Allegiant announces 10 new routes across 14 cities
Budget carrier Allegiant Air announced 10 new routes across 14 different airports.
Allegiant's bases in Los Angeles and Knoxville, Tennessee, were the big winners, each landing three new nonstop routes. Other destinations receiving multiple new routes include the Florida airports serving Jacksonville and St. Petersburg.
Allegiant said it would be the only carrier offering nonstop service on all 10 of the new routes announced Monday.
"This expansion caters to passengers and communities we feel have been overlooked by other carriers," Drew Wells, Allegiant's chief revenue officer, said in a statement. "Allegiant's unique business model, connecting small-to-medium sized cities to vacation destinations, creates accessible travel options not otherwise available in what we believe are underserved markets."
Also included in Allegiant's expansion are new flights from two of the more unusual secondary airports in the airline's network.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) will get twice-weekly nonstop flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). A number of airlines already fly nonstop between Chicago and Los Angeles, but Allegiant will be the only one to fly the route from RFD.
While RFD bears Chicago's name in its official name, the airport in the city of Rockford, Illinois, sits about 85 miles west of Chicago's downtown Loop neighborhood. The airport added the Chicago name to its title in the early 2000s in an attempt to position itself as an alternate airport to Chicago's much busier — and much closer — O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Midway International Airport (MDW). Allegiant is the only airline with service at the Rockford airport, where it offers either seasonal or year-round service to eight other destinations. Allegiant does also fly from MDW, offering seasonal or year-round service to nine destinations from that airport.
Related: Allegiant used to love flying used planes; now it's betting big on new jets
The other secondary airport getting new Allegiant service is MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV), which is located 25 miles from downtown St. Louis near Belleville, Illinois. The airport opened to commercial flights in the late 1990s amid concerns about overcrowding at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), the metro area's primary airport. However, a new runway at STL coupled with declining flights — American dropped the hub it inherited from TWA there in the mid-2000s — left that airport operating far below its capacity. Like at RFD, Allegiant is the only airline with regularly scheduled passenger service at BLV.
The full schedule details for all of Allegiant's 10 new routes are below.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD): Service begins June 12 with two flights per week.
- Laredo International Airport (LRD) in Texas: Service begins June 12 with two flights per week. (Seasonal)
- Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) in South Dakota: Service begins June 14 with two flights per week. (Seasonal)
What to know: Can you upgrade on Allegiant Air?
Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) in Florida: Service begins June 14 with two flights per week.
- MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) in Belleville, Illinois: Service begins June 13 with two flights per week.
- South Bend International Airport (SBN) in Indiana: Service begins June 14 with two flights per week. (Seasonal)
Related: Full review of the Allegiant World Mastercard
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) in Pennsylvania: Service begins June 14 with two flights per week.
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS): Service begins June 14 with two flights per week.
St. Pete—Clearwater International Airport (PIE) in Florida
- Evansville Regional Airport (EVV) in Indiana: Service begins June 13 with two flights per week.
- McAllen International Airport (MFE) in Texas: Service begins June 14 with two flights per week.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) in Florida
- Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) in New York: Service begins June 12 with two flights per week.
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- Best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.