You can’t help but feel bad for airline representatives when they have to deal with customers like this…
In this post:
Allegiant’s $5 boarding pass fee leads to arrest
Police body camera footage has been posted online of an incident that happened on August 3, 2025, at the Allegiant Air check-in desk at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD). Allegiant is an ultra low cost carrier, and the airline charges service fees for all kinds of things.
Among those things, there’s a $5 fee to print a boarding pass at the airport, for those who choose not to use the app or print their boarding pass at home. This is disclosed on the carrier’s optional services & fees page.
Regardless of how you feel about that fee, it’s probably not worth getting arrested over $5… which brings us to this incident. Police were called to the Allegiant check-in desk, over a reported disturbance. The issue? A man was really, really angry that he was being asked to pay $5 to print a boarding pass.
He claimed he “already bought a ticket,” and therefore didn’t have to pay that $5 fee for the boarding pass. He also claimed that last year he didn’t have to pay a fee to print a boarding pass at the airport. When this was explained to him, he said “I will sue this company.”
He police officer acted really respectfully, but this guy kept trying to jump in and interrupt him. But the man insisted he wanted to record the Allegiant representatives telling him he had to pay the $5 fee, because he was seemingly convinced he was being scammed.
The police officer explained that his body camera was on, but the man said that often goes missing. So it then got super cringe, as the man demanded that “I want to hear you say that you’re denying me on the aircraft because I won’t spend $5 for something I already paid for, and I won’t download something on my phone.”
He then proceeded to throw $5 in cash at the Allegiant representative, but they explained that they can only accept credit or debit cards, as is common practice in the airline industry, to which he responded, “so now you’re denying me because I don’t have a credit card,” and he claimed the agent was lying (in fairness, the agent said they haven’t accepted credit cards since 9/11, which isn’t quite accurate, but it’s besides the point).
When the cop refused to take his side and somehow compel Allegiant to let him fly, he told the cop “you’re an idiot, you’re stupid and you’re ignorant.” The cop warned he was going to be trespassed if he didn’t move, and he responded “you don’t know what you’re talking about, and they’re lying,” and then he claimed they’re refusing him service, and that this is a crime.
He was then told he was going to get a trespass warning, and was asked to sit on a bench. However, he refused and got really aggressive, at which point he was arrested.
You can watch the whole incident for yourself below.
The level of ignorance here is astounding
I’m not sure what exactly caused this guy’s issues, and if he’s just a jerk who thinks he’s never wrong, or if there’s something more serious wrong with him.
Regardless, no one has the right to treat customer-facing employees this way, especially when they’re just doing their job. They were literally enforcing the company’s policy, and he treated them as if they were personally trying to offend and scam him.
Then he did the same thing with the cops. Like, dude, once you’re on the verge of being trespassed, just cooperate with the cops, and don’t make the situation worse for yourself. But this guy’s pride got in the way.
Honestly, this guy would be a risk once he gets on the flight as well. Imagine if a flight attendant told him he needed to put on his seatbelt or store his carry-on bag. I’m sure they’d also get a “you don’t know what you’re talking about” response, and he’d accuse them of lying and would threaten to sue them.
Bottom line
An Allegiant Air customer got arrested after putting up a massive fight over the carrier’s $5 boarding pass fee. He was convinced the employees were trying to scam him, or something, and became aggressive. The police had to be called, he was warned that he’d be trespassed, and he was still combative, so he ended up being arrested.
Folks, please don’t act this way at airports…
Screw Allegiant, they are a total ripoff company. The guy was right to be upset. Allegiant has a very bad, money hungry, nickel dime policy. The officer did not handle the situation as well as the report suggests (based on the video). Allegiant should not have this ripoff policy but they should also have solved the situation by giving him a "one-time" printed boarding pass.
The old guy was grumpy but generally not doing anything that needed to get arrested for.
Allegiant employees could have been more sympathetic to handicapped elderly guy.
Completely agree just waive the damn fee you think this reflects well on the airline.
The guy was wrong but I still side with him on this.
It's interesting how the charitableness of our society and weakness of natural selection function has allowed people like this to successfully survive to old age!
Dude, your privilege is showing. If you were not some white piece of s***, you would have already be pushed to the floor or shot so be grateful that you were just arrested.
Sucks to be you.
Trump said he will pardon him. Trump said the airline representative was fat, ugly and a RINO. Trump said he is the worldwide expert on airline ticketing, and ticket agents often come up to him with tears in their eyes, calling him "Sir" and telling him that he is the best president in the last 10,000 years.
