LAS VEGAS – Members of TWU Local 577, representing more than 600 flight attendants at Allegiant Air, are continuing efforts to educate consumers with digital billboards in multiple locations in Las Vegas.

The billboards, with a suitcase illustration, ask: “Your Bags Are Packed, But Will Allegiant Be There?” The advertisements, which will appear in rotating locations around the city during July and August, refer consumers to WillAllegiantBeThere.org, a TWU website which details reported passenger delays, flight cancellations, abandonments of routes and cities and extra fees which are part of the costs of travel for Allegiant customers.

“Our flight attendants want our airline to succeed – and we believe success includes providing the highest possible standard of customer service,” said Debra Petersen-Barber, an Allegiant flight attendant who is lead negotiator for TWU Local 577.

Allegiant’s corporate headquarters are located in Las Vegas, and the company offers flights from McCarran International Airport to 48 destinations in 24 U.S. states, including Hawaii.

“Customers deserve full information when spending their hard-earned travel dollars,” said TWU Organizing Director Frank McCann.

Twice this summer, Allegiant has reportedly left passengers stranded on the tarmac in triple digit heat, once in Las Vegas and once in Phoenix. Earlier this year, passengers on their way to Hawaii faced reported delays of up to 52 hours.

In addition, according to the “UnRoute Map” on WillAllegiantBeThere.com, the airline has cancelled more than 20 routes and has abandoned service altogether to 11 communities. Last fall, the company reportedly cancelled a scheduled new route from Monterey, CA to Hawaii before a single flight ever left the ground.

Extra fees charged by the company can reportedly double the price of a “discounted” Allegiant ticket. The airline charges to check a bag, to carry on a bag, to book a flight by phone, to use a credit card to pay for a flight and $2.00 for bottled water. There are no complimentary food, snacks or beverages available on Allegiant flights.

“The best way to address these reported concerns is for labor and management to work together as a team,” said McCann.

A majority of flight attendants at Allegiant voted in favor of TWU representation in December 2010. More than two years later, workers are still negotiating – with the assistance of federal mediators – to achieve a first contract agreement.

The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) represents 200,000 workers and retirees in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads, including 11,000 flight attendants. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.