Real Talk: Flying Frontier Airlines is far from luxurious. Basically, you’re paying for a seat on the plane and that’s it. Any extra perks like seat selection, legroom, or checked baggage will cost you. You won’t be able to charge your iPhone or watch a complimentary movie on the plane, and you won’t get a free snack or soda on board. If you’re not interested in all those travel extras, you can book Frontier flights at super-low prices. I’m talking plane tickets for $19 (and possibly less).
Maybe Frontier gets a bad rap for their “no frills” offers, but when it comes to traveling on a budget, you can’t beat their prices. Here’s how to ensure you have a good experience flying Frontier without all those extra perks.
1. Join Frontier Miles to earn free flights, bags, a Discount Den membership & more.
Frontier Airlines recently announced changes to their (free to join) Frontier Miles frequent flyers program that makes it easier for you to avoid fees and earn freebies. Currently, members earn one mile for every mile flown, starting in January 2024 here’s what you can expect:
Silver Status (10,000 miles)
- No change/cancel fees
- Free standard seat at booking
- Earn 12 qualifying miles for every $1 you spend (tickets, bags, seats, and extras) on Frontier
Spend $1,000 to earn Silver Status
Gold Status (20,000 miles)
- Get free carry-on bag
- Get a free upgrade to premium seating at check in
- No change/cancel fees
- Priority customer care
- Priority boarding for your whole party
- Earn 14 qualifying miles for every $1 you spend on Frontier
Platinum Status (50,000 miles)
- Free carry-on and 1st checked bags
- Free upgrade to premium seating (at check-in) for everyone in your party
- Bring you pet-in-cabin for free
- You can gift Silver Status to someone
- Earn 16 qualifying miles for every $1 you spend on Frontier
Diamond Status (100,000 miles)
- Get ski/golf bags and 2nd checked bags free for everyone in your party
- Get free upgrade premium seating (at booking) for everyone in your party
- Earn 20 miles for every $1 you spend on Frontier
- Gift someone a Gold Status
- Get a Discount Den membership free
Right now, Frontier Miles members can earn a mile for every mile flown + 10 qualifying miles for every $1 spent! This offer is valid for bookings through Dec. 31, 2023.
2. When flying Frontier, pay your baggage fees at the time of your booking to save the most money.
Frontier lets you take one personal item on board for free (think: purses, totes, computer bags, diaper bags, and kids’ backpacks). Any additional bags (carry-ons or checked bags) cost extra, but Frontier Airlines baggage fees are significantly higher if you wait to pay them at the airport.
Bag prices vary by flight, but you can use Frontier’s Bag Price Checker to see how much you’ll pay. I looked up a round trip flight from New York City to Las Vegas just to see the baggage fees, and here’s what I saw:
- Carry-on bag prices started at $54
- First checked bag prices started at $49
- Prices for both bags went up to $99 if you paid at the airport boarding gate
You’ll save up to 50% if you pay your baggage fees when you book your flight online or through the Frontier mobile app (more on that in Tip #11). The longer you wait after your booking, the more you’ll end up paying for bags!
TIP: To avoid paying a baggage fee for carry-ons or checked bags, wear your bulkiest clothing in layers on your flight. Roll up all other clothes tightly and stuff them into a gallon-size zip bag that can fit in your purse or tote bag.
3. If you’re traveling as a group or with kids, pay the extra fee to pick your seats.
Otherwise, there’s no guarantee you’ll get to sit together during your flight. You can always ask other passengers to switch seats, but they may have already paid extra to sit where they’re seated.
If you’re flying Frontier airlines as a group, purchase your seat assignments at the time of your booking. You can still pay to choose your seats after you book your flight, but you may see higher prices.
Frontier seat prices usually start at $11 per person, per flight segment.
4. Buy ‘the Works’ bundle to get the best family value when flying Frontier.
Everyone knows that things happen and travel plans can change overnight. But any changes you make to your Frontier flight will cost you; it’s as simple as that. You’ll even pay a $75 charge per passenger for any name changes. If you want a little extra protection for your family vacation, book the Works bundle to save and unlock extra perks. Bundle prices will vary by route, but you’ll still lock in travel extras at the lowest price possible.