Can I point out that in most places in the U.S., refusing to accept cash is -- in fact -- against the law? The man's behavior is deplorable but if Allegiant wants to have restrictive rules it should be required to accept cash as legal tender. I say this as somoene who hasn't touched U.S. cash in years.
You are actually wrong. Yes the Cash is Legal Tender, but its actually up to a company if they will accept cash or not.
It is not a Legal Requirement to accept cash. Its LEGAL to not accept cash as a business, unless a state or city law requires it.
Completely agree just waive the damn fee you think this reflects well on the airline.
LOL!! Middle-aged white people are so stupid and cheap!! Hope he enjoyed his brief holiday in jail.
Lucky this guy wasn't trying to check in with Ryanair. I am sure the £55 that Ryanair charges for the same thing would have caused a full-blown meltdown.
Just to be fair to this bloke, I as a UK resident who is familiar with low-cost carriers, just tried to make a dummy booking with Allegiant from Punta Gorda to Chicago Midway (on a desktop computer using chrome). At no point throughout the booking process...
Lucky this guy wasn't trying to check in with Ryanair. I am sure the £55 that Ryanair charges for the same thing would have caused a full-blown meltdown.
Just to be fair to this bloke, I as a UK resident who is familiar with low-cost carriers, just tried to make a dummy booking with Allegiant from Punta Gorda to Chicago Midway (on a desktop computer using chrome). At no point throughout the booking process was it made clear that one must check in online and print your own boarding pass or face a 5USD fee (I did not open the terms and conditions/conditions of carriage and should not have for something like this). I therefore fully understand how he feels he was being scammed. The anger is not really justified and the whole process could have been handled better by all parties (particularly the passenger) but Allegiant should make this clear throughout the booking process.
You are correct.
Its only on the last page at check out where you have to click to accept the terms and conditions and when you click it to read it. the following statement is there.
Boarding Pass Printing - A $5.00 per boarding pass fee will apply to passengers who choose to have a boarding pass printed out at select domestic airport locations. To avoid this charge, passengers may check in online and...
You are correct.
Its only on the last page at check out where you have to click to accept the terms and conditions and when you click it to read it. the following statement is there.
Boarding Pass Printing - A $5.00 per boarding pass fee will apply to passengers who choose to have a boarding pass printed out at select domestic airport locations. To avoid this charge, passengers may check in online and bring a printed paper boarding pass to the airport, or use the Allegiant mobile boarding pass.
But..why should YOU not have to open the terms and conditions for something like this.
Everyone makes the agreement when they click it. Its not the airlines fault people don't read it.
Hey not everyone is on valium for their flights. There is a lot of stress going on for air travellers. And they can snap.
Best is for agent to calm things down and not be smart.
The police could have done the same.
De-escalate De-escalate De-escalate and it all goes away.
Nothing like a good boomer chad crash out caught on video. He could have literally just downloaded the app… instead he chose to go to jail. Who does that?
Just a bit of a hot take: I'd like to see airports Allegiant serves install no-cost boarding pass printers, and if Allegiant doesn't like it, cordially (and publicly) invite Allegiant to serve another airport.
That being said, I don't think I have a lot of sympathy for anyone in this situation. The guy was being a jerk. Allegiant is...being Allegiant.
Honestly, I'd have liked to see the cop pull out a credit card, take the...
Just a bit of a hot take: I'd like to see airports Allegiant serves install no-cost boarding pass printers, and if Allegiant doesn't like it, cordially (and publicly) invite Allegiant to serve another airport.
That being said, I don't think I have a lot of sympathy for anyone in this situation. The guy was being a jerk. Allegiant is...being Allegiant.
Honestly, I'd have liked to see the cop pull out a credit card, take the guy's cash, and then order the Allegiant rep to print the pass.
Me thinks something is seriously wrong with him, otherwise why would he fly THAT airline.
A certain demographic has become increasingly both angry and entitled, so I'm not surprised when incidents like this happen. Pretty much "shouldn't be allowed out without supervision".
This guy, I have to wonder if there's some additional issue (off his meds, mental) or substance abuse (a lot of heavy users are worse when they aren't drunk/high)... Getting arrested for this he pretty clearly deserves, but being willing to be arrested for $5 is absurd.
The man might have presented himself poorly but he is not completely wrong.
(1) Many people do not want to download unnecessary apps due to data, privacy and other issues
(2) I think there should be some situations that the $5 fee would not apply such as for seniors or if people have a good reason, etc.
I wonder how many people complain about this type of fee. There is a difference between...
