Frontier Airlines Baggage Fees Guide: (Carry-on, Checked, Military) [2023]

Frontier Airlines is one of the most popular ultra low cost carriers (ULCCs) but with its low prices can come some very high and sometimes unexpected baggage fees. Compared to all of the US airlines I have flown and researched, Frontier has some of the most “gotcha” baggage fees.

This comprehensive article will give you the details for all of the Frontier Airlines baggage fees for carry-ons and checked bags and will show you how you can avoid those fees or at least minimize them. I’ll also go into detail about baggage fees for activity military members and other unique situations.

What are the Frontier Airlines baggage fees?

Frontier Airlines allows one free personal item but charges different baggage fees for carry-on luggage and checked luggage based on when you pay for your luggage and how many bags you check.

Assuming you pay your baggage fees online during booking, a carry-on will be about $59 and your first checked bag will be about $56. Keep reading below to see some real world prices.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

How can I avoid the baggage fees?

There are a few different ways that you can avoid baggage fees with Frontier.

myFRONTIER Elite members

Frontier has an elite loyalty program that’s broken down into the following tiers:

  • Elite 20k: Earn 20,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 25 Segments
  • Elite 50k: Earn 50,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 50 Segments
  • Elite 100k: Earn 100,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 100 Segments

myFRONTIER Elite members at the Elite 20k level will receive a free carry-on and myFRONTIER Elite members at the Elite 100k level will receive a free checked bag.

Bundles: The WORKS & The PERKS

The WORKS is a special bundle that comes with a free carry-on and a free checked bag as well as the benefits below:

  • Seat Selection
  • Priority Boarding
  • Flight Flexibility
  • 100% Refundability

The PERKS is another bundle that comes with a free carry-on and a free checked bag as well as the benefit below:

  • Seat Selection (Stretch not included)

Upgrading to these packages adds to the cost of your airfare and depending on what fees you were going to incur, it could end up saving you money.

Credit cards

You can utilize certain credit cards to reduce or eliminate your baggage fees on Frontier Airlines. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the hottest travel rewards credit cards. It earns 3X the points on dining and travel and comes with a host of valuable benefits. One of these perks is a $300 travel credit that can be used on anything that codes as travel, including your baggage fees. 

You do not get free checked baggage with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

Frontier Airlines personal item

Frontier allows all passengers one free personal item.

The personal item must comply with the following measurements:

  • 8” Depth
  • 18” Width
  • 14” Height

Can you bring a backpack as a personal item?

As long as your backpack can fit under the seat and complies with the dimensions above, you should be allowed to bring it in as a personal item just as you would with a purse, laptop bag, or other bag.

Related: Is Frontier Airlines Safe?

Frontier Airlines carry-on fees

Unlike most US carriers like United, Delta, and American, Frontier Airlines will charge you for your carry-on luggage.

The prices for your carry-on baggage fees will depend on your specific flight/route and go up the closer you are to the time of your departure. I will use a sample booking from Houston to Cleveland to illustrate the prices for carry-on fees.

One last thing, keep in mind that these fees are non-refundable. So don’t think you can pay for a carry-on as a precaution and then get refunded — not gonna happen! 

Here are all of the prices.

During Booking on Web / Mobile App

  • $54

Flyfrontier.com, after booking and up to 24 hours before departure

  • $63

Web Check-in

  • $63

Airport ticket counter or self-service kiosk

  • $79

Departure Gate

  • $99

Call Center

  • $79

So the cheapest price for a carry-on for this particular flight is $54. That sounds like a lot and it really is considering that so many airlines allow you to bring a free carry-on. However, if you wait until you arrive at the departure gate to pay for your carry-on it could cost you $99!

But that is just one flight so here are some prices for some additional flights that I also checked. I was primarily concerned with the price at booking so I only compared those.

  • Atlanta to Dallas — $54
  • Baltimore to Austin — $54
  • Cancun to Phoenix — $64
  • Chicago to New Orleans — $54
  • Denver to San Diego — $54
  • Fort Myers to Minneapolis — $54

So once again, the price for your carry-on will vary depending on your route but you generally will probably be paying around $54 for your carry-on, assuming you purchase the carry-on at booking.

Frontier Airlines checked baggage fees

The prices for your checked baggage fees will depend on your specific flight/route. I will use a sample booking from Houston to Cleveland to illustrate the prices for checked baggage fees.

Flyfrontier.com, at booking

  • 1st checked bag: $54
  • 2nd checked bag: $74
  • 3rd+ checked bag: $94

Flyfrontier.com, after booking and up to 24 hours before departure

  • 1st checked bag: $63
  • 2nd checked bag: $83
  • 3rd+ checked bag: $103

Web Check-in

  • 1st checked bag: $63
  • 2nd checked bag: $83
  • 3rd+ checked bag: $103

Airport ticket counter or self-service kiosk

  • 1st checked bag: $79
  • 2nd checked bag: $89
  • 3rd+ checked bag: $95

Departure Gate

  • 1st checked bag: $99
  • 2nd checked bag: N/A
  • 3rd+ checked bag: N/A

Call Center

  • 1st checked bag: $79
  • 2nd checked bag: $89
  • 3rd+ checked bag: $95

Here are some prices for some additional flights that I also checked. Again, I was primarily concerned with the price at booking so I only compared those.

  • Atlanta to Dallas — $54
  • Baltimore to Austin — $54
  • Cancun to Phoenix — $64
  • Chicago to New Orleans — $54
  • Denver to San Diego — $54
  • Fort Myers to Minneapolis — $54

As you can tell, the price for one checked bag at the time of booking is pretty high. For example, compare it to the prices for United Airlines. United charges the following rates:

  • $35 for the first checked bag
  • $45 for the second checked bag
  • $150 to $200 for the third checked bag ($200 for some international flights)

$35 versus $54 is a pretty big difference.

The kicker is that for Frontier, you’ll need to know for sure that you’re going to check a bag at the time of booking. If you pay to check a bag but don’t actually use it, you lose that money. And if you fail to pay for a bag that you will need checked, you could end up paying over $60 just to check one bag.

But if you know for sure you’ll be needing a checked bag, that means you can pay roughly the same price that you’d pay with legacy carriers for your first check bag. Of course, don’t forget that airlines like Southwest allow you to check two bags for free.

Frontier Airlines carry-on restrictions

  • Carry-on bags can be no larger than 24″H, 16″W, 10″D (including handles, wheels, and straps)
  • Carry-on bags must be no heavier than 35 pounds.
  • Carry-on bags must also fit in the overhead bin.

Liquids

The standard TSA standards apply to Frontier flights and you can review a list provided by the TSA of permitted and prohibited items which may be included in carry-on baggage including the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule.

Free carry-on items

There are certain items that you will be able to bring on to the plane for free.

These include:

  • Coats
  • Diaper bags when traveling with an infant
  • Canes
  • Crutches
  • Portable Oxygen Concentrators
  • Respiratory devices or any other assistive devices
  • Foot rugs for use during prayer.

Remember, myFRONTIER Elite members and passengers who purchased THE WORKS always receive a free carry-on bag in addition to their personal item.

