Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing adventure or convenience—especially with airlines like Frontier promising low fares and easy access to popular destinations. But is this ultra-low-cost carrier worth considering for your next trip?
If you've been weighing your options between affordable carriers, you've likely stumbled across Frontier Airlines. Famous for its rock-bottom prices and “no-frills” approach, it's a favorite among budget-conscious travelers. But how does it really stack up? Whether you’re a seasoned flyer or planning your first getaway, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about flying Frontier—from luggage policies to seat prices, real customer reviews, and actionable booking tips.
Frontier Airlines — A Brief Overview
Based in Denver, Colorado, Frontier Airlines, a budget carrier was founded in 1994 and has grown steadily into one of America’s most well-known low-cost carriers. With over 100 destinations across North America, they focus on affordable travel, offering budget-friendly routes to popular cities like Las Vegas, Orlando, and Cancun. Their quirky animal-themed plane tails and emphasis on sustainability (boasting one of the most fuel-efficient fleets in the U.S.) make them stand out—but is the hype worth it?
Pros and Cons of Frontier Airlines
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, here’s a quick rundown of the positive and not-so-great aspects of flying Frontier:
Pros
Unbeatable Prices: Tickets with Frontier can often cost a fraction of other airlines, ideal for budget travelers.
Eco-Friendly Fleet: Their commitment to sustainability with fuel-efficient aircraft gives you environmental brownie points.
Wide Route Network: Flights to both major hubs and smaller cities keep things flexible for adventurers.
Friendly Service: From my own travels, I’ve found their flight attendants warm and approachable.
Cons
A La Carte Pricing: Checked baggage, carry-ons (yes, even those!), seat selection, and in-flight snacks often come as extra costs.
Uncomfortable Seats: While affordable, the seats are thin, with less padding and no recline feature—fine for short flights but challenging on longer flights.
Strict Policies: Rules around luggage size and weight are strictly enforced, which can trip first-timers up.
Verdict
If saving money is priority #1 and you’re willing to accept the “no-frills” experience, Frontier shines bright. Just come prepared and know the rules ahead of time! I am a basic budget girl, so I will always choose a discount airline when available.
How Strict Is Frontier Airlines with Luggage?
Frontier Airlines isn’t playing around when it comes to their luggage policies. They’re known for strictly monitoring personal items, carry-on bags, and checked luggage at the gate. If you think they are not strict, think again. I have seen people turned away because their luggage was overweight, and they would not remove items from their suitcase in a checked bag or pay the overweight luggage fee. I have also seen people not pay for a carry on, hoping to get away with it, but the gate agent would catch that it was too large to be considered a personal item. Here’s what you need to know:
Personal Item (free of charge): Must fit under your seat and should be no larger than 14” x 18” x 8”. Think backpacks, purses, small bag or tote bags. This is what I usually use for my flights as it is fee. I can squeeze everything in a small backpack that will fit under my seat for a long weekend trip, sometimes an even longer trip.
Carry-On Bag (fee applies): Restricted to 10” x 16” x 24” and must weigh under 35 pounds. Those rolling small luggage pieces will work as a carry on. I used one recently on a trip to Tampa, but I paid $59 for a carry on
Checked Luggage (fee applies): Limited to 62 linear inches and a maximum weight of 40 pounds—5 pounds lighter than most competitors. Always weigh you luggage at the house before you leave for airport just to make sure it is not overweight. The last time I booked a client on frontier they paid $70 for a checked bag, which is $30 more than non-budget airlines,
Carry On and Board Option (fee applies) You will get a zone 1 on your boarding pass and available on the Frontier website, prices vary between flights but usually under $15.
Pro Tip: Use a luggage scale before you leave home and invest in a compact personal item bag that meets their dimensions to save on carry-on fees!
Overweight luggage can cost as much as $75 to $100 per suitcase each way, and Oversized luggage can cost $75 each way.