The man might have presented himself poorly but he is not completely wrong.
(1) Many people do not want to download unnecessary apps due to data, privacy and other issues
(2) I think there should be some situations that the $5 fee would not apply such as for seniors or if people have a good reason, etc.
I wonder how many people complain about this type of fee. There is a difference between pretty common extra fees like bag fees these days compared to a boarding pass printing fee...
that fee can be avoided by flying any other airline.
Then I suggest you start your own airline.
Can't agree with you Ben, especially about "entitlement". Just see a sad situation here.
I'm sure this could have been resolved with a bit of empathy and assistance, instead everyone just wanted to do their job and because he wasn't following their rules, just escalate. When he paid the cash, someone could have used their credit card and taken it instead - explaining they could do that. That's de-escalation. Instead, let's keep going and making...
Can't agree with you Ben, especially about "entitlement". Just see a sad situation here.
I'm sure this could have been resolved with a bit of empathy and assistance, instead everyone just wanted to do their job and because he wasn't following their rules, just escalate. When he paid the cash, someone could have used their credit card and taken it instead - explaining they could do that. That's de-escalation. Instead, let's keep going and making things worse. Why? Power trip?
So much for "to protect and serve". The guy wasn't attacking anyone. And both parties would be better served by finding a compromise, so that both needs are met. Instead of saying tough, you don't have a credit card so get out of here or we lock you up.
You just know how this came about. Florida trailer trash needs to fly somewhere and is totally ignorant about air travel. Squeezes his money so tightly that George Washington screams like a little girl. Looks on Google Flights since, to him and his ilk, Google is something akin to sorcery. Real airlines are a few hundred bucks. Allegiant is $49. Buys ticket on Allegiant, totally ignorant of the fine print since he can't read it...
You just know how this came about. Florida trailer trash needs to fly somewhere and is totally ignorant about air travel. Squeezes his money so tightly that George Washington screams like a little girl. Looks on Google Flights since, to him and his ilk, Google is something akin to sorcery. Real airlines are a few hundred bucks. Allegiant is $49. Buys ticket on Allegiant, totally ignorant of the fine print since he can't read it with his fourth grade education. Can't install an app on his phone; can barely use his phone, so that's no surprise. Discovers he needs something called a boarding pass. Allegiant charges him the standard fee. Bubba explodes because he's already mad that he has to spend money for this flight, he's not spending dime one more. He'll have no problem with posting bail, though; goodness knows he's had to do that before.
Hey Sport-Get therapy for your issues-too numerous to mention.
I think the airline should have just given him a boarding pass. He's obviously a senior citizen, and his shaking indicates some sort of medical condition.
Typical SW Florida white trash
Yeah, the guy wad an ass but that $5.00 is a BS fee. I never fly those low cost carriers for that very reason.
Someone should have just paid the $5.00 for the Guy, comeon!
No
Does anyone want to look up the arrest report and then list his name? Right now he is just a nameless moron.
One more reason I don't fly Allegiant. My how the times have changed,
just saying
He is flying Allegiant so maybe he didn't have the 5 dollars?
Bottom line, vote with your dollar. Join BDS.
Somehow I just knew that Florida Man was going to be a central character when I saw the headline.
Good thing Florida Man didn’t run across this with Ryanair where he would have had to pay a whole lot more for a printed boarding pass - he might have had a stroke.
Boomers acting like fools
You're completely wrong on this one, Ben. The airline IS at fault for trying to nickle and dime everyone with BS surcharges. It's no wonder a customer is going to eventually get irate over this. It's bad customer service and a scam. The airlines and airline staff need to learn: if you're going to treat customers poorly with petty nickle and diming policies, you're going to have angry customers.
How is this bad customer service? Allegiant and the other ULCCs are who they are, and they don’t hide it. It is their business model. They give you cheap, but then you have more ownership of the process and the cost controls.
If this guy doesn’t want to pay for a boarding pass then don’t fly airlines that charge for a boarding pass. And, if you don’t like it maybe call your elected representatives...
How is this bad customer service? Allegiant and the other ULCCs are who they are, and they don’t hide it. It is their business model. They give you cheap, but then you have more ownership of the process and the cost controls.
If this guy doesn’t want to pay for a boarding pass then don’t fly airlines that charge for a boarding pass. And, if you don’t like it maybe call your elected representatives and tell them to change the regulations. They are doing what they are allowed by law to do.
Airline staff has zero say or choice in the matter. Most airlines don't charge $5 for a printed boarding pass. The ULCC do. ULCC are cheap because EVERYTHING is extra from a carry on, to a can of coke, to a printed boarding pass.
