on the working conditions and the resulting safety issues within the aviation industry. Despite Allegiant’s profitability, its pilots, like Alex, often face less favorable terms compared to their counterparts at larger airlines, a reflection of an outdated contract now over a decade old.
Alex’s situation with Allegiant highlights a broader narrative in the aviation sector. While low-cost carriers are frequently the subject of jokes for their cost-cutting measures, they are among the most profitable in the industry. Yet, the dedication and skill of their pilots, who ensure passenger safety on every flight, often go unrecognized. This contrast paints a complex picture of the aviation industry, where profitability and efficiency coexist with challenges in employee treatment and public perception.
