The budget airline Allegiant has announced its plans to add a new hard product to its aircraft — while also making another big update that will impact passengers in all cabins.
About Allegiant First and In-Flight Service Updates:
This week, Allegiant Airlines announced its intent to debut Allegiant First. The new class of service is expected to begin rolling out on select aircraft beginning in Spring 2027. In turn, bookings for Allegiant First could open as early as mid-August.
Allegiant First will feature eight seats per aircraft and utilize a 2-2 configuration. Each seat will have a five-in recline in addition to calf rests and an adjustable headrest. The airline also notes a 37-inch pitch with more legroom.
The Allegiant First will also include priority access — both at check-in and when boarding. Plus, the fare includes one carry-on bag as well as one checked bag. Lastly, Allegiant teases “enhanced amenities” for the new class of service.
Notably, Allegiant First will not be replacing the current Allegiant Extra product that exists on some aircraft. Extra features extra legroom, dedicated overhead bin space, and priority boarding. However, it does still utilize the standard 3-3 seat configuration.
Ahead of the arrival of Allegiant First, the airline is making another big change. Effective August 1st, the airline will offer complimentary beverage service. This includes sodas, water, and juices served by the cup. Meanwhile, premium beverages will still be available for purchase along with snacks. Those with the Allegiant Allways Rewards Credit Card will be entitled to one free premium beverage, up to a $16 value.
In the Background:
These incoming changes come on the heels of Allegiant’s acquisition of Sun Country Airlines. As the company notes, these two initiatives will bring consistency across the combined airline and will “play an important role” in its strategy going forward.
What They’re Saying:
Announcing these updates, Allegiant’s Chief Commercial Officer Drew Wells stated, “This is about giving customers more ways to travel with us. As we bring together two highly complementary leisure airlines, we see significant opportunity to expand complimentary and premium offerings in a way that strengthens the customer experience and supports the long-term growth of the combined company. Travelers are increasingly looking for more comfort, more personalization and more flexibility, and these new offerings are a meaningful step forward in delivering that.”
My Thoughts:
To be honest, as someone who flies Allegiant fairly regularly, I was pretty surprised by this week’s announcement. Then again, since I’m unfamiliar with what Sun Country does, I hadn’t considered that Allegiant would want to match them rather than trying to remove something Sun Country customers were already used to.
As for Allegiant First, while I’m excited to try it, I’m a little worried about just how much of a premium this cabin could command. In particular, bundling in both a carry-on and checked bag makes me think that this could get pricey quickly. That’s also why I’m glad they’ll apparently be keeping Allegiant Extra around, as I think that option is a no-brainer.