If you hate getting nickel and dimed (and I do to) then don't book with ULCC.
Not a scam if the policy is known and clearly stated.
sure the man is a moron but he is a client after all and the staff should probably have given some leeway how to handle situations like this better! Kudos to the police officer - you don't see this often enough in the media showing law enforcement with this much compassion for someone who clearly is having trouble
I didn’t see compassion at all. I saw an interruption and complete lack of de-escalation from the police officer.
You know what would’ve helped? The cop taking the man’s five dollars and then the cop giving his own credit card to the Allegiant rep for the passenger’s boarding pass. No escalation, no arrests, and the man goes on his way.
@TravelinWilly, well said.
Heck, i go into rage issues over a 5 cent fee for a plastic bag at the local big box store.
It is amazing how much more inexpensive and efficient big box stores are when it comes to providing a paper bag or sack over a slip of paper of a simple itsy bitsy boarding pass.
Guess Walmart and Target, know how to not treat their valued customers less than most airlines do. Personally i...
Heck, i go into rage issues over a 5 cent fee for a plastic bag at the local big box store.
It is amazing how much more inexpensive and efficient big box stores are when it comes to providing a paper bag or sack over a slip of paper of a simple itsy bitsy boarding pass.
Guess Walmart and Target, know how to not treat their valued customers less than most airlines do. Personally i think Allegiant should now show and added “call the police availability 25 cent fee” on all of its customers to really extort the rest of the airline traveling public more. I really feel airports should ad a breath our nice air fee too. NOT a fee lover as it impinges upon our American quality of life by creating added hassles and abuse. Just saying.
Another adult clown/toddler wandering this planet. This fool goes to jail over $5. A level of stupid you can't fix. Hopefully Allegiant banned him for life and the airport (I think it was PIE which is much smaller than TPA) should ban him. He should be put on a No Fly List. Them him hitch a ride on the back of a chicken flat bed truck.
Well he does have a point though - if we let companies decide we no longer pay with money and use whatever they want - clearly something has gone wrong! You offer a service to the public part of that is you accepting common means of payment even if its a pain in the butt!
So…um…an individual gets to make these decisions. That seems rather selfish and entitled.
Because some people still feel the need to use paper currency the business should have to offer it even if it costs more to offer it than lose the business? Curious where you draw that line.
Imagine the scene had he got on the plane and found out a can of Coke was $5 AND they accept credit cards only!
Not allowing cash might be illegal. Stores have been successfully sued for not allowing that. Amazon had a genius idea of a having grab and literally go stores for grocery shopping. You're charged via your Amazon Prime account. Philly enacted an order that forced them to take cash. Not taking cash can be considered discrimination.
Try using cash at a Phillies game concession. They might meet the letter of the law by forcing you to visit a reverse ATM to deposit cash to receive a debit card.
@BA, private business in Florida can refuse cash payments for goods and services, as there is no state law currently requiring them to accept cash, though local ordinances like the one in Miami-Dade County do require businesses to accept cash. There was a bill proposed in 2024 in Florida to require businesses in the state to accept cash, but it didn't pass.
Florida man
How do you know he is from Florida? Being IN Florida does ot necessarily mean FROM Florida. Here's a hint: He is in an airport. People in airports often don't live in state / location of the airport. FL gets a lot of visitiors, and this guy might have been on his way home.
Ultimately it's his own fault for not reading the terms he agreed to, and he should take the L with grace to avoid looking like a fool
But I can certainly understand his frustration
As I explained in my airline management days to customers many times: you already aren’t flying today. So your choice is to leave on your own or be escorted to jail. You’re already having a not great day, but it can be fixed - don’t take it to the next level where it becomes something that’s between you and the police and I can’t help you.
It’s more likely that he was shaking, and was taking medication’s for the underlying cause of the tremors that are so visible. Frankly, he needs to see a neurologist if he’s not under a neurologist’s care already.
He said he's taking prescription medication and he was visibly shaking. Many meds have side effects that can trigger uncontrolled anger for simple reasons.
This guy has issues but MY GOODNESS is this a bad policy. Charging people 5$ to print a boarding pass is NUTS!!! That is a policy designed to cause these issues in todays world. People are already on edge when traveling and this is just a way to trigger people. That does not excuse this guy raising his voice and being rude to the employees.
Allegiant’s business model is as a low cost airline. Everything has fees. It’s clearly stated in the website and your receipt. This airline operates like a bus line that flies. So when your flying it or spirit, frontier, breeze, expect to pay for all parts of the process. And I agree this dude seems to have some mental issues going on.
