I have flown Allegiant for years, and I would actually consider myself a pretty loyal customer. After my first (and now last) experience with Allegiant Airlines in Mesa, AZ, however, I may never fly with Allegiant again. I understand their recommendation on arriving "two hours early" and being at the gate half hour prior to arrival, and I will admit, yes, I misread my checkin time on my boarding pass and was running late. I got through security as fast as I could, all the while NEVER once hearing any calls for final boarding or even hearing my name paged, as I had already checked in online. I sprinted to my gate and was there at 6am, with a 620am departure, and when I saw people outside the window STILL LOADING into the airplane, I suddenly became hopeful. I ran up to the lady at the desk (LINDSEY, was her name, who she later told me she was the supervisor). I quickly let her know how sorry I was for being late as I read my checkin time wrong and was so happy they hadn't left yet and that people were still loading the aircraft. She didn't even look at me once. Instead she proceeded to tell me that I was late and that they were done boarding and that I missed last calls and could not join the group boarding the plane. I told her I had been in line at security and never heard my name or the flight being called and even asked if the flight was full. No response. She refused to look at me and continued looking down at her paper. I pleaded to be allowed outside as there was still a line of people getting on to the airplane and even asked her why I couldn't join the individuals outside. No reason was given. In a very rude tone, she rolled her eyes and still didn't look at me and stated "Obviously if I could do anything, I would, but you're late, and we're done boarding." Once again, I looked out the window and saw at least a dozen people (if not more) still OUTSIDE the airplane waiting to get in and be seated. After 15 minutes of pleading and begging, she still refused. I turned around to call my sister who had dropped me off and try to figure out what to do, and returned to the desk to find the lady had put up a sign that said "Boarding is now closed." I asked the lady why she just finally put up that sign when I had been begging for 15 minutes to be able to board, as the plane was still sitting right there with people OUTSIDE and STILL
BOARDING! She threatened to call security on me for asking her that question and at this point, another couple, who had arrived later than I, were also trying to reason with this lady, as we could all still see the people OUTSIDE and still the lady refused to look at us and refused to give us any other explanation as to why we could not join the remaining individuals who were STILL boarding the plane besides saying, "No, you're late."
I get it - yes, I was late, but refusing my service by just having me beg and plead to join the remaining passengers and then refusing to look at me or give me any other explanation as to why I could not join the remaining party seemed to me like poor customer service. Yes, had the gates been closed and the plane door shut and she had told me that the flight was full and I had forfeited my seat, I would have completely understood the reasoning, but I have been on plenty of airlines before where people will try to rush the individuals out there as quickly as they can and try to be accommodating - because mistakes happen and people are sometimes short on time and trying so hard to rush - but, I guess I will have to send my business to those more accommodating and helpful airlines instead. (Side note, this has been my first EVER experience with running late to an airport. I am usually early to my flight gate, but I have heard these stories from friends and seen individuals in the airports as well as I have travelled.)
I later found out that they told my sister they "don't page individuals or make the last call announcements to security because it causes chaos." I'm sorry, but isn't that the point of making last calls - for those that may be stuck in the long lines of security or the bathroom or wherever regardless of how early they may have arrived to help them know where their aircraft is in the boarding process? I fly frequently and in other airports I have been in, I am always hearing last calls and paging through the security line. Thanks for making me realize that I am actually wasting my money on your airline, as you may have "cheap flights" but with all crazy luggage fees and rude customer service? No thank you. I think I'll stick with Southwest - great customer service, great luggage policy, and classy people who will actually look at me when I'm having a problem or need something. read more