The Works bundle with Frontier includes:
- One carry-on bag
- One checked bag
- Seat selection
- Early boarding (you’ll get seated right after priority)
- Flight flexibility (change your flight without change fees)
- 100% refundability (refund your booking with no cancellation fees)
When you purchase a bundle, benefits will apply to all passengers on your Frontier booking.
RELATED: Use these incredible family travel hacks for your next getaway.
5. Want free flights and exclusive prices? Join the Discount Den — Frontier’s membership club.
If you’re flying Frontier airlines regularly, a Discount Den membership is definitely worth your while. The annual membership costs $59.99 for one full year of savings. You’ll get exclusive access to Frontier’s lowest fares, guaranteed. But here’s the best part: kids 14 and under fly free on select flights with the purchase of a Discount Den member fare.
As a member, you can also book flights for up to nine people at Discount Den prices.
6. Check Frontier’s online deals to score flights as low as $19.
Frontier isn’t known for travel perks or a luxurious in-flight experience. But how could you pass up flights for under $20?
Visit their Online Deals page to see the latest deals and coupons available now. If you have flexible travel dates, you’ll score some killer prices.
You can also sign up for their free email newsletter and follow the Frontier Facebook page to find out about offers and promos.
7. Families with kids under three get to board first when flying Frontier.
Frontier gives families some extra time to settle in. If you’re traveling as a family with children under the age of three, you’ll get to board the plane first (directly after priority boarding). This’ll make getting the kids set up for a smooth flight easy and stress-free.
TIP: Check out our best tips for flying with kids, including what to pack and how to keep them occupied for hours.
8. Frontier lets you bring a car seat on board for free.
Yup! This is just another perk Frontier offers for families traveling together. You can bring your car seat onto your Frontier flight free of charge (if your child has their own seat). Just make sure your car seat is FAA-approved if you plan to use it during the flight. To check if your car seat is FAA-approved, look for a label on it that states, “This restraint device is approved for motor vehicle and aircraft use.”
9. Ask for free trading cards and printables to keep kids entertained in flight.
If your electronics run out of juice during your flight, ask a flight attendant for free animal trading cards or other activities to keep the fun going.
You can also visit Frontier.com to print free activities for kids before you leave for the airport. Download a flight certificate that the Frontier crew will sign on board, printable maps for drawing, and activity pages with mazes and fun games at no extra cost!
RELATED: Check out this list of travel tips from an experienced flight attendant.
10. Bring your own snacks when flying Frontier — in-flight food and beverages cost extra.
Don’t expect a complimentary ginger ale when you fly Frontier. The airline charges for all food and beverages in flight. The only thing you can get for free is a cup of water, but you’ll have to ask a flight attendant for it. Anything else you order from the Frontier In-Flight Menu will have a cost, so plan ahead and pack some munchies to avoid paying for overpriced food and drink items while in the air.
11. Make sure your electronics are charged and ready to go before your flight.
Frontier planes don’t have outlets to recharge smartphones and laptops. They also don’t offer Wi-Fi, movies, music, or in-flight magazines once you’re on board. With that said, it pays to be FULLY prepared with fun things to do before you board your flight. Download some educational videos onto a fully-charged tablet or smartphone and pack plenty of coloring books, crayons, stickers, and more to prevent boredom.
12. Use Frontier’s mobile app to check in and get your boarding pass.
If you’re flying Frontier, use the free Frontier mobile app (iOS / Android) to check in and access your boarding pass early. This will save you tons of time at the airport — no printing or standing in lines necessary!
13. Make sure you know the Frontier Airlines cancellation policy before you book a flight.
Need to cancel or change your travel plans? Frontier lets you cancel your flight for a full refund within 24 hours of booking. If you cancel your flight after the 24-hour window passes, expect to pay a $99 cancellation fee.
Making changes to your Frontier flight is a bit different from other airlines. Here’s what you can expect to pay for flight changes (per passenger, per direction):
- 60+ days prior to departure: $0
- seven to 59 days prior to departure: $49
- six days or less prior to departure: $99
Read up on all Frontier ticket terms and conditions before booking your flight so you know what you’re getting into if plans change!
Have any other pro tips for flying Frontier? Leave them in the comments below!
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