Please don’t lump MX in with the OTHER ULCCs. It’s nuanced, but there’s a difference.
$5 I can accept as reasonable.
Ryanair's GBP/EUR20 is however extortionate.
And going away soon (early Nov, I think).
He got what he deserved, but part of me feels bad. He was shaking his arm several times. I don't think he is well.
Another slow news day for Ben
" throw $5 in cash at the Allegiant representative"? Exaggeration. He wasn't allowed to get near the service desk, so what could he do?
By the way, the police officer is a professional jerk. His voice may be low, but he kept cutting off this man.
Not to split hairs - goodness knows he didn't - but the policy does say "select *domestic* airports"... and to the best of my awareness, Punta Cana is not domestic.
@ Jim -- This was Punta Gorda in Florida, not Punta Cana. :-)
Ah, well, Florida is domestic (for now), though admittedly I've never heard of Punta Gorda... although of course ULCCs are famous for flying into tertiary cities.
Check out …. 16°06'08"N 88°48'30"W …. :-)
Jim/Ben …. Or … 16°06'08"N 88°48'30"W? …. :-)
Once he throws $5 cash at the check in agent and is told “I can’t take your cash,” maybe that should be a sign he is not getting scammed, but is just booked in on a steerage class airline. Now, if this was a GATE agent demanding cash on Frontier because his carry on was “too big,” then he might be on to something.
This guy might actually have some success starting a class action lawsuit. Charging extra for a printed ticket could be seen as an issue. If an elderly person doesn't have a cell phone, know how to work one or has an outdated flip phone, that could force them to pay $5. The way this guy acted wasn't acceptable but there is some merit on changing this policy, especially as ULCC's will soon be slowly disappearing.
There have been class action lawsuits tried for this before against various airlines and they went nowhere. When you buy your ticket you have to positively select that you will generate your own boarding pass or have to pay the $5, credit card only. Frontier charges $20 for airport check in (unless it’s a transaction that requires an agent intervention) and when you buy the ticket you have to select airport assistance or “I will...
There have been class action lawsuits tried for this before against various airlines and they went nowhere. When you buy your ticket you have to positively select that you will generate your own boarding pass or have to pay the $5, credit card only. Frontier charges $20 for airport check in (unless it’s a transaction that requires an agent intervention) and when you buy the ticket you have to select airport assistance or “I will do it myself.” You can’t buy your ticket without doing so.
The airlines provide machines to convert cash to a prepaid card. I should say, a third party provides machines near the airline counters (not just ULCCs, nobody takes cash anymore).
The agent can waive the fee. Spirit will. But you get that once. Then it’s documented that you have been told, and had it waived once. The agents can see that information. “I’ve never been charged for a bag before!” Oh you mean except when flying with us two weeks ago from Myrtle Beach?
But having the right attitude helps. Quickest way to get someone to toe the policy line is to be rude.
And at PGD those aren’t vendor employees. They work directly for Allegiant. I recognize the male supervisor… I have actually interacted with him before - nice guy!
I’m flying on Allegiant myself in 3 hours and my have my boarding pass on my phone.
@Alonzo - He could have printed his boarding pass at home when he checked-in online. The airline doesn't require an electronic boarding pass.
There seems to be a real anger problem with lots of Americans. Drugs/Alcohol/Politics/Financial/Marital/Mental Health/Stress/Entitlement - you name the cause. A sad statement and hopefully something can be done.
BTW I am an American and see it all the time. I travel internationally on a monthly basis, and rarely if ever see it in other countries on the scale that I see it in the US.
No, he just seems like an a-hole.
lol, I left that one out.
Quite right Jeff, we might think it but a gentleman would never put such a profanity in writing. I suppose that the same will be said of me now that I have criticised Aaron …. :-)
Nah, you’re just a troll …. :-)
True to form Aaron, thank you for proving my point once again. Luv-u-2-darlink …. :-)
To quote Larry David, “Your kid isn’t autistic; he’s just an a-hole.”
We dont need to blame on anything the fact some people just arent very nice.
I think there are two major issues a lot of people can't come to terms with in this country. COVID was not a hoax. Trump is a buffoon.
People who have been proven wrong about COVID and Trump have been deeply damaged.
Some seem to lash out when anyone doesn't agree with how they feel. Regardless of the facts.
I think a lot of us have seen it in our own families. It's very sad.
Nah, I travel all the time and see it everywhere.