Flight Critique: Allegiant Air Flight 3245 (PDX-PVU)

1.) Aircraft: Airbus A320. Third time flying with Allegiant Air, fifth time overall experiencing an ultra low-cost carrier. Being that this is a flight on a ULCC, expectations had to be managed regarding the type of service from this airline and catered to my needs and travel style by paying for the extras on top of the base fare; in my case, I paid for seat selection as well as for a carry-on bag in order to utilize the overhead storage bin.

2.) Flight Time: Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes

3.) Flight departed 45 minutes behind schedule due to a few late-arriving passengers.

4.) Being a firm believer in the fact that flying commercial (whether it be full-service or low-cost carriers) is much more enjoyable with at least a drink to enjoy while en route, I "splurged" on myself by purchasing a drink and snack from the buy-on-board menu.

5.) Flight was full but given the short duration, it was tolerable. And the Provo-based crew were pleasant people. Overall, the flight did it's job of getting me from Point A to Point B, which is what the primary task of any low-cost carrier should ALWAYS be!

Photos from the flight:

Allegiant Air Airbus A320-214 (N262NV) arriving on its inbound flight from Idaho Falls as AAY3229, the same route and flight number I flew earlier this month at the end of my Idaho vacation.

N262NV taxiing to the gate. As is the case with any Allegiant Airbus with the older wingtip fence, this airframe is a second-hand in their fleet. Previously flew with Saudi Arabian Airlines as HZ-AS15. This is a much older airframe at 14 years old and first delivered to the Saudi carrier in 2009 after being built in Toulouse, France.

A few minutes after getting airborne out of PDX and already going east and then southeast bound.

A view of Mt. Jefferson out in the distance as we crossed the Cascade range going in towards central Oregon.

Landscape below has changed, with a view of the mighty Snake River, which means we were well-into Idaho.

View of Mountain Home Air Force Base, which meant we were just past Boise.

Passing Twin Falls, Idaho with a view of Twin Falls Regional Airport.

Coming up over the northern shores of the Great Salt Lake, which means we were nearing the end of the flight.

Continuing the descent towards Provo as we hugged the eastern shoreline of the Great Salt Lake.

Now over Utah Lake and passing by Saratoga Springs.

Short final for Runway 13 into Provo.

Landing rollout on Runway 13, a runway I'm very familiar with, having utilized it on my earliest days of flight training. Great to be back in Utah, but definitely still some mixed feelings about flying into Provo, where my experiences with UVU's aviation program was less-than-stellar...

Parked at the gate, right next to a Breeze Airways E-195! Still, flying into Provo certainly feels convenient and a great alternative to Salt Lake City, especially since the former now has a brand-new terminal while latter is undergoing a major terminal renovations!