Frontier Airlines checked bag restrictions

  • Checked bags must be within 62 linear inches (that’s length + width + depth) and
  • Checked bags must be no heavier than 40 pounds.
  • Baggage that goes over these limits will be charged $50 – $100 for exceeding weight and $75 for exceeding linear inch limits.
  • Bags will NOT be accepted if they are over 100 pounds and/or over 110 linear inches
  •  myFRONTIER Award Redemption Tickets have the same baggage allowance.

When can you check-in bags for Frontier Airlines?

You can check your bags up to two hours prior to your departure.

Note: For domestic flights you and your baggage must be checked no later than 45 minutes before your departure and 60 minutes before departure for international flights.

Of course, most experienced travelers will tell you that you should try to arrive to the airport about two hours prior to a domestic flight and three hours prior to an international flight.

Frontier Airlines military baggage fees

Frontier Airlines provides the following baggage waivers when presenting a Common Access Card (CAC) with a uniformed services affiliation at check-in:

  • One free personal item
  • One free carry-on bag
  • Two free checked bags

These baggage waivers apply to the individual with active duty status and does not extend to family members or traveling companions. US military passengers also must comply with the standard baggage acceptance policy for size and weight limits. However, oversize and overweight baggage fees are waived for the first two free checked bags.

U.S. military passengers are defined as active duty armed forces, reserves, and national guard.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Frontier International Baggage Fees

For the most part, Frontier’s international rules for checked and carry-on baggage are the same for domestic travel as far as baggage allowance, size, and weight restrictions.

However, baggage checked to or from Canada is subject to a maximum 70lbs weight limit.

Sports equipment and special items

Frontier Airlines provides a Sporting Equipment & Special/Fragile Items PDF for a breakdown of how you can travel with different items.That PDF will show you the regulations and prices for many random objects that you might be traveling with such as:

  • Air Pumps
  • Alcoholic Beverages, Liquor
  • Ammunition
  • Antlers
  • Archery (Bows and Arrows)
  • Artwork
  • Baby items
  • Batteries
  • Bicycles
  • Blood, Biological Substances, Organs, Tissues
  • Boogie Boards, Wake Boards
  • Bowling Equipment
  • Camping Equipment
  • Ceramics, Chinaware, Glass
  • Child Restraint Systems
  • Compressed Air Cylinders
  • Coolers
  • Crematory Remains
  • Disabling Devices
  • Dry Ice (Carbon Dioxide Solid)
  • Electronics, Photographic, Mechanical Items
  • Electronic Cigarettes; Vape Pens
  • Fencing Equipment
  • Firearms
  • Fireworks
  • Fishing Equipment
  • Food Items
  • Golf Equipment
  • Hang Gliding Equipment
  • Hockey Equipment
  • Human Remains
  • Kayak & Canoe
  • Lighters and Matches
  • Media Equipment
  • Medical Devices
  • Musical Instruments
  • Scuba Gear
  • Ski Equipment – Snow and Water
  • Snowboard
  • Stroller
  • And many more items 

Frontier Airlines pet policy

The Frontier Airlines pet policy fee is $99 per one-way and may be paid in advance during booking. If you do not pay in advance, you’ll need to pay when you check-in your pet.

In addition to the travel container for your pet, you are allowed either a personal item (8”H x 14”W x 18”L) or a carry-on bag (10”H x 16”W x 24”L). An additional fee will apply for the carry-on bag.

Only certain animals will be allowed, such as domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, or small household birds. Only domesticated dogs and cats may be carried to or from international destinations.

Frontier does not allow pets to be shipped as checked baggage.

Read more about their pet policy here.

Frontier Airlines coupons

You can always search for coupons to help cover the costs of your tickets and other expenses. I recommend searching here for the latest Frontier Airlines coupons.

Frontier seat selection fees

In case you were also interested in seat selection fees, below is the chart published by Frontier. There is standard seating and then stretch seating that offers a little bit more legroom and recline and is thus a little bit more expensive.

You’ll notice that just like the baggage fees, the fees for choosing your seat also go up the closer to the date of departure you get. So it cannot be stressed enough — try to take care of all of your baggage and seat selection needs at the time of booking. 

Also be very careful about trying to select a stretch seating from the call center or when you arrive at the airport because the prices will be exorbitant.

Seat OptionsPricing
Standard Seating$17 – $55
Stretch Seating$35 – $90

Frontier Airlines baggage fees FAQ

How much are the Frontier Airlines baggage fees?

The baggage fees can vary based on when you pay for your baggage fees but if you pay for your checked baggage during booking, your baggage fee may be around $54.

How can I check a bag for free?

You can check your bag for free by using a travel rewards card like the Amex Platinum Card that comes with a $200 airline credit.

Another way to get free checked baggage is to purchase special bundles known as The WORKS & The PERKS.

You can also check a bag for free if you have myFRONTIER Elite status.

Does Frontier Airlines allow a free carry-on?

No, Frontier Airlines unfortunately does not allow a free carry-on.

The price will depend on your route but you could be paying roughly $59-$99 depending on when you pay for your carry-on.

How big can my carry-on be?

Your carry-on bag must be no larger than 24″H, 16″W, 10″D (including handles, wheels, and straps).

In addition, it must be no heavier than 35 pounds.

Does Frontier Airlines allow a free personal item?

Yes, Frontier Airlines allows you to bring a free personal item. The personal item must be no larger than the following measurements:

8” Depth
18” Width
14” Height

How heavy can my checked bag be?

Your checked bag must be no heavier than 40 pounds or you will have to pay a $50 – $100 overweight fee. Bags over 100 pounds will not be accepted.

Do military members get free checked baggage?

Yes, military members presenting a Common Access Card (CAC) with a uniformed services affiliation can get two free checked bags along with one free carry-on bag.

What if my bags are lost or damaged?

If your bags are lost or damaged make sure that you report it before you ever leave the airport.
Frontier states that all claims for damaged or lost baggage must be made within 12 hours of your flight’s arrival with an agent at the arrival destination or through the Central Baggage Office.
The Central Baggage Office may be reached at (801)401-9000 (say “baggage”).

What if I lost an item on the plane?

If you left something on the plane then you can fill out their lost and found form.

Can I travel with smart luggage (“smart bags”)?

You are allowed to travel with smart bags on Frontier Airlines but you must have the lithium battery removed from the bag and the battery carried in cabin.

The bag (without the battery) can be transported as a carry-on or checked bag.

Frontier makes a lot of money from baggage fees but if you know exactly how many bags you’ll need to check, you can add your luggage to your itinerary early on and avoid paying higher fees for your bags.

Is Frontier Airlines Safe? [2022]

Frontier Airlines is one of the most popular low-cost carriers in the US. You can often save a lot of money by flying with Frontier as long as you don’t get surprised by baggage fees. But do you sacrifice safety for price when flying with Frontier Airlines?

In this article, I’ll break down if Frontier Airlines is a safe airline or not. I’ll look at things like their crash history, fleet condition, pilot qualifications, and other things like FAA fines and complaints.

Is Frontier Airlines safe?

Yes, Frontier Airlines is certified by the FAA and generally a safe airline to fly on.

