What happened in Vegas will stay in Vegas — at least until Thursday for about 200 Allegiant Air passengers who were stranded Sunday when their flight to Oklahoma City was canceled.

Passengers could rebook with another carrier out of pocket, or for free on an Allegiant flight to a different location. But they will have to wait a couple more days if they want a direct Allegiant flight to Oklahoma City.

"Thanks for all your help tonight! My wife's girls trip to Vegas is now ending in a 17 hour drive from Vegas back to OKC," Paul Stuke, an Oklahoma City resident, tweeted Sunday.

Passengers were informed over a loudspeaker at the gate Sunday evening that the flight was canceled.

"It's just been a customer service nightmare," said Stuke's wife, Amanda, who was traveling with three friends, said. One-way flights to Oklahoma City at that time, she said, cost around $1,200 to $1,500. She and three friends opted to drive home, renting a car for around $420.

Allegiant is the dominant carrier at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Hilarie Grey, spokesperson for the airline, said canceling without rescheduling is rare and only done when absolutely necessary.

"We sincerely apologize for the interruption to our passengers' travel plans," she said in an email.

All passengers received a refund. They will also will receive $300 and a $150 voucher toward their next flight, Grey said.

Amanda Stuke was finally able to talk to a manager at Allegiant on Tuesday. She hopes to get reimbursed for the rental car and food during her trip home. The agent, Stuke said, refused to convert her flight voucher into cash or a check to help cover the cost.

"They need to do the right thing and compensate for what it took to get home," she said.

Contact Malena Carollo at mcarollo@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2249. Follow @malenacarollo on Twitter.