Allegiant Is Adding First Class in 2027

Allegiant announced Tuesday that it's introducing a proper first class cabin, called Allegiant First, launching in spring 2027 on select aircraft. Alongside it, free beverage service starts across Allegiant flights on August 1.

It's the second major ultra-low-cost carrier premium announcement this week — coming days after JetBlue's BlueFirst reveal.

Everyone is moving toward premium. Even the airlines that built their brands on being the opposite.

What Allegiant First Actually Is

Allegiant First is an eight seat premium cabin with the following stats:

• 37-inch pitch (standard economy on Allegiant is around 30 inches)
• 5-inch recline
• Calf rests and adjustable headrest
• Enhanced amenities and upgraded service elements

The offering looks quite nice based off the airline's dedicated web page. Seats are similar to other domestic first products, but include leg rests and large drink trays which aren't always standard.

Allegiant First will also include priority check-in and boarding, one personal item, one carry-on bag, and one checked bag up to 70 pounds. Sales are expected to open mid-August and will initially be available on select routes to and from Ft. Myers and Punta Gorda.

The Free Beverage Part

The more immediate change: complimentary beverage service across all Allegiant flights begins August 1, 2026. Expect the standard assortment of free soft drinks, juice, and water. This is a first for Allegiant.

Allways Rewards Visa cardholders get even more. They'll receive a free beverage per flight from a broader menu including coffee, protein shakes, sports drinks, or an alcoholic drink with mixer worth up to $16.

Have We Seen This Before?

Yes. Sort of. And it's worth taking seriously.

Spirit Airlines pioneered the ULCC premium concept with their Big Front Seats — a wider seating configuration at the front of the aircraft without the traditional first class amenities. It was an intermediate product, cheaper than a real first class ticket but more comfortable than economy.

Of course we know what happened to Spirit. Whatever revenue those Big Front Seats generated wasn't enough to offset the structural challenges facing the ULCC model in 2025.

Two things stand out about Allegiant's approach that give it a better chance than Spirit's:

The bag allowance bundling. Including a personal item, carry-on, and checked bag in the fare price simplifies pricing enough for easy comparisons to a legacy carrier first class — where a $150 Allegiant First ticket with bags included compares against a $250 ticket on a legacy carrier.

The Sun Country integration. Allegiant and Sun Country are merging. Sun Country runs a slightly different model with more of a hybrid ULCC/legacy character, so this announcement could signal the start of a harmonization in their commercial approaches.

The Bigger Pattern

The old low-cost carrier model — everything unbundled, everyone in the same seat, race to the bottom on fares — is quietly being replaced. It's a recognition that leisure travel demand for a more premium experiences is real. Whether Allegiant First specifically pays off depends on execution, pricing, and how the Sun Country merger plays out. But the strategic direction is clear and consistent across almost the entire domestic industry. The days of Allegiant, Spirit, and Frontier as pure ULCCs are ending. My guess is that what comes next is going to look more like what United and Delta already do (at a slightly lower price point.)

Source: Allegiant Newsroom

Related: JetBlue Is Adding First Class Beyond Mint · Spirit Airlines Shutdown: Rescue Fares Roundup