However, there are multiple factors to consider when deciding how “safe” an airline actually is. Below, I’ll go over some of these factors including the statistics for fatal crashes, fleet overview, and pilot certification.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Photo by Tomás Del Coro via Flickr.

Fatal crashes

Frontier Airlines was created in 1994 and has never had a fatal crash.

It’s worth pointing out that there was an entirely separate airline also called “Frontier Airlines” which operated from 1950 to 1986. This company went out of business and is a separate entity from the Frontier Airlines being discussed in this article.

In 1978 the “old” Frontier Airlines had a fatal crash involving a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter. The crash happened in Pueblo, Colorado, and all three people on board the aircraft sadly passed away.

Unfortunately, a lot of people probably see the article about that crash and assume that it is related to the airline as it exists today. But make no mistake, the Frontier Airlines that exists today has not had any fatal crashes.

Looking at the data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), here are the number of fatal accidents recorded for U.S. Air Carrier Safety Data:

  • 2010: 1
  • 2011: 0
  • 2012: 0
  • 2013: 2
  • 2014: 0
  • 2015: 0
  • 2016: 0
  • 2017: 0
  • 2018: 1
  • 2019: 2

As you can tell, fatal accidents on aircraft are very rare and many years nonexistent. Therefore, it makes sense to look to other statistics to see just how safe a given airline really is.

Let’s start by taking a look at the Frontier Airlines fleet.

Frontier Airlines Fleet

  • Airbus A320-200: 19
  • A320neo: 72
  • Airbus A321-200: 21
  • Airbus A321neo: 168 (Deliveries from 2021 to 2029)
  • Airbus A321XLR: TBA

As you can see Frontier Airlines is planning to invest a lot in the Airbus A321neo.

Both the A320neo and A321neo have a clean flight record, meaning that they are some of the safest aircraft you could possibly fly. Indeed, the A320 series is thought to be one of the safest lines of aircraft in the world.

A lot of these aircraft have been ordered fairly recently making this fleet one of the most modern and young. In 2018, the average age was five years which was pretty young compared to other low-cost carriers.

So overall Frontier Airlines has a relatively young fleet full of aircraft with great safety records.

Photo by Colin Brown via Flickr.

Pilot qualifications and pay

Some of the requirements to become a Frontier Airlines pilot reportedly include:

  • 2,500 hours total time
  • 750 hours multi-engine fixed wing
  • 500 hours pilot in command (PIC)
  • 500 hours jet/turbo-prop
  • Current FAA Class 1 Medical Certificate
  • Vision corrected to 20/20
  • ATP Certificate
  • FCC Restricted Radio Operator’s Permit

It’s difficult to compare the requirements between airlines because sometimes they use different types of qualifications.

But it does look like certain qualifications stick out like the total hours of flight time and hours for multi-engine flight, both of which appear to be higher for Spirit Airlines than Frontier according to epicflightacademy.

The average pay of a Frontier Airlines pilot is pretty low.

For example, in or around 2018 the average pay of a pilot for Frontier Airlines was $145.79, which was even lower than Spirit Airlines. So if this data is still holding up in 2021, Frontier Airline pilots received some of the lowest pay.

It’s worth noting that Frontier states that they have the best pay for ultra low cost carriers so it’s possible that Frontier has data to support a different conclusion.

Having pilots that get paid less could mean less qualified pilots who don’t know how to handle emergency situations as well as higher paid pilots.

I haven’t seen hard data to back up that this is the case but from a commonsense standpoint it’s hard to deny.

In defense of Frontier, you can find instances where emergencies were faced and the situation was handled without anybody getting injured. So it’s not like if something goes wrong, you have no hope with Frontier.

Related: Is Spirit Airlines Safe?

On-time

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), in 2020 Frontier Airlines ranked in the middle of the pack for on-time arrival percentage among major US carriers.

Middle of the pack does not sound too impressive but they are sandwiched between Alaska and United and ahead of American and JetBlue.

More recent data from 2021 shows that Frontier landed in the bottom three for US carriers on time percentage:

1.    Allegiant Air – 51.9%    
2.    JetBlue Airways – 55.7%    
3.    Frontier Airlines – 60.0%

So from an on-time performance perspective, Frontier has shown that they can compete with the legacy carriers but sometimes they may have issues.

You also have to consider that Frontier is headquartered in Denver, Colorado which in the wintertime may mean dealing with winter storms. That could explain some delays but some of the data above is from the summer so it can’t explain all of the shortcomings.

Cancellations

Frontier Airlines recently ranked as one of the worst airlines for cancellations.

In July 2021, BTS data shows the highest marketing carrier rates of canceled flights: 
   
1.    Allegiant Air – 5.8%    
2.    Frontier Airlines – 3.4%    
3.    JetBlue Airways – 2.6%

But if you zoomed out a little bit and viewed the first half of 2021 they were more middle of the pack for cancellations. So from a cancellation standpoint, Frontier Airlines appears to be mostly average with some months getting pretty bad.    

Complaints and fines

According to Statista, Frontier Airlines received the most complaints per 100,000 enplanements out of any US airline. The sad part is, it wasn’t really even close.

Frontier is also one of those airlines that seems to attract passengers who act in unruly ways.

I have not been able to find official data on passenger flights but it seems like anytime these scuffles or all out brawls (like this) appear on social media, either Spirit or Frontier is often involved.

It’s a sad reality but some passengers actually feel like they have to “watch their back” when flying on these ultra low-cost carriers.

Frontier Airlines also recently had some issues with the FAA and they received a penalty for allegedly operating aircraft that lacked required medical supplies on hundreds of flights.

The FAA alleged that in June and July 2017, Frontier personnel installed aircraft emergency medical kits that lacked either injectable epinephrine, or atropine, or both.

Just about every airline has had issues with the FAA at some point so getting fined is not a red flag in and of itself.

Coronavirus safety

Like many other US airlines, Frontier Airlines has done a lot to address coronavirus safety concerns. They perform a Disinfection Procedure in accordance with the Airbus Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM).

This involves making sure touchpoints and surfaces are sprayed and cleaned with a disinfectant cleaner, doors get opened, and anti-bacterial hand soap is added to the restrooms.

Also, on every flight they use HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestors) which are filtration systems that can filter 99.97% of dust particles and airborne contaminants such as viruses and bacteria.

Why do people fly Frontier Airlines?

Much like Spirit Airlines, people fly Frontier Airlines because it is very cheap to fly them.

If you can deal with the baggage fee process, you can often find some pretty good deals. They also have special programs like the Discount Den that can offer you even more savings.

Some people might even look to Frontier for extra seat comfort.

A lot of people don’t realize that Frontier has one of the widest middle seats in the industry on its Airbus A320 and A319 planes, bringing the width to 19.3 inches.

Final word

Frontier Airlines is a low-cost carrier that can save you some change when flying them. There’s nothing to indicate that they are an unsafe airline so you don’t need to worry about your plane crashing when you fly them.

With that said, they don’t have the best track record when it comes to customer complaints and being on time. So if you do fly Frontier just be prepared for a potential delay or even unruly passengers.