Seats, Priority Check-Ins, and Pet Tickets
Frontier’s seating options and add-ons cater to different budgets. Here’s what you should know:
Standard Seats are the cheapest option but do not recline. Legroom is tight, especially for taller travelers. The lack of legroom is my complaint.
Stretch Seats offer extra legroom but come with added fees ranging from $20-$65, depending on the flight.
Extra Fees for priority check-in are available if you’re running behind and want to skip the line.
Pet Ticket allows you to bring your furry friend on board for $99 per direction (only small cats and dogs allowed in the cabin).
Frontier Airlines Reviews
You don’t have to take my word for it—here’s what other travelers have said about their Frontier experiences:
Positive reviews praise the airline’s affordability and friendly crew. Travelers often cite that expectations are met as long as you understand what you’re paying for.
Negative reviews highlight frustration with delays, limited legroom, and baggage fees. Some also point to unpredictable flight schedules. If you look online, you will see plenty of people saying it was the worst experience, and they will never fly Frontier again. I tend to disagree due to my experiences.
I have even read a review where a woman's flight was changed, and she did not know about it. This can happen when booking with a third-party agency like Expedia or Orbitz, as they do not always let you know of changes. Always look at Frontier website and type in reservation # to confirm any changes with the flight well in advance. Frontier ill send emails if somethings has changed, but you will still need to sign into website to find out exactly what changed. Personal experiences with this have happened with me too. For example, on my first Frontier flight to Las Vegas years ago, I received an email about 6 weeks before my flight that my non-stop flight from Charlotte NC to Las Vegas was now stopping in Denver for a layover. I was not happy obviously, but it did not stop me from taking the flight. I did not cancel or try to get a full refund to rebook with another carrier, as the cost of my first flight was so cheap. I paid $59 for the flight, and $69 for the return flight. American Airlines roundtrip flight was $412. This experience did not stop me from using Frontier again and again, with many other flights that were not delayed or changed in anyway.
My Review of Frontier Airlines
My Frontier Airlines Reviews are not bad at all. Personally, I’ve had a positive experience with Frontier! I’ve flown roundtrip from Charlotte, NC, to Orlando, FL, and have even taken them to Las Vegas many times when their price beat Spirit Airlines. Their customer service has been reliable, flight attendants are welcoming and delays minimal—only one delay due to lightning put me behind by an hour. Yes, the seats could be more comfortable, but for short-haul flights, they do the trick.
As a travel agent I have used them also for clients. My experience with customer service for a client of mine was amazing. Let me tell you about my experience. When booking the flight, I spelled the name wrong, and did not catch it until after booking. I was able to jump on Frontier website and use their chat box to talk to customer service and with the reservation # they were able to fix the spelling in under 5 minutes. Comparing this to American Airlines, where it was taken over 5 hours for customer service to call me back, as they would not even let me stay on hold on the phone, or get a similar issue fixed via their website. This in my eyes proves that Frontier is superior to the more expensive airlines out there.
My round-trip Frontier flight to Orlando, a trip to the Magic Kingdom for a 3-day vacation went off without a hitch. No delays or cancelations, and a short flight, as Orlando is less than 1.5-hour flight from Charlotte NC. While waiting to board at the airport the gate agent was asking people to board first with disabilities or veterans and also people who purchased priority boarding. I assume they are the ones that has purchased the comfy seats with so much room at the front of the plane, as they were all onboard when I boarded the plane. Some of these were obviously business travelers. Those comfy seats are larger, with only 2 seats on each side of the aisle, as the rest of the plane has 3 seats on each side of the aisle. I did not pick the middle seats for myself, I picked an aisle seat and paid $10 online for this option well before the day of my flight. I also did not pick a seat at the back of the plane. Pro Tip: If you are purchasing luggage, or the seat do this on the website instead of at the airport. It can be less expensive, but it will definitely save you time at the airport.
