Allegiant cuts Long Beach-Las Vegas airfares [Updated]

Allegiant lowered its airfares between Long Beach and Las Vegas to $19.99 each way on Tuesday to celebrate expansion of the service scheduled for September. But the low fare doesn’t tell the whole story -- that’s buried in the fine print.

--- The deal: Allegiant will expand its four flights weekly between the two cities Sept. 1 and plans to expand to 12 nonstop flights weekly by mid-November, an airline statement says.

-- The caveat: To get the $19.99 airfare (or any tickets on Allegiant), you are charged a $16.99 “convenience fee” per passenger, whether you book online or by phone. The only way to avoid fees is to buy your ticket at an Allegiant ticket office.

Where are those offices? Here’s a list. The only one listed in Southern California is open noon to 4 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); it’s closed on other days. But as the website notes, “in most cities” served by Allegiant, airport ticket purchase is also available for one hour following each scheduled departure. Long Beach is one of those cities, airline spokeswoman Kristine Shattuck-Cooper said.

[For the Record at 9:55 a.m. July 21: A prior version of this post said Allegiant would start service between Long Beach and Las Vegas on Sept. 1. The airline currently operates four flights weekly between the two cities. Also, the post said Allegiant’s only ticket office in Southern California is at LAX. But you can also buy tickets at airport ticket counters during limited time periods.]

-- When: The offer is good for travel completed by Jan. 17, but it must be purchased by Aug. 8.

-- Tested: I found availability online for $19.99 each way or $39.98 round trip leaving Long Beach on Oct. 1 and returning Oct. 3 from Las Vegas. Taxes and “convenience fees” add an additional $38.39. Total cost: $78.37. (Note: The online booking system automatically adds a $14.99 Las Vegas airport shuttle to the ticket, but you have to opt out to remove this charge.)

In poking around on Allegiant’s website, I also found a $10.01 fare each way leaving Sept. 4 and returning Sept. 8. The round-trip fare came to $58.41 with taxes and fees; however, I didn’t find many dates at that low price. One last fee warning: Allegiant charges up to $35 per checked bag too, so make sure you factor in the cost before you buy.

-- Contact: Allegiant, (702) 505-8888