Cover Photo: BriYYZ.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard Review [2020]

If you are interested in flying Frontier Airlines, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard deserves a serious look. That’s because you can find a pretty decent welcome bonus on this card and some perks that are pretty competitive when compared to what other airline cards offer.

In this review article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard overview

Card art of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.
  • Welcome bonus (ranges)
  • 5X on Frontier purchases
  • 3X on restaurants
  • 1X on all other purchases
  • Earn toward Elite Status
  • Earn a $100 Flight Voucher
  • Unlock Family Pooling
  • Priority boarding
  • Award redemption fee waiver
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $79 annual fee (not waived)

Tip: If you are interested in finding out the current top travel credit cards, be sure to check out our list here!

Welcome bonus 

The welcome bonus for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard changes and we have seen offers as high as 50,000 bonus miles. The standard offer you may encounter may look like the following:

“40,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days.”

I do feel obligated to point out that Frontier miles are not worth a whole lot compared to other airline miles.

Many airline miles can be valued at around 1.5 cents per point but the valuation for Frontier miles is going to be closer to one cent per point.

Here’s a look at some example redemption prices in cash prices so you can get a sense of how far your miles can take you. (Some prices were depressed due to coronavirus so the cents per point is extra low currently.)

RouteMiles PriceCash PriceCPP
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) to Miami, FL (MIA)10,000$28.10.28
Denver, CO (DEN) to Las Vegas, NV (LAS)10,000$23.10.23
Denver, CO (DEN) to Los Angeles, CA (LAX)10,000$24.10.24
Trenton, NJ (TTN) to Orlando, FL (MCO)10,000$28.10.28
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)15,000$182.101.21
St. Louis, MO (STL) to Cancun, Mexico (CUN)15,000$146.48.98
Cincinnati, OH (CVG) to Las Vegas, NV (LAS)10,000$164.201.64
Frontier Airlines redemptions.

Bonus categories

  • 5X on Frontier purchases
  • 3X on restaurants
  • 1X on all other purchases

5X on Frontier purchases

Using a WalletFlo valuation of 1.03 cents per point, 5X comes out to 5.15% back which is pretty good for return spend on your airline purchases.

So if you plan on spending a decent amount on Frontier, this card can be quite rewarding.

Keep in mind that earning 5X on flights in the form of Frontier miles is not the same as earning 5X on flights in the form of something like Amex Membership Rewards.

For example, the Platinum Card earns 5X on flights and that 5X amount comes out to much more than 5% back. The card has a significantly higher annual fee but it also comes with a host of additional benefits as well.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to easily find which cards earn the most points for different categories.

3X at restaurants

Bonus earnings for dining include: restaurants, bars, and fast food restaurants and are based on merchant category codes.

3X at restaurants would come out to about 3.1% back. Getting 3% back for dining spend is pretty good although you might want to look at cards like the American Express Gold Card which earns 4X on dining and offer much more than 3% back.

1X on all other purchases

1X on all of the purchases is going to come out to around one percent back which is not very competitive.

You will be much better off utilizing other credit cards to capitalize on better earnings for your points on every day spend.

Related: Is Frontier Airlines Safe?

Dinner table at an outdooor restaurant.
Earn 3X on dining with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

Frontier Airline benefits

  • Earn toward Elite Status
  • Earn a $100 Flight Voucher
  • Unlock Family Pooling
  • Priority boarding
  • Award redemption fee waiver

Earn miles toward elite status

There are not a lot of airline credit cards that allow you to earn miles toward elite status like this card does. You will earn 1 Qualifying Mile (QM) with every $1 spent on purchases.

Frontier has an elite loyalty program (full review here) that’s broken down into the following tiers:

  • Elite 20k: Earn 20,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 25 Segments
  • Elite 50k: Earn 50,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 50 Segments
  • Elite 100k: Earn 100,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 100 Segments

Here are some of the benefits for elite 20K members:

  1. Waived Award ticket fees.
  2. Option for Family Pooling.
  3. Advance Seat Assignment for the Member only.
  4. Carry-on bag for the Member only.
  5. Last seat available Award ticket option. Can be applied to any traveler using an Elite Member’s Miles.
  6. Stretch Seats upon check-in, for the Member only.

You’ll notice that some of the benefits like with the waived award ticket fees and family pooling are the same benefits you get for being a cardmember.

So you need to consider that spending $20,000 to get 20K may not move the needle too much although it is nice that you get advanced seat assignments, a free carry-on bag, and the last seat available option.

You also even get some of the benefits at the 50K level. For example, one of the new benefits you get when you jump from 25K to 50K is priority boarding but that is already included with the card (though it’s not quite the same).

However, there are other benefits like a 50% discount on the Discount Den membership and a 25% redeemable mileage bonus on all eligible Frontier flights

At the 100K level, the benefits expand so that you can receive a free carry-on for yourself and for eight other passengers, Free Discount Den Membership, and free checked luggage (more about baggage fees here).

Whether or not it is worth it to put your spend on this card to earn elite status would just depend on your travel preferences. (For me personally, I would rather put a huge amount to spend on other cards.)

It is worth noting that purchases made by authorized users through additional cards will earn QMs and count toward the primary cardmember’s qualifying spend.

Earn a $100 Flight Voucher

If you spend $2,500 or more in a cardmembership year, you will receive a $100 flight voucher.

You can expect to receive your voucher about 6 to 8 weeks after the account anniversary date and it should be delivered via email.

The flight voucher expires 180 days from date of issue. The flight must be booked before the voucher expiration date but the flight may take place after the expiration date.

The spend requirement of $2,500 in a card membership year is very low and pretty reasonable.

$100 is not a huge discount but considering your spend, it’s like getting 4% back when your spend. So that’s a pretty good return if you ask me.

Unlock Family Pooling

Family pooling is going to allow you to consolidate the miles between multiple related parties. This allows you to build up a higher balance and can increase your ability to redeem rewards.

Card members will be able to pool with one primary card number and up to eight friends and family members known as “pool contributors.”

This just makes using points more convenient and makes it easy to keep everybody on the same reservation which can be helpful when trying to utilize benefits like free baggage.

As a reminder this is a benefit for elite 20K members.

Priority boarding

As a cardmember, you’ll also get priority boarding which means that you will board in “Zone 2.”

Zone two boarding will begin after military passengers, elite status members, “Meet and Assist”, passengers with disabilities, or passengers with children under the age of 5.

If you have multiple carry-ons and need to utilize the overhead storage bin space this perk can save you some stress because you will be boarding before most other individuals and should be able to easily store your bag in the overhead storage bin.

Something to note about this benefit is that only the primary cardmember is eligible.

Award redemption fee waiver

Cardmembers who use their card to pay the award fees on redemptions will have the fees waived.

These fees can be very low on domestic flights and may start at $5.60 for a one-way ticket so sometimes the savings will be minimal but it still feels very good to be able to travel completely for free.

Balance transfer perks

With this card you can get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers made within a certain window, such as 45 days. So if you need to hit the reset button on some credit card debt this could be a decent option.

The balance transfer fee is 3% which is pretty standard and not as high as other cards that may charge as much as 5%.