Of course, the one thing that annoys me with all airports and airlines is the people waiting for their zone to be called and they are blocking the entrance. Zone 2 is obviously called right after zone 1, so why are there 50 people looking to trample all over you at the gate who are zone 3. lol. This holds up the boarding process as people are trying to squeeze by all these people just standing there.
The flight crew was nice, and helpful with everyone trying to fit their carry on luggage in the overhead bins. My seat was not up front, but not all the way in the back. I did not pick a seat near the emergency exit either, even though those can be nice as they offer you more leg room at times. The seats are compact, and I am a plus size girl, but did not have any problems fitting in the seat. I did see a large man seated near me ask for a seatbelt extender and they gave him one without any issue. These compact seats are not the most comfortable, but for a budget airline on a short flight I do not mind. The seat pitch was fine, and I never attempted to lay back my seat any while in flight.
Looking at the menu of snack and drinks you can buy on board, the prices are not cheap, but nothing when buying on any fight is cheap nowadays. I noticed the basics from soda to water, coffee, tea, and even wine. Plus, snacks like pretzels, crackers or M&Ms are available. I did not make a purchase, but several did, and they used the tray table attached to the back of the seat in front of them, just as other airlines have. I noticed the exit row seats have tray tables that come out from the side of their arm rest on the seat.
The flight time was exactly what they predicted, as we left on time and had on time arrival on this flight to Orlando. I have spent anywhere between $49 and $99 for a ticket each way to Orlando, which is not bad at all. Compared to over $350 roundtrip on American Airlines.
Next Orlando flight Review
Everything was basically the same, the only thing was lightening delayed my flight by an hour. It was not lightening in Charlotte North Carolina; the storm was in Orlando. Obviously because I was nosey, I looked up the American Airlines flight leaving from Charlotte for Orlando leaving near the same time as mine and it was delayed also. Weather delays cannot be helped. Luckily, we were located right beside Panera Bread at the airport, so we were able to grab some food, just in case more delays happened due to weather, so we didn't have to worry about dinner in Florida, but luckily, we were up in the air an hour later.
Another thing that was different with this flight was I was traveling with my disabled mother who was using wheelchair access. We used the early boarding option because of her disability, and it was helpful. The Frontier staff was so friendly at the boarding gate, on the plane and even when we landed in Orlando. One of the things I did not think of until we were on the plane was how uncomfortable the seats were, mom noticed before we even got in the air, that it was very uncomfortable for her back, but after we landed, she was fine and said for the price she would use Frontier again even though the seats did hurt her back.
Tips for Booking Affordable Flights
Saving money when flying Frontier is a bit of an art form. Here are my favorite tips:
Pack Light: Stick to the free personal item and avoid splurging on checked or carry-on luggage.
Book Early: Use tools like Hopper or Google Flights to monitor prices and grab tickets when they drop. I use Hopper all the time and never book a last-minute ticket. You can save hundreds by just doing this.
Avoid Add-Ons: Decline unnecessary extras like seat selection—frontier seat allocation is random but not cruel.
Fly at Off-Peak Times: Midweek flights tend to be significantly cheaper than weekends.
How Does Frontier Compare to Other Budget Airlines?
When compared to similar ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines, Frontier holds its ground.
Spirit Airlines suffers from a worse reputation due to inconsistencies with hidden fees and cancellations. Frontier in my opinion is similar to Spirit, as luggage fees can be outrageous on Frontier, just as it is with Spirit.
Southwest Airlines, though not as cheap, provides two free checked bags, which may offset ticket pricing for travelers with luggage.
When looking at statistics Frontier compares with Jet Blue on the percentage of on time flights, delayed flights and canceled flights. Frontier has a 66.99% of on time departure, 2.13% of cancelations. These are some of the worst for airlines of the United States.
