Price range carriers like Frontier Airways can strike concern within the coronary heart of vacationers for knee-crunching legroom, uncomfortable seats, and charges that may immediately outweigh what was as soon as an inexpensive ticket. However this ultra-low-cost provider has its place: Do it proper, and it is a good (and low cost) flight.
That was my takeaway after flying Frontier for the primary time on a fast, bleary-eyed morning flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Denver (DEN) not too long ago. The seats definitely will not win any awards for consolation, however the legroom was shocking … and consider it or not, I imply that in a great way. And when you’ll pay a hefty value to choose your seat or carry something greater than a backpack with you, whether or not you pay an additional $100 or $0 is as much as you.
Will I fly Frontier once more? I will not exit of my method to hop onboard certainly one of their animal-emblazoned jets – particularly if I have to carry some baggage or work for a couple of hours from the skies. However in contrast to many vacationers who swear they’re going to by no means set foot on this price range provider, I will not take pains to keep away from them, both.
It is all about expectations. So learn on for our full Frontier Airways evaluate.
Reserving Frontier Flights
The journey with Frontier began lengthy earlier than getting on the airplane. The expertise of reserving a ticket with Frontier Airways is an journey, stuffed with shocking twists and turns you will not discover on many (if any) different airways.
To be completely clear, every little thing went easily whereas reserving my Frontier ticket from Minneapolis to Denver. However in the course of the reserving course of, what number of different airways will:
- Cost extra for a carry-on bag, checking a bag, and even many seat assignments than the price of the ticket itself?
- Give you a free, one-time change for an additional 99 cents?
- Attempt to offer you a bunch of coupons without spending a dime or discounted razors, Howdy Contemporary meals deliveries, or a Walmart+ subscription after checkout?
Very like some other ultra-low-cost provider, there’s one key factor to bear in mind when reserving Frontier: The price of your ticket may appear low cost at first, however the charges add up – and so they add up quick. In reality, Frontier makes extra income gathering charges on baggage, seats, and early boarding than it does truly promoting airplane tickets.
That is precisely how they do it. By unbundling issues like seat choice, baggage, precedence boarding, and even drinks, Frontier can provide low cost fares whereas making more cash on a handful of various charges. Consider it like primary financial system fares on the foremost U.S. airways, simply on steroids.
In my case, it began with a $49 one-way fare from Minneapolis to Denver booked simply two weeks earlier than departure – a route that typically sinks as little as $29 and even $19 every approach. It is simple to seek for Frontier flights on Google Flights and click on via to start the checkout course of with Frontier.
However proper off the bat, Frontier tried to upsell me on numerous bundles that included baggage, free seat project, early boarding, and different perks … for double or practically triple the worth of my ticket. I handed and went the a la carte route.
From there, it was time to pick seats. Frontier was charging wherever from $19 for a seat in the back of the airplane to as a lot as $55 for a “Stretch” seat with some additional legroom on the entrance of the airplane. When you want a seat project, it is clever to choose one and pay up in the course of the checkout course of: Seat charges improve after you e-book. In any other case, you’ll be able to roll the cube and get assigned a seat without spending a dime at check-in.
Oddly, Frontier was charging extra for center seats than for these alongside the home windows or aisles … as a result of on lots of its planes, these center seats are literally a bit wider. Irrespective of: I went with an aisle seat in the course of the airplane for an additional $25.
Flying Frontier, the one factor you’ll be able to carry onboard without spending a dime is a private merchandise – like a backpack or purse – that you could stow beneath the seat in entrance of you. Including a checked bag or perhaps a carry-on to your reservation will price you dearly: In my case, including any bag to my flight was greater than the ticket itself. Paying $69 or extra every approach for a bag is steep, particularly in comparison with the $30 or $35 customary on main U.S. carriers like American and Delta.
Learn our full breakdown of Frontier baggage charges!
I saved issues easy and skipped a bag. At each flip, Frontier tries one final time to upsell you on these extra charges, warning that including a bag after finishing the checkout course of will price much more.
The charges do not finish there. Frontier additionally provided a free one-time change for 99 cents – although it might be larger on different flights – in addition to the choice so as to add precedence boarding for an additional $7.99.
