Allegiant Air, historically known as one of the United States’ most disciplined ultra low cost carriers, plans to significantly improve its passenger experience. This includes introducing a first class product, and also adding free drinks in economy.
At this point I don’t think it’ll surprise anyone, but clearly this premium trend isn’t just a fad, but is a fundamental industry shift. I first covered this a couple of weeks ago, but would like to provide an update, as first class tickets are now on sale… and they’re not as cheap as some might assume!
Allegiant First product launches in the spring of 2027
Allegiant plans to introduce a first class product, which will be branded as Allegiant First. This will debut and be phased in on select aircraft as of April 2027, and represents the latest step in the company’s long term strategy to modernize customer experience while expanding ancillary and premium travel offerings for leisure focused travelers.
Allegiant First will consists of eight seats, spread across two rows, in a 2-2 configuration. Seats will have 37″ of pitch, 5″ of recline, calf rests, and adjustable head rests. Each seat will also have USB-A, USB-C, and AC power outlets.
The cabin will provide passengers with priority access to check-in and boarding, and Allegiant First fares will include one personal item, one carry-on bag, and one checked bag weighing up to 70 pounds. Allegiant First will also offer complimentary drinks & snacks, though it remains to be seen if that’s just a selection from the standard buy on board selection, or if there’s a completely different offering.
Flights with the new product have just gone on sale, with the product launching as of the spring of 2027. The cabin will debut on flights to and from Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda (PGD). Allegiant First will complement, and not replace, Allegiant Extra, which is Allegiant’s extra legroom economy seating option.
With Allegiant First tickets now on sale, what are fares like? They’re not as cheap as some people may assume. Looking at a random date from Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda to Atlantic City, you’ll find that economy fares start at $87, while Allegiant First fares start at $371.
Meanwhile looking at a flight from Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda to Boston on a certain date, you’ll find economy fares start at a staggering $429, while Allegiant First fares start at $674.
Keep in mind that even though Allegiant is an ultra low cost carrier, it doesn’t necessarily have as consistently of a price conscious customer base as some other ultra low cost carriers. That’s because the carrier largely operates routes that other airlines don’t fly, so even many people who aren’t that price sensitive fly the airline for the convenience. So I don’t think the airline will have much trouble actually selling its first class with decent yields.
With this development, I think it’s interesting to note that Southwest is the only major carrier in the country that hasn’t (officially) announced plans to introduce first class, though we also have reason to believe that’s coming…
Allegiant adds free non-alcoholic drinks in economy
It’s not just those willing to pay for first class who are getting an upgrade, but also those in economy. As of August 1, 2026, Allegiant has rolled out a free beverage service onboard all flights, instead of charging for virtually everything.
Free drinks include water, soft drinks, juices, etc., so that’s an upgrade. There are still upgraded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase, like cold brew, bloody mary mix, etc.
These updates of course follow Allegiant acquiring Sun Country, and the idea very much seems to be to create a new set of product offerings for the combined passengers of both airlines. Here’s how Allegiant Chief Commercial Officer Drew Wells describes this:
“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.”
Bottom line
Allegiant is improving its passenger experience. Starting in the spring of 2027, we’ll see the airline introduce a first class product, with select flights having a dedicated cabin with eight seats. Tickets are now on sale, and the airline is trying to charge a hefty premium. On top of that, and more immediately, Allegiant is adding free non-alcoholic drinks in economy, rather than having a full buy on board model.
These are all great updates for passengers, and I look forward to learning more about the new first class as we get closer to the launch date.
What do you make of Allegiant’s passenger experience updates?
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