Free FICO score

Barclays is great about offering free FICO scores and they will show you your FICO score from TransUnion.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard FAQ

Does the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard offer free checked baggage?

No, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard does not offer free checked baggage. However, you can spend your way into elite status and receive free checked baggage perks.

What are the airline benefits of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard?

Earn toward Elite Status
$100 Flight Voucher
Family Pooling
Priority boarding
Award redemption fee waiver

How does the priority boarding work?

The primary cardmember will be able to board with zone two which boards the plane after pre-boarding and elite members.

How many bonus points do I earn on Frontier flights?

You will earn 5X on Frontier flights and qualifying purchases.

What is the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard annual fee?

The annual fee is $79 and it is not waived.

Does the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard have foreign transaction fees?

No, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard does not have foreign transaction fees.

How many miles toward elite status do I earn?

You will earn one qualifying mile per one dollar spent on your card.

How do I get the $100 flight voucher?

You will need to spend $2,500 in your cardmember year to receive the $100 flight voucher.

Final word

If you fly Frontier Airlines, the Frontier Airlines world MasterCard is actually a pretty decent option.

You can find an okay welcome bonus that can get you some free flights and perks like the $100 voucher and priority boarding aren’t bad. It’s also pretty cool that you can spend your way into elite status which is something that not many airline credit cards offer, especially with such a low annual fee.

New anti-churning language on Barclays card

It’s no secret — credit card companies have been actively putting in new measures to combat gaming in credit card rewards over the past few years.

And it looks like Barclays just added a new explicit restriction to earning its welcome bonus on the Frontier card and others like the Aviator Red.

If you look at the application page, it now states:

40,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days

It looks like the new change is that they are requiring users to pay the annual fee “in full.”

In cases where the annual fee is not waived, it usually hits soon after that first statement closes so the window of earning the bonus and closing your card is very tight.

So I’m wondering if people were paying only part of the annual fee and then canceling after that at some point? I honestly didn’t even know that was a possibility.

Barclays had language regarding paying annual fees in the past but it looks like they are reiterating paying it “in full” on certain cards. I’m wondering if churning was bad on certain cards they felt the need to add it?

It’s not a huge change but I do think that it is indicative of the focus that banks are putting on to prevent churning-like activity.

In this case, you can’t blame the bank since canceling a card right after earning a bonus is about as egregious as you can get when it comes to churning.

Frontier Airlines Discount Den Review [2020]

Frontier Airlines is in ultra low-cost carrier that is known for its super-cheap fares. But did you know it is possible to save even more on these cheap fares with something called a Discount Den membership?

In this article, I will break down everything you need to know about the Frontier Airlines Discount Den program, including all of its benefits, prices, and what to expect with your savings.

What is the Frontier Airlines Discount Den?

The Frontier Airlines Discount Den is a special program that allows Frontier Airlines passengers to receive discounts on select fares and also receive additional perks like allowing kids to fly for free! Below, I will go into detail about all of the different benefits of the Frontier Airlines Discount Den program.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

How much does the Frontier Airlines Discount Den membership cost?

The Frontier Airlines Discount Den will cost you $59.99.

Each year, the renewal price will be the same at $59.99. Note that this program is not refundable after you have paid your fees (whether signing up or renewing).

Unlike Spirit Airlines which has the $9 Fare Club and offers you a trial period, there is no trial offered for the Discount Den. (The $9 Fare Club is also more expensive at $69.95 per year for successive years.)

Who is eligible to enroll in the Discount Den?

You must be 18 years old to enroll in the program. Also, you need to have a FRONTIER Miles membership (Frontier’s frequent flyer program) but if you don’t have one a FRONTIER Miles account will be created for you.

What are all of the Frontier Airlines Discount Den benefits?

  • Special access to cheaper fares
  • Cheaper fares available to up to six people on the reservation
  • On valid Kids Fly Free flights, one kid under 15 can fly for free for every adult Discount Den fare purchased
  • Be the first to hear about news 

The main benefit of the program is the special access to a cheaper fares.

It’s worth pointing out that not every route will have a cheaper fare for you to select. However, when I searched many different routes I found a lot of them with cheaper fares so I think it should be relatively easy to find your discounts.

To me, it’s very significant that up to six people can take advantage of these cheaper fares because that can allow the savings to instantly multiply and outweigh the membership fee.

Also, the fact that kids can fly for free on certain flights can be huge but I will talk about that more below.

How do you select the discounted fares?

When you search for a flight on the Frontier Airlines website, you will see it clearly indicated when there is a Discount Den fare. Just look for the green box with the little bear hanging out — you can’t miss it!

How much do you save with Discount Den?

Since you would be paying $60 per year for this membership, that is going to be the minimum benchmark of savings for a lot of people. So naturally, they will want to know how difficult it would be to save $60 per year.

In order to gauge the savings for this program, I did a number of test bookings.

I tested both one-way and round trips so that you could get a full picture of the potential savings. I also tested out some routes with connections to see if there was a difference in savings.

Here are the savings results from all my testing:

  • CLE to DEN: $10 one-way
  • DEN to AUS: $13 round trip
  • DEN to AUS (with the connection in LAS): $5 round trip
  • DFW to ATL (with connection in MCO): $10 one-way
  • LAX to CUN (with connection in DEN): $10 round-trip
  • LGA to MIA: $9 round-trip
  • MCO to BWI: $2

So as you can tell, the savings can range from $2 to $13 based on the data points above. Therefore, on average you will probably need a handful of flights in order to capture your $60 in membership fees back.

But that would be just purchasing a ticket for yourself.

Keep in mind that up to six people on your itinerary can also take advantage of these lower fares. So, if you were traveling as a family of five then all of a sudden you could potentially save ~$60 on one one-way flight with all of your family members.

And also remember that on some flights kids can fly for free so that could be even more drastic savings. If two adults are flying with the Discount Den fares then two kids could fly for free which means that you could save a couple of hundred bucks with this membership.

The catch with this is that you must select an eligible kids fly for free date — not all flights will allow your kids to fly for free.  You will know when you have found an eligible flight that allows kids to fly for free because you will see it clearly indicated on the fare as shown below.

There are some restrictions you should consider about the kids fly free:

  • It is only available on round-trip domestic flights
  • Kids qualify if they are under 15 years old
  • There must be one adult with a Discount Den membership in order to qualify
  • Not valid on overnight connections
  • Lap children do qualify but should be booked at time of initial booking as a child instead of a lap child.

So depending on your travel habits, the savings can rack up in a hurry.

But I think everybody should also consider the high amount you may have to pay in baggage fees with Frontier Airlines because that can certainly eat into your savings. Assuming you pay your baggage fees online during booking, a carry-on will be about $38 and your first checked bag will be about $34.

In some cases, you might be better off flying Southwest where you can fly with two free checked bags.

Another thing to consider is the change policy. Frontier Airlines has a pretty friendly change policy though it’s not as good as Southwest that will allow you to change your flights for free.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

When can I join?

You can sign up for a Discount Den membership any time online by going to the following link. You can also wait until the time of booking and join then.

Frontier Airlines Discount Den FAQ

Do I earn loyalty points?

Yes, you will earn loyalty points on your Discount Den fares.

