Allegiant Air Denied Boarding: What to Do, Compensation & Next Steps

Written By Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated: 16 April 2025

In the first half of 2024, Allegiant Air reportedly had no involuntary denied boarding incidents according to data from the US Department of Transportation. Nevertheless, the airline does overbook flights which means that there is always a chance you could be bumped as a result.

In this guide, we’ll explain what to do if you’re denied boarding an Allegiant flight, what you’re owed, and how to get compensated for the inconvenience caused.

What Happens When an Allegiant Flight is Overbooked?

Once the airline knows that a particular flight is overbooked, here’s how events usually unfold.

Before anyone is chosen to be denied boarding against their will, Allegiant gate agents will first call for volunteers. You might also be asked to volunteer your seat during the check-in process or earlier.

Volunteers will be offered a replacement flight as well as an agreed-upon compensation package that could be in the form of vouchers, travel credits, points or a combination of these things. Usually, the value will increase as the flight gets closer to departure, so if you want to secure a better deal, don’t be the first person to accept the offer.

If Allegiant can’t find enough volunteers to surrender their seats, they will have no choice but to select passengers to bump. In most cases, the passengers selected will be those who checked-in last or have the least expensive seats.

Does Allegiant Owe You Compensation for Denied Boarding?

Yes. If you have a confirmed reservation, checked-in on time, and were bumped from your flight because it was overbooked, Allegiant owes you as much as $2,150, depending on how late you arrive at your destination. Also, US DOT rules require the airline to give you your cash payout within 24 hours.

Even though the airline is required to provide cash compensation to bumped passengers, several travelers explained in TripAdvisor reviews that Allegiant did not follow through with this promise.

Melissa wrote: “Allegiant offered us a refund and a Visa pre-paid card for compensation. They never issued our refund or the compensation. From what I can tell, no one else received compensation either.”

Joseph W. wrote: “They overbooked my flight then refused even a credit when I was forced to book a later flight.”

If you’ve been bumped from an Allegiant flight because of overbooking, check to see if you’re eligible for compensation. Just enter your flight details below.Check Your Flight

Will Allegiant Help You if You’re Bumped?

Fortunately, if you’re denied boarding, you are protected by certain rights as a U.S. passenger. This means that, no matter why you were bumped, you’ll be given the following:

• A document describing exactly why you were bumped and your passenger rights, 
• A seat on the next available flight to your destination at no additional cost, or
• A full ticket refund which must be issued within 7 days for flights purchased with a credit card, and 20 days if you paid for your ticket another way.

Bumped from an Allegiant Flight? Take these Steps

• Get written confirmation of why you were denied boarding.
• Choose between a replacement flight or a refund.
• Collect supporting evidence of your experience, including any communication with Allegiant, screenshots of notifications in the mobile app, boarding passes, and anything else that can prove you were bumped.

You should receive your cash payout within 24 hours, but if for some reason you don’t, you will have ample proof to submit a compensation claim.

When Denied Boarding Compensation Won’t Apply

You’re owed cash compensation if you’re bumped from an oversold flight, but if you’re denied boarding for other reasons then you won’t be eligible. These reasons are as follows:

• Presenting communicable illness 
• Engaging in unruly behavior towards the crew and other passengers. 
• Intoxication or acting under the influence of illegal drugs
• Posing a security or safety concern
• Failure to have the correct travel documents
• Interfering with the duties of the flight crew

Why Overbooking Happens with Allegiant Air

Basically, overbooking is a way to maximize profits. Airlines around the world legally oversell flights as a way of offsetting passenger no-shows. But they don’t do this randomly. In fact, Allegiant uses complex calculations to estimate how many passengers are likely to miss a given flight. Then, based on this information, they will overbook accordingly. This ensures that every flight operates at capacity, which ensures higher profits.

How to File a Compensation Claim

Whether you volunteered your seat or were bumped from an overbooked flight, you should be compensated immediately, or at most, within 24 hours. If you do not receive the compensation you’ve been promised, you’ll need to file a claim with Allegiant.

1. Go to the airline’s official website and look for the claims submission tab. You can also look for Allegiant contact email information.
2. Write a letter to the airline describing what happened, along with all the details of your trip. You should also mention that you are asking for denied boarding compensation as per US DOT rules. You can use this letter template as a guide.
3. Next, upload copies of the document that was given to you when you were denied boarding as well as boarding passes and as much supporting evidence as you can provide. Remember, you have to show the airline what happened and why you are owed compensation. 

Need Help with a Claim?

If you’ve been bumped from a flight and need help getting compensated, AirAdvisor is happy to assist. We’ve been protecting air passengers’ rights since 2017, and our legal team has a 98% win rate for airline compensation claims. See if your flight is eligible by entering your basic flight details into our free compensation checker.

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