Couple flies Allegiant to Disney World. They have a trick for getting around the ‘one carry-on’ policy—without paying bag fees. Here’s how
A couple took an Allegiant Air flight to Disney World. So, they shared one amazing trick to take on an “extra carry-on” onboard.
TikToker Delusional Disney Dad (@delusionaldisneydad) mentioned that his wife discovered a secret way to bring some extra clothing, snacks, and items onto their flight. The key? Bringing a diaper bag onboard.
“ Allegiant does say that you can have a diaper bag that flies for free for kids in diapers,” the man said. “My youngest is four. He’s been diaper-free for a while now. Guess who’s packing a diaper bag?”
The family also packed a medical bag despite not having any notable medical issues. Then, they stretched their “single” carry-on into three additional items that made it significantly easier to handle a long-term trip.
The tips, which he described in a video with over 1,290 views, save families money by avoiding some pesky carry-on fees. The TikToker specifically packed a ‘diaper bag’ full of goodies to save money for the family’s February Disney World trip, which left a huge, Mickey-sized gap in their discretionary spending. But, it left some commenters wondering whether the advice could translate to other airlines and situations.
What is Allegiant’s carry-on policy?
Allegiant Air has some notable restrictions compared to other airlines, but they do have some lax points that can allow customers to bring extra items onboard. They allow one free carry-on item per customer, plus any necessary medical supplies and devices. Coats, umbrellas, and other small items can come onboard without being checked as a “personal item” or carry-on.
They allow families to bring one free diaper bag per paying customer, with the caveat that flight attendants can ask about “the nature” of the bag at any time during travel. So, they technically allow families and those with medical needs to bring on a few additional bags, just as the Delusional Disney Dad described.
Every passenger has the right to bring one carry-on bag onboard, but they have to pay for it. There are no free carry-on bags on Allegiant Air flights. Additionally, customers can check up to four bags per passenger, which are available for pre-purchase.
Which airlines allow customers to bring on a free diaper bag?
There are other airlines that allow customers to bring on free diaper bags. For instance, American Airlines has a policy that doesn’t count a diaper bag as a “personal item.”
Spirit Airlines has a specific rule that only children under two get that free diaper bag, but it still allows customers to bring one on without it counting as a personal item.
Even Frontier Airlines, a group notorious for being stingy with personal items, allows customers to bring on a diaper bag that isn’t counted as a carry-on.
What about medical bags?
Most major airlines follow federal accessibility laws and therefore allow customers to bring on a medical bag if needed. That’s because the U.S. The Department of Transportation explicitly requires that airlines allow passengers to bring on medically necessary devices and equipment with no additional fees.
It’s worth noting that airline officials can check bags at any time to ensure they are actually medically necessary.
The Delusional Disney Dad’s family, at the very least, packed actual medical items inside their medical bag like “ Band-Aids, sunscreens, hand sanitizer, [a] tiny thermometer,” and Tylenol.
Plus, the Delusional Disney Dad seemingly recommends keeping discussions of potential “extra carry-ons” hacks as hypothetical, especially when boarding a flight with any given airline. He even stated, “ If Allegiant is watching, hypothetical, all of this was hypothetical. Please don’t come for me.”
Why do families feel the need to work the system?
In recent history, some airlines have become more and more stringent with personal items and carry-ons. Take Frontier, for example, an airline that has a literal, proven history of paying gate agents to add additional fees for personal items.
With that in mind, passengers can feel stuck in an “us versus them” mentality. When packing for a trip and needing a large amount of carry-ons, it can help to not be saddled with hundreds of extra dollars in baggage fees.
So, the Delusional Disney Dad’s strategy of splitting up personal carry-ons into multiple bags and taking carry-ons for additional vacation items, especially when airlines are trying to save money on items, can save some costs. Commenters also recommended other (theoretically more ethical) strategies like vacuum sealing items inside personal carry-ons to save space, or other airlines that had more complimentary services that made it easier to fly for big trips.
@delusionaldisneydad Allegiant rules are very clear. My wife is even clearer. And somehow it’s my responsibility to make it all work for our Disney trip next month. ✈️?? @Walt Disney World @Disney Parks #waltdisneyworld #allegiantair #disneyinfluencer #disneyadult #disneymath ♬ Old Disney Swing Jazz – Nico
The Mary Sue has reached out to Allegiant Air via email and The Delusional Disney Dad via TikTok direct message for comment.
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