Airline will reintroduce several routes to Hawaii

ASSOCIATED PRESS
associated press While other U.S. airlines have struggled with the ups and downs of the economy and oil prices, tiny Allegiant Air has been profitable for a decade. Ramp agent Vince Divon retrieves checked items after an Allegiant Air jet parks at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

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Allegiant Air entered the Hawaii market in June 2012 with flights to Honolulu from Las Vegas and Fresno, Calif., and subsequently announced service to Hawaii from eight more mainland cities.

However, Allegiant axed service from Monterey, Calif., a month before its November 2012 debut, and then said in April of this year it will suspend service from seven of its nine remaining cities to Hawaii beginning Aug. 14 due to "a seasonal hiatus."

The affected cities are Boise; Eugene, Ore.; Phoenix; Spokane, Wash.; and the California cities of Fresno, Stockton and Santa Maria. The reduction of service to Hawaii will result in the elimination of 17 flight attendant positions, or 45 percent of the 37 full-time positions in Hawaii. The company is recommending that the affected Hawaii-based flight attendants bid on open jobs in other cities and is offering to pay up to $3,000 in moving expenses.

Spokeswoman Jessica Wheeler said Tuesday that Boise and Spokane service will be resumed for the holiday season during the second week of December and that a new route from the mainland to Hawaii will be announced Tuesday.

Routes from two mainland cities remain unaffected by the suspension of service. Allegiant continues to fly nonstop between Las Vegas and Honolulu, and from Bellingham, Wash., to both Maui and Honolulu.

BREAKING DOWN THE FEES
Part of Allegiant Air’s success lies in the fees it charges for all sorts of extras. They quickly add up: Passengers paid an average of $83 in fees per round-trip ticket. Here is a sampling of some of the additional costs:

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>> Booking a ticket on the Internet: $20

>> Booking on the phone: $50

>> Paying with a credit card instead of a debit card: $8

>> Advance seat assignments: $5-$75 each way, depending on route

>> Placing a bag in the overhead bin: $10-$25 each way if prepaid, depending on route; $50-$75 if purchased at the airport

>> Checking luggage: $30-$70 if prepaid, depending on route; $100-$150 if purchased at the airport

>> Bottle of water onboard: $2

>> Fruit and cheese plate: $5

>> Beer: $5

>> Early boarding: $5

>> Bringing a pet in the cabin: $200 per person