Food, Drink, and Extra Services
Unlike traditional airlines, Frontier doesn’t include complimentary food or drinks. Instead, you can purchase from their in-flight menu:
Bottled water costs $3—bring your own refillable bottle to avoid this. Did you know that many airports have specific water bottle fill up fountains. Charlotte NC does in Terminal A. Even a cup of coffee will cost you on a Frontier airlines flight.
Snacks like trail mix and sandwiches are available for $3-$9.
Alcoholic beverages (beer/wine) range from $7-$8.
Should You Join the Loyalty Program?
For 2025 they are talking about the New Frontier, how the First-class seat will be better, they will be offering unlimited free companion travel, complimentary upgrades, Level status changes more quickly, and the use of earned miles to pay for checked bag and more. This program will be rolling out towards the end of 2025 from what I am gathering. If you fly Frontier all the time, this might be a benefit to you. Signing up for the loyalty program is free, so if you plan on using Frontier, sign up, but it will take several flights before you get to a level where the perks are great.
They also occasionally advertise all-you-can-fly passes, which—if used strategically—can be a game-changer for frequent travelers. Its $599 per person for a year. You can purchase at 2 different times of the year, for example May1st 2025 till April 30th 2026 could be a year of flights for $599. If planned correctly and booked early this might be great especially if you are planning to travel a bunch during one year. This auto renews the following year for $699, unless you cancel. You can look into monthly unlimited flight plans too. The prices vary from $59 to $99 and auto renew at $149, if you are interested. Flights can be subject to blackouts, so be prepared.
You can apply for a credit card with the company, just like all other airlines offering similar credit cards. Sometimes Frontier offers a free flight and 50,000 miles for getting a credit card, but perks change from time to time. Sometimes if you fill it out on the flight, you get better perks. I personally have not done this, nor will I due to their being so many other better credit card options out there for frequent travelers especially if you have a good credit score.
Discount Den is something else Frontier offers, but it will cost you. When you join for the first time it will cost $59 + $40 for the first enrollment, every year after that it is only $59. They offer discounts on flights, and bags, plus will cover up to 8 people on the reservation. The only thing is if you do not fly often on Frontier every year, this will not benefit you. Personally this is something I will not use, as I do not fly enough to make it worth my wild. You need at least 3 roundtrip flights in my opinion to make it beneficial. Something to note, kids fly free on certain flights if under the age of 15, when you have purchased the Discount Den,
A Look at Sustainability and Customer Service
Frontier takes sustainability seriously. With one of the youngest fleets in the U.S., their planes are designed to reduce fuel consumption by up to 43%. Also when thinking of sustainability, using their mobile app is a great way to save printing a boarding pass at the airport, saving you time and saving the waste of a paper boarding passes. You can book flights, manage flights and so much more on the Frontier app.
Customer service often reflects the budget pricing—basic but generally courteous. I have heard some stories from people who had a hard time dealing with their customer service during flight cancelations, and needing to change tickets during those times you can be dealing with customer service longer than you would like.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Frontier Airlines flights reliable?
Most Frontier flights are on time, but as with all low-cost carriers, occasional delays can happen and you can have a late departure or a late arrival. Sometimes when you have a late departure, they can make up the time in the sky and arrive on time.
2. Is Frontier Airlines worth it?
For budget travelers prioritizing affordability over luxury, yes—just come prepared.
3. Can you bring your pet aboard Frontier flights?
Yes, small cats and dogs are allowed. Additional fees apply, and they must be able to fit in a pet carrier under the seat in front of you. Unless they are service animals.
Final Thoughts for Travelers
Frontier Airlines offers an unbeatable value for budget-conscious adventurers. While the airline isn’t perfect (those seats could use an upgrade), it delivers on its promise of low fares and dependable service. In my personal opinion it is not the worst airline to use. If you’re willing to pack light and skip the frills, you’ll enjoy significant savings on your travel.
Call to Action
Have you flown with Frontier? Share your experience in the comments below—or if you’re ready to explore affordable travel, book your next flight today!
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