Travel Guide
First-Ever Commercial Flights Launching To Popular U.S. Beach City In May
May
It seems like we can fly anywhere, but that’s actually not the case. At least one of America’s top destinations is still behind the times.
This popular summer getaway has always been reached the old-fashioned way.
But starting later this month, that will all be set to change, so you will no longer have to argue about who gets to pick the music on a road trip.
Now you can drown out society with your AirPods on the first-ever commercial flight to Gulf Shores, Alabama.
That’s right — the go-to summer vacation spot for thousands upon thousands of people has never launched a commercial flight before.
Gulf Shores’ former private airport is officially set to turn public, like Instagram official, with local news source FOX 10 announcing that required emergency drills are underway to ensure a safe operation.
But not to worry; all checks and balances are in place for the official blue-ribbon cutting May 21, 2025.
Allegiant Airlines Is Gulf Shores’ First Carrier
Kinda hard to compete with Florida without an airport, but Gulf Shores has done a phenomenal job all things considered.
I grew up in Texas and knew many people who could not wait for the day to escape the summer heat by blasting the A/C for hours on end, ultimately reaching the vibrant beach town of Gulf Shores, Alabama.
In fact, this has been the case for much of the Gulf states as Gulf Shores is one of the closest paradises driving wise.
Despite being two states over, Gulf Shores is even closer for Texans than the Lone Star State’s very own white sand paradise of South Padre Island hence it’s become a road trip tradition for decades.
But, budget airline Allegiant Air is here to offer another way should you choose and as tariffs and inflation continue to cause economic chaos, who knows, maybe airfare is even more affordable than gas.
Well, except for Buc-ee’s. Nobody beats the beaver.
Allegiant is set to anchor Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF) starting off with 6 routes, but sorry fam, none of them are from Texas:
- Knoxville, TN (TYS) – beginning May 21, 2025
- Cincinnati, OH (CVG) – beginning May 22, 2025
- Fayetteville/Bentonville, AK (XNA) – beginning May 22, 2025
- Houston, TX (HOU) – beginning May 22, 2025
- Belleville, IL (BLV) – beginning May 23, 2025
- Kansas City, MO (MCI) – beginning May 24, 2025
What It’s Like Flying With Allegiant Airlines
This is always surprising to people — Allegiant Airlines is one of my favorite budget airlines. The problem is they don’t fly that many notable places.
I haven’t had the chance to fly with them in years since their options from San Diego have dwindled to almost nothing (no offense, Des Moines.).
But, if I had the choice, I’d fly Allegiant over and over if I could. First off, they’re the only low-cost carrier to actually have a reasonably sized Personal Item to carry on board for free and they’ve undergone a major overhaul fleet-wise since being called out in that one cringey 60 Minutes episode.
If you’ve flown budget airlines such as more popular Frontier or Spirit, it’s the same setup when booking, and it’s always important to double-check your add-ons when booking, such as seat selections, baggage, etc.
But unlike Frontier’s snooty employees who give you nothing but robotic answers when things go awry and Spirit’s bankruptcy woes and overpriced everything, I’ve always found Allegiant to be just as chipper as Southwest and never had a disruption.
Plus, Allegiant has their own resort. They have to be doing something right…right?
Why Visit Gulf Shores This Summer?
Given Gulf Shores is now easier to reach than ever, there’s a reason it’s been worth a road trip all along.
First, Gulf Shores is stunningly beautiful, where it’s arguable in this case it’s the destination, not the journey, despite the bygone eras of road trippers coming down.
This popular beach getaway is gleaming with white-sand shores backed by gorgeous blue waters, giving much of Florida a run for its money as there are fun dolphin cruises, parasailing, and waterway run-offs to explore by kayak or paddleboard.
Second, Gulf Shores is inviting for everyone. Whether you’re on a couples getaway, ‘golden years’ senior trip, or bringing the whole crew along, there’s something for everyone.
Third, despite being a popular vacation spot, one could argue Gulf Shores is still unspoiled as there aren’t as many flashy beach hotels taking up space that you might suspect.
In fact, most vacationers opt for condo rentals.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
