Allegiant strict with personal item?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Edison, NJ
Programs: Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 110
Allegiant strict with personal item?
Hello I'll be flying tomorrow on Allegiant for the first time and I was wondering if my rei vagabond backpack would slip by as a personal item. It's 21" so 5 inches too long. It worked on a recent trip with spirit and I'm hoping I can get a similar result tomorrow anybody have experience with bags of this size on Allegiant air?
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,606
Lets be honest, other individuals experience on a subjective matter will not be sufficient. What happened to others does not necessarily mean it will happen to you. Also, your experience on another carrier do not suffice. What will you do tomorrow if you are caught and are asked to check in the backpack and pay? Are you going to tell the GA that so and so on this website flew with Allegiant last week with a bigger bag and nothing happened to them, why me?
#4
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
Depends on the route and depends on the agent.
Is your bag collapsible where you can stuff it in if necessary? Allegiant size is odd compared to other airlines so I find it a difficult fit but I have a soft sided bag that's a bit too big. I underpack so it would fit.
Is your bag collapsible where you can stuff it in if necessary? Allegiant size is odd compared to other airlines so I find it a difficult fit but I have a soft sided bag that's a bit too big. I underpack so it would fit.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,606
So, what was the outcome?
#9
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 247
I have found that whether I am flying Allegiant, Spirit, or Frontier, that the gate agents generally don't care at all so long as it the personal item is not some obviously too big hard-sided monstrosity. That said, when I am sitting at the gate area, I always sit with my back to the agent desk. No need to let them have a chance to see my bag easily for an extended period of time.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 30
I know this is an Allegiant thread but I think the following observation might apply to all the ULCCs.
At LGA the other day, while joining the TSA queue for a Spirit flight, I was briefly assessed by the private security/screening individuals checking the boarding passes. I normally carry a backpack on wheels that slightly exceeds personal item size. One screener asked the other, "Is this carry-on?", the other looked and shrugged so I was waved through.
I was once stopped at the gate for a Frontier flight for the same bag. I began an elaborate restructuring of items in the bag (it wouldn't have worked anyway) and because they wanted the flight to depart on time, again I was waved through.
I concur with the poster who stated to keep the bag away from the direct observation of screeners or gate/ticket agents.
At LGA the other day, while joining the TSA queue for a Spirit flight, I was briefly assessed by the private security/screening individuals checking the boarding passes. I normally carry a backpack on wheels that slightly exceeds personal item size. One screener asked the other, "Is this carry-on?", the other looked and shrugged so I was waved through.
I was once stopped at the gate for a Frontier flight for the same bag. I began an elaborate restructuring of items in the bag (it wouldn't have worked anyway) and because they wanted the flight to depart on time, again I was waved through.
I concur with the poster who stated to keep the bag away from the direct observation of screeners or gate/ticket agents.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
At LGA the other day, while joining the TSA queue for a Spirit flight, I was briefly assessed by the private security/screening individuals checking the boarding passes. I normally carry a backpack on wheels that slightly exceeds personal item size. One screener asked the other, "Is this carry-on?", the other looked and shrugged so I was waved through.