I'm sorry to say my first experience with Allegiant was not a pleasant one. We've all become accustomed to lower price no frills airlines thanks to JetBlue and Southwest, but this has gone too far. I was not thrilled that I had to pay for seat assignments for my family to ensure we could sit together and all seats carry a price. I was mildly annoyed when I got to the airport and had to rearrange a couple bags because their weight restriction for checked bags is 20% lower than the industry standard (40lbs instead of 50lbs). I was surprised when someone in the waiting area suggested grabbing a beverage before boarding because there is nothing complimentary including water on the plane. However, I was totally disgusted when I got on the plane and found people sitting in our seats and was told by the flight attendant that it was open seating and we would have to split up and sit wherever we could find space. The worst part is that after complaining to Allegiant about the $20/person I was forced to pay for those seats, they would not refund the seating price. At this point I would pay more to travel on an airline where I was treated better. I was surprised that they didn't have coin slots on the bathrooms or an exit fee.

Yep -- that is what traveling w/ allegiant is like . . .

The ONLY benefit flying them is they serve some small and/or remote towns that w/o Allegiant, would have no commercial service at all.

Southwest is their own. JetBlue and Virgin America is another category. And then, Spirit/Allegiant/Frontier and the rest are another. Frontier moved from the 2nd group to the 3rd recently. Don't make the mistake of thinking the groups are similar.

Wait, you meant to tell me that a low-cost carrier gave a bad experience? Say it isn't so!

I wouldn't expect much for a low-cost carrier either, but if I was denied the seats I had paid an extra $20 per seat for, and wasn't refunded that amount, I would be pi$$ed too and at least try to contest the charge with my credit card company.

It's fraud, pure and simple.