Is there a limit on how much I can save?

No, there is no limit on the amount that you can save with your Discount Den membership.

Do I get any checked bags for free?

No, you do not get any checked baggage for free with your membership. Remember that as an ultra low-cost carrier, Frontier has some pretty expensive baggage fees and you can read more about those here. 

Do I have to renew my membership each year?

Your membership will be automatically renewed with the credit card that they have on file (the default credit card in the “Wallet” section of your Account Profile). And recall that the membership fees are not refundable so this is something you definitely want to keep up with.

Can I cancel my membership?

You may cancel your Membership in Discount Den at any time by selecting the unsubscribe option within your FRONTIER Miles account profile . On the main homepage click on “account sign in” link. After you login click on your name in the upper right hand corner. Then click on “My Profile” and you will see your Discount Den status and where to cancel.

Can I get discounted promos or vouchers?

Yes, sometimes you can find ongoing promotions for discounted fares. For example, in 2020 there was a promo code for 50% off Discount Den fares. 50% off was a very sweet deal but keep in mind that these promos often come with a lot of black out dates so be on the lookout for those.

Final word

The Discount Den membership is a great way to maximize savings with Frontier Airlines.

At just under $60 a year it is a pretty reasonable price and if you fly them a handful of times you can easily recapture that value. But I think the real value here is with families. If you are traveling as a group your savings will quickly add up and you might be able to travel for free with your children which could amount to substantial savings.

Frontier Airlines Cancellation & Change Policy Guide [2020]

Frontier is like any other low-cost airline in the USA where the cheap tickets are set up to be à la carte for seat selection, baggage, and priority boarding. However, Frontier probably has one of the best change and cancellation policies of any airline in the USA right behind Southwest.

In this article, I will explain Frontier Airlines’ generous change and cancellation policy in detail and then I will show you how to change or cancel a flight, step-by-step. 

Updated September 18th to reflect the new cancellation policy.

Frontier Airlines flight change policy

Frontier has a generous change policy, especially if you’re someone that loves to book months before the flight. As you can see below, Frontier has a better and cheaper change policy than most other airlines:

 Regular ticketThe WORKSAward ticket
Within 24 hours after initial purchase (made 7 or more days before departure)$0$0$0
60 days or more prior to departure$0$0$0
59 to 14 days prior to departure$49$0$0
13 days to 8 days prior to depature$119$0$0
Within 24 hours after initial purchase (made less than 7 days before departure)$119$0$99
Within 7 days of departure (including same-day standby)$119$0 ($119 for same-day)$99

The WORKS bundle can cost you a hefty penny. Sometimes the price is less than $100 and sometimes it’s more than $100. Each route will determine the price. It can be very valuable to some, but only if you need everything included like carry-on, a checked bag, seat selection, priority boarding, free changes, and refundability.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

24-Hour risk-free Cancellation/Change

Tickets purchased seven days (168 hours) or more before the scheduled departure date are eligible for free changes and cancellations within 24 hours of the flight purchase date. Frontier holds the ticket for 24 hours and then charges you once the 24 hours are up. Therefore, your purchase will post to your credit card statement with a 24-hour delay. However, Frontier will hold the funds on your credit card.

Tickets purchased less than seven days (168 hours) before scheduled departure date aren’t eligible for free changes or cancellations.

This could give you a little more than 24 hours to change or cancel your ticket made directly through Frontier, only if you booked your flight seven days or more before the departure date. Tickets made through travel agencies like Expedia, Priceline, Orbits, etc. will have to go through the travel agency’s 24 hours change and cancellation policy.

Prices

Fees will be per passenger for the whole itinerary unless noted.

Regular tickets change fees are $0 for 0 days or more before departure, $49 for changes made 59 to 14 days prior to departure, and $119 for changes made 13 days or less prior to departure. Same-day standby/change will also be $119.

The WORKS tickets have no change fees until 24 hours before departure, which will then occur a $119 change fee for a same-day standby/change.

Award tickets change fee is $99 for modifications made seven days or less. For changes before eight days or more prior to departure, the change fee will be $0. Modifications can only be done over the phone.

Deadline

Regular tickets changes made within 24 hours and greater than seven days will be free. Changes made 60 days or more prior to departure will be free. Changes made 59 days or less prior to departure will be subject to a fee.

The WORKS tickets changes made anytime before 24 hours prior to departure will be free. Changes made within 24 hours prior to departure will be subject to a fee.

Award tickets changes made eight days or more prior to departure will be free. Changes made within seven days prior to departure will be subject to a fee.

Price changes

Flight changes will be subjected to price differences if the value of the new ticket is higher than the original of a regular ticket or award ticket. You will have to pay the difference in ticket value. Ticket values that are less in price than the original ticket value will receive a credit called Frontier credit.

For example, if you hold a regular ticket that originally cost $500 and change the flight that now costs $400, you will be credited $100. However, if you change the flight that costs $600, you will be charged $100 since the value of the new ticket is higher. (The same concept applies to the WORKS ticket, but instead of credit you get a refund to the original payment method.)

  • Related reading: Check out the full review of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard!

Frontier Airlines cancellation and refund policy

Frontier cancellation fees are mostly the same price as their change fees, except for the award ticket redeposit fees. The WORKS is the only way to get a fully refundable ticket with Frontier.

 Regular ticketThe WORKSAward ticket
Within 24 hours after initial purchase (made 7 or more days before departure)$0$0$0
60 days or more prior to departure$0$0$75
59 to 14 days prior to departure$49$0$75
13 days to 8 days prior to depature$119$0$75
Within 24 hours after initial purchase (made less than 7 days before departure)$119$0$75
Within 7 days of departure (including same day standby)$119$0 ($119 for same-day)$75

24-Hour risk-free Cancellation/Change

Tickets purchased seven days (168 hours) or more before the scheduled departure date are eligible for free changes and cancellations within 24 hours of the flight purchase date. Frontier holds the ticket for 24 hours and then charges you once the 24 hours are up. Therefore, your purchase will post to your credit card statement with a 24-hour delay. However, Frontier will hold the funds on your credit card.

Tickets purchased less than seven days (168 hours) before scheduled departure date aren’t eligible for free changes or cancellations.

This could give you a little more than 24 hours to change or cancel your ticket made directly through Frontier, only if you booked your flight seven days or more before the departure date. Tickets made through travel agencies like Expedia, Priceline, Orbits, etc. will have to go through the travel agency’s 24 hours change and cancellation policy.

Prices

Fees will be per passenger for the whole itinerary unless noted.

Regular tickets cancellation fees are $0 for 60 days or more before departure, $49 for changes made 59 to 14 days prior to departure, and $119 for changes made 13 days or less prior to departure. Same-day cancellations will also be $119.

The WORKS tickets have no cancellation fees until 24 hours before departure, which will then occur a $119 cancellation fee for a refund.

Award tickets don’t have any cancellation fees, but there is a fee for redepositing the miles into your account for $75.

Deadline

Regular tickets cancellations made within 24 hours and greater than seven days before departure will be free. Cancellations made 60 days or more prior to departure will be free. Cancellations made 59 or less prior to departure will be subject to a fee.

