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The inaugural March 31 flight of Allegiant Air from Billings will tempt gamblers with $59 one-way fares, champagne, games, prizes and - who else? - Elvis himself as tour guide to Sin City.
Eleven days after America West stopped flying from Billings to Phoenix and Las Vegas, Allegiant Air stepped in with two nonstop flights per week to Las Vegas.
"Americans no longer have the luxury of two-week vacations anymore. They need to get to the fun and excitement fast," said Tyri Squyres, director of corporate communications for Allegiant.
She and Stacey Shea, who describes herself as a showgirl/artist who promotes Las Vegas, made the announcement Tuesday afternoon at Billings Logan International Airport. Shea, clad in sequins and a Las Vegas tiara, was dressed for the tropics or the casino stage. She lucked out with a 61-degree day in Billings and was able to venture outside without frostbite setting in.
Bruce Putnam, Billings director of aviation and transit, said he's been talking with Allegiant for a long time about coming to Billings.
"This is a significant enhancement for our community," he said.
Interim City Administrator Tina Volek said the flights open up another opportunity.
"The flights go both ways. We hope to create a tourism exchange," she said.
While business travelers may use these flights, the two-times-a-week schedule doesn't offer much flexibility.
Flights on a 150-seat MD-80 jet will leave Billings at 7:50 p.m. and arrive in Las Vegas at 8:55 p.m. on Fridays and Mondays.
Return flights leave Vegas at 4 p.m. local time arriving in Billings at 7:10 p.m. Fridays and Mondays.
The fares as low as $59 each way must be booked before Feb. 17 through the airlines Web site: www.allegiantair.com. Travel must be competed by the end of September.
There are black-out dates for the low fares in mid-April and the end of May. Some other charges not included are a $10.20 per leg security fee and a $5 per leg fee if you don't book on the Web site.
Reservations are ticketless, but nonrefundable and Allegiant charges for drinks and snacks. The tourist carrier also books vacation packages. Allegiant may not hire any Billings employees, but will work with other carriers to handle the travelers.
Chris Hall, co-owner of Chris Hall Travel Service in Billings, said she has seen Allegiant fares as low as $29 each way and as high as $159 each way. On average, the fares are half what other carriers charge for their package tours, she said.
"They've been going into Missoula and I was hoping once America West was leaving, they would say, 'Hey, let's move into Billings,' " Hall said.
Allegiant Air, founded in 1997 has 600 employees and flies 22 MD-80 series jets. The privately held company focuses on leisure travelers.
Allegiant now flies scheduled flights from 30 U.S. cities to Las Vegas and from 14 cities to Orlando, Fla. The airline also flies charter flights in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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