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Can you upgrade on Allegiant Air?

Aug. 27, 2022
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3 min read
Allegiant Airbus A320
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Let's face it: You didn't book with Allegiant Air expecting a free upgrade. You bought an Allegiant Air ticket because you wanted to travel without spending much money.

Allegiant doesn't offer a first class section or premium seating comparable to Spirit's Big Front Seat. There is no Allegiant upgrade list, and you won't even be able to recline your seat.

Your best bet for snagging more comfort on Allegiant Air is to fork over some money to select a seat with a few extra inches of legroom. Here's what you need to know about buying an upgraded seat on Allegiant Air.

Buy an Allegiant upgrade with Legroom + seating

Allegiant has two sections of the plane where you can get a bit more legroom. A standard seat on Allegiant has about 30 inches of pitch (one measure of legroom on planes), while a Legroom + seat should have at least 34 inches of pitch.

Four extra inches of legroom may not sound like much, but that will put you comfortably between the standard Southwest Airlines pitch and United Airlines' Economy Plus pitch.

You'll typically find Legroom + seats in the first row and exit rows of Allegiant aircraft.

ALLEGIANTAIR.COM

During the Allegiant Air booking process, you can pay to select a seat assignment (since Allegiant doesn't include a seat choice with its basic fare). Seat assignments start at around $10 and go up as high as $40 per segment. In most cases, you can expect to spend between $30 and $35 per segment to upgrade to a Legroom + seat.

Related: How to change or cancel an Allegiant flight

Buy a bundle for an Allegiant upgrade to Legroom + seating

Bundles are a concept you'll quickly become familiar with if you fly discount carriers regularly. Since pretty much everything on a discount carrier is sold separately for an additional cost, bundles are one of the only ways to save money on extras.

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If you bring a carry-on or checked bag when you travel — two things that will cost you extra on Allegiant — purchasing a bundle may provide a virtually free Allegiant upgrade to Legroom + seating. That's especially true if you need flexibility in your travel plans since Allegiant includes its Trip Flex product in both the Allegiant bonus and total bundles.

ALLEGIANTAIR.COM

Related: Full review of the Allegiant World Mastercard

Bottom line

You may not find yourself on the Allegiant upgrade list for a swanky first class seat, but at least you can't do much damage to your wallet buying a Legroom + seat.

Unfortunately, Allegiant is one of the few airlines in the U.S. not covered by the airline fee credits offered by select Amex cards, so you will be stuck paying for that extra legroom seat if you choose to splurge.

Don't worry, though. You can drown your sorrows in one of those umbrella drinks on your vacation from all that money you saved by flying Allegiant. After a long flight on Allegiant, your knees will appreciate being able to stretch out on a lounge chair.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.