The WORKS tickets cancellations made anytime before 24 hours prior to departure will be free. Cancellations made within 24 hours prior to departure will be subject to a fee.

Award tickets cancellations made anytime after the 24 hours cancellation window will be subject to an award redeposit fee.

Refunds

Regular tickets refunds are issued as Frontier credit for future flights. Therefore, you can only use the credit for Frontier Airlines in the name of the passenger that the credit was issued to.

The WORKS tickets refunds are issued back to the original payment method. Therefore, if you used a credit card to purchase a WORKS bundled ticket, your credit card will be refunded when you request a refund.

Award tickets miles would be re-deposited back into your account and if you’re eligible any fees charged at booking will be refunded.

No show and missed flights

Frontier Airlines doesn’t have an official no show policy, which means if you don’t show up for your flight, your ticket is gone and cannot be used ever again. You will not get any credit back from the ticket, or you will not get another ticket for a later flight. Of course, agents have the power to rebook you on a later flight with a valid excuse.

Frontier Airlines same-day standby for earlier or later flights

When flying on a regular or the WORKS bundled ticket, you can do a same-day standby for an earlier flight at the airport or call Frontier reservations before arriving at the airport for a confirmed seat on a later flight. The fee is $119 for same-day standby and changes. For Frontier Elites, same-day standby fee is waived.

For award tickets, you have to call in before the flight to make sure there is availability for same-day confirmed changes. The fee is $99, but elites have the fee waived.

Remember, standby is subject to seats being available. So, be aware some flights might not have any seats available.

Same-day standby to alternative airports

If you wish to do same-day flights to alternative airports, you can do so from the list down below. That means if you want to fly into another airport the same day and they are listed in the same bullet down below, you can do so.

For example, if my original destination airport was Orlando (MCO), but I prefer Tampa (TPA), I could change the same day as they are alternative airports, or also known as sister cities.

  • Birmingham (BHM) and Huntsville (HSV)
  • Bloomington (BMI) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
  • Boston (BOS), Bradley (BDL) and Providence (PVD)
  • Boston (BOS), Portsmouth (PSM) and Portland, ME (PWM)
  • Charleston (CHS) and Myrtle Beach (MYR)
  • Charleston (CHS) and Savannah (SAV)
  • Charlotte (CLT) and Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
  • Chicago Midway (MDW), Chicago-O’Hare Airport (ORD), Chicago Rockford (RFD), Dane County (MSN) and Milwaukee (MKE)
  • Cincinnati (CVG) and Louisville (SDF)
  • Colorado Springs (COS) and Denver (DEN)
  • Columbus (CMH) and Cincinnati (CVG)
  • Fort Lauderdale (FLL), West Palm Beach (PBI) and Miami (MIA)
  • Fort Myers (RSW) and Sarasota (SRQ)
  • Harrisburg (MDT), Trenton (TTN) and Philadelphia (PHL)
  • Long Island (ISP), Newark (EWR), Trenton (TTN), Philadelphia (PHL) and LaGuardia (LGA)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) and Orange County/Santa Ana (SNA) and Ontario (ONT)
  • Madison (MSN) and Milwaukee (MKE)
  • Ontario, CA (ONT) and Palm Springs (PSP)
  • Orange County/Santa Ana (SNA) and San Diego (SAN)
  • Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA)
  • Phoenix (PHX) and Tucson (TUS)
  • San Antonio (SAT) and Austin (AUS)
  • San Francisco (SFO) and San Jose (SJC)
  • Sarasota (SRQ) and Tampa (TPA)
  • Washington-Dulles (IAD), Washington-National (DCA) and Baltimore-Washington (BWI)

How to change a Frontier flight online

From the homepage, you will want to select “my trip/check-in” to show the box to type in your last name and confirmation code. Proceed to the next screen by pressing search.

If there are multiple people on the same reservation (PNR), just use one of the last names and confirmation codes to bring up the trip itinerary.

You will be directed to the trip confirmation page.

On the trip confirmation page, you will see the option to change flights. Select “change flights.”

A popup to the right side of the screen will appear titled “itinerary changes.” If you have more than one flight on your itinerary, you can select one or multiple flights that you wish to change.

To change a flight, you will have to select a flight. Notice the check that now appears with the boxes to change the origin and destination airports along with the date of departure.

Once you input the new information, press “change” to proceed.

On the next page, you will see the flights available. The prices shown are the price of a new ticket and whatever fare difference to your current one will show on the next page.

After selecting your flight, bundle (only perks bundle is available if you didn’t select the WORKS), and other add-ons you will input your payment information. Then fees associated with your changes will be shown. (Refer to the change policy section outlined above.)

When you confirm your changes, you will see your new trip details in your trip confirmation page along with an email sent right away.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

How to cancel a Frontier flight online

From the homepage, you will want to select “my trip/check-in” to pull up the box to type in your last name and confirmation code. Proceed to the next screen by pressing search.

If there are multiple people on the same reservation (PNR), just use one of the last names and confirmation codes to bring up the trip itinerary.

You will be directed to the trip confirmation page.

On the trip confirmation page, you will see the option to change flights. Select “cancel booking.”

You will be directed to a new page displaying information like fees, if applicable, but I owe no fees as I was canceling the booking made within 24 hours and greater than seven days before departure.

After clicking “confirm changes” you will see your cancel confirmation along with an email sent right away. It will also show any fees you paid if applicable.

Canceling or changing a Frontier flight on the phone

You can cancel or change flights over the phone with Frontier Airlines.

  • Reservations: +1-801-401-9000
  • Assistance for the hearing impaired: 711

How to get Frontier fees waived

There are two ways to get some or all of Frontier fees waived, one is fly enough to become an elite with Frontier or another is purchasing the WORKS bundle at booking.

Elite status

Any level of status can get certain fees waived like same-day confirmed fee and reward redemption fees waived.

All you need is to fly 20,000 qualifying miles or 25 segments to become Elite 20k. Benefits include free seat assignment, priority boarding, free carry-on, family pooling, and stretch seating upgrade at check-in. Some of these benefits do help to make your flight a better one.

The WORKS bundle

As I explained above, the WORKS bundle creates a regular ticket into a refundable ticket and can change the ticket whenever you want. Plus, if you refund the ticket, the original payment method gets refunded. On top of that, the money you spent on the WORKS bundle also gets refunded. Changes and cancellations can be done anytime for free 24 hours or more prior to the flight departure.

In contrast, Frontier’s regular tickets policy is 59 days or more prior to departure free changes and cancellations, but you can only be refunded in the form of Frontier credit for future flights with Frontier.

Third-party ticket change or cancel

If you bought your Frontier flight through a travel agency like Expedia you will have to make changes/cancellations through the travel agency that you purchased the ticket through. Change or cancellations might result in additional fees by the travel agency. I recommend always booking with the airline directly unless a third-party agency has a better price with no added fees.

Frontier baggage policy

If you are new to Frontier, baggage isn’t included in the base fare. So, I suggest you to read our article about baggage fees when flying Frontier Airlines so you know what to expect.

