Crystal Travel Pro Explains Perks of Sun Country-Allegiant Merger
This week marked a major shakeup in the airline industry, as Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines announced a deal to merge with Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air.
According to a Crystal-based travel specialist, the move could actually prove beneficial for local consumers.
“It is nice because we’re still keeping a low-cost carrier here, which will help with keeping Delta’s mass market appeal to be a lower price point, hopefully,” said Kara Brown, owner of Crystal-based Experience Culture Travel. “And it’s nice because they go to some of those smaller mid-market locations like Knoxville and Asheville and things like that, where it would take sometimes a longer trip to get there.”
Sun Country’s merger with Allegiant is valued at $1.5 billion.
The move means that Minnesota will lose its hometown airline, as the company will base its headquarters in Las Vegas.
However, company leaders say the combined airline will still have a significant presence at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and connect MSP to Allegiant’s mid-sized markets.
Planes with the Allegiant Air logo will soon be a common sight at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after the company’s planned merger with Sun Country.
More routes
According to an Allegiant news release, the merger will bring together complementary route networks across Allegiant’s small and mid-sized localities and Sun Country’s larger cities and will provide more than 650 routes, including 551 Allegiant routes and 105 Sun Country routes.
Brown also said travelers should prepare to pay fees when booking Allegiant flights.
“It’s low cost, which means that the price that you pay up front for your ticket doesn’t necessarily include baggage, doesn’t necessarily include seat selection,” said Brown. “Might not even include a backpack or a larger item in your carry-on. So, keep that in mind when you’re pricing it out.”
The two airlines will operate independently until the FAA officially approves the merger later this year.
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