Final word

When it comes to cancellation and change policies, Frontier is surprisingly relaxed and not price gouging you compared to the likes of Delta or Alaska. Even their elite program has fee waivers for certain fees that do come in handy. So, I do hope this article helps you better understand Frontier’s policy for changes and cancellations.

Cover photo by Tomás Del Coro via Flickr

Frontier Miles (Early Returns) Benefits Review [2020]

Frontier Airlines is known for being one of the most popular ultra low cost carriers but just like many other airlines, they have a frequent flyer program that you can benefit from if you find yourself flying Frontier a lot. Because this is a low cost carrier that charges you hefty fees for things like seat selection, carry-ons, and checked baggage fees, a lot of the benefits will be able to save you on normal travel expenses when flying.

In this article, I will break down all of the benefits for the Frontier miles frequent flyer program (formerly Frontier Early Returns) and show you how the benefits differ for the different elite levels (20K, 50K, and 100K). I’ll also show you how to obtain these different levels including how to do so without even flying.

What is “Frontier Miles?”

Frontier Miles is the frequent flyer program for Frontier Airlines, formerly known as Frontier Early Returns. The new program does not only have a new name but also has some new features, which I will highlight below.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

What are the Frontier elite levels?

Their are three Elite tears in the Frontier Miles frequent flyer program.

  • Elite 20K: Earn 20,000 status qualifying miles or fly 25 segments
  • Elite 50K: Earn 50,000 status qualifying miles or fly 50 segments
  • Elite 100K: Earn 100,000 status qualifying miles or fly 100 segments
Frontier elite levels.

How do you earn Frontier status miles?

You can earn Status Miles by flying Frontier or spending on your Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.

You will earn one mile for every one mile flown, no matter the price of your ticket. This is different from other airlines that allow you to earn more miles for more expensive fares. For example, Southwest Airlines has the following earning rates:

  • 6X per dollar for Wanna Get Away fares
  • 10X per dollar for Anytime fares
  • 12X per dollar for Business Select 

Status Miles and are not redeemable for flights or with partners.

Additionally, the following type of miles are NOT considered Status Qualifying Miles: special bonus miles, mileage multipliers, and other promotional miles. This means that all of those additional bonus miles that you will earn from having a higher elite status will not count towards status.

Earn elite status with a credit card

Frontier is a bit unique in that they allow you to spend your way to elite status.

You can do this with their cobranded credit card that is issued by Barclays. With this credit card you can find a sign-up bonus worth up to 40,000 miles which can get you up to two round-trip tickets.

This credit card will also allow you to earn five times the miles per dollar spent on purchases at flyfrontier.com
and three extra miles on restaurant purchases. You will also earn one Frontier mile for every dollar spent on all other categories.

Some of the additional perks of this credit card include:

  • Zone 2 boarding
  • 0% introductory APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Award redemption fees waived
  • Complimentary FICO credit score
  • Keep your miles from expiring with one purchase every six months
  • $79 annual fee

Frontier elite benefits

Below, I will break down all of the different benefits for the different elite levels.

Elite 20K benefits

Free carry-on

As an elite 20K member, you will be able to bring on a carry-on for free. This benefit only applies to the member.

Just like other low cost carriers, Frontier charges some pretty hefty fees for carry-ons. These fees can range from $30-$60, so it’s really nice that you can save money as an elite member on these carry-on fees.

Flyfrontier.com, at booking

  • $30 to $35

Flyfrontier.com, after booking and up to 24 hours before departure

  • $38

Call Center

  • $40

Web Check-in

  • $40

Airport ticket counter or self-service kiosk

  • $45

Departure Gate

  • $60

Family pooling

Unlock family pooling where you can combine FRONTIER Miles with up to 8 family members and friends to make using miles easy.

This benefit can really make it much easier to use your points since you can simply pool the points within your family. The primary member of the pool will be able to use the points as they wish and also can control who is in the pool, so you want to make sure that someone very responsible is designated as the primary member.

Note that this benefit is also available to the co-branded credit card holders of the Frontier credit card.

Seat assignment

Receive free advanced seat assignment on your flights (note this does not include stretch seating). This benefit is for the member only. Seat selection will cost $6 for a standard seat at the time of booking.

Stretch Seating

Upgrade, for free, to stretch seating (if available) during flight check-in, at the ticket counter or gate. This benefit is for the member only.

Priority boarding

Enjoy priority boarding and Express TSA (at participating airport).

Award fees waived

Award fees are waived when booking in award flight

Travel fees waived

Travel fees are waived, these include: call center reservation fee, unaccompanied minor fee (if the minor is the elite member), same-day confirmed fee and same-day standby fee. This benefit is for members only. Read more about cancellation fees here.

Last seat toward

Use miles to redeem last seat available award tickets. This benefit can be used by any traveler on the Elite member’s booking.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Elite 50K benefits

Family seating

You and your family & friends get free advanced seat assignments, including stretch! This benefit can be used for up to 8 travelers on the Elite member’s booking.

Earn more miles

Receive 25% additional redeemable mileage bonus on all eligible Frontier flights. The mileage multiplier apples towards redeemable miles and does not apply toward Status Qualifying Miles. This benefit is for the member only.

50% off Discount Den

Elite 50k members enjoy 50% off Discount Den, our fare membership club that allows exclusive access to our lowest fares. Sign Up! This membership would typically cost you $60 per year. However, you should know that this benefit is for the member only. This is similar to the $9 Fare Club offered by Spirit Airlines.

Elite 100K benefits

The works

You and your family & friends enjoy Family Status and all receive the WORKS bundle. The WORKS bundle includes:

  • Advance Seat Assignment, including Stretch Seating at booking, for the Member and up to 8 other Members traveling on the same reservation with the same confirmation number.
  • Carry-on baggage for the Member and up to 8 other Members traveling on the same reservation with the same confirmation number.
  • One checked baggage item for the Member and up to 8 other Members traveling on the same reservation with the same confirmation number.

You’ll also get: priority boarding, flight flexibility and refundability.

Saving on baggage fees for checked luggage can really add up and here are the prices that you would normally be paying if you had to pay out-of-pocket. Prices taken via a chart from Frontier’s website.

Purchase LocationCarry-On Bag1st Checked Bag2nd Checked Bag>3+ Checked Bag
BEST VALUE!   Flyfrontier.com, at booking$30*/35$25*/30$45$80
Flyfrontier.com, after booking and up to 24 hours before departure$38$38$45$80
Call Center$40$40$45$85
Web Check-in$40$40$45$85
Airport ticket counter or self-service kiosk$45$45$50$85
Departure Gate$60$60N/AN/A

Earn more miles

Receive 50% additional redeemable mileage bonus on all eligible Frontier flights. Keep in mind that the mileage multiplier applies towards redeemable miles and does not apply toward Status Qualifying Miles. So as a 100K member, you will be earning 1.5 miles per dollar spent.

Discount Den

Get Discount Den for FREE.

Final word

There are a lot of benefits to climbing up the elite status levels with Frontier. If you regularly travel with your family then you can really save a lot of money with free carry-ons and checked bags and also have a more convenient experience with perks like priority boarding in seat selection. I really like that you can spend your way to elite status via a credit card since that is something typically not offered by other airlines.