And there was one more last-ditch try so as to add one thing additional, like a rental automotive and what Frontier calls “Agent Help” – a $20 payment for having a Frontier agent test you in and print your boarding go on the airport. Move.
I used to be touring gentle and did not want a lot, so I used to be in a position to e-book my one-way ticket to Denver with a seat project and a one-time free change – why not? – added in for a grand complete of slightly below $75. That is not dangerous in any respect … however you need to do the maths for your self. If it’s essential carry a carry-on bag and choose a seat with additional legroom, these additional charges flying Frontier might simply push the price of your ticket over the likes of flying Delta, American, United, or Southwest.
At Thrifty Traveler, we do not settle for freebies. We use our personal factors, miles, or money to pay for each single flight or resort you see reviewed right here – together with this one!
Checking In & Boarding
Do not procrastinate when flying Frontier. And undoubtedly do not get to the airport late.
As of Aug. 16, Frontier will shut its check-in counters and bag drop one hour earlier than every flight’s departure. That is considerably sooner than most airways, who give vacationers a 30- to 45-minute window earlier than home flights. So whether or not you want a paper boarding go or simply need to test your bag, you may wish to get to the airport earlier earlier than a Frontier flight.
Touring gentle or checking in on-line or through a smartphone app, like me? You have to be set. Checking in via Frontier’s app and including my boarding go to my Apple Pockets was a cinch.
Flying out and in of Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), you may have to pay shut consideration to the terminal. Frontier now operates out of the airport’s smaller Terminal 2, a transfer it made a couple of years in the past.
Frontier flies a fleet of Airbus A320s and A321s, every emblazoned with an animal on the tail and a corresponding identify. Our A321 – dubbed “Joe Bob the Badger” – was prepared and ready on the gate for our bright-and-early departure to Denver.
Frontier handles its boarding course of in another way than most airways – and it is all about how the airline enforces its “do not you dare carry a carry-on bag onboard until you paid for it” coverage. Zone 1 boarding is solely for passengers who’ve paid to carry a carry-on bag. After that, Zone 2 via Zone 5 is for the remainder of the passengers bringing only a private merchandise on board.
There have been sizers on the gate for each private gadgets and full-size carry-ons, and the gate agent didn’t hesitate to make use of them to make sure no baggage had been too huge.
With only a handful of passengers boarding in Zone 1 and stowing carry-on baggage overhead, boarding went fairly rapidly.
Frontier Airways Cabin & Seats
Like all price range airways, Frontier Airways packs quite a bit of seats on its planes. Maximizing passengers is the secret.
In all, there are a whopping 230 seats onboard this Frontier A321. Evaluate that to the 191 seats Delta installs on the very same planes, and you’ll instantly inform that Frontier squeezed in as many seats because it might.
The cabin is about as primary because it will get, with black leather-based seats, grey seatbacks, and … not a lot else. However hey, it is an inexpensive trip to get you the place it’s essential go!
Actually, the one differentiation within the cabin is within the “Stretch” seats on the entrance of the airplane and within the exit row, that are in jet-black leather-based with some patterned cross-stitching to set them other than the remainder of the airplane. There are three rows of those additional legroom seats on the entrance of the cabin and one other, single exit row – every sporting a couple of additional inches of legroom for a further payment.
The remainder of the 200-some seats all through the airplane had been largely equivalent, with plain grey leather-based and some particulars right here and there.
The seats themselves are … effectively, they’re there. They exist. They’re upright. They’ve a spot to place your butt, a again to lean towards, and a seat belt to maintain you strapped in.
That is about all you’ll be able to say about these seats, that are about as unforgiving because it will get. Except for some leather-based and a bit of padding, there’s not a lot to separate this from a typical picket eating chair. It is apparent simply how ultra-slim these ultra-slim seats are from the facet.
And that is not a grievance! I am a 30-something-year-old in good well being, so spending two hours flying in these Frontier Airways seats was greater than high-quality – particularly for the worth. A 3 hour-flight would in all probability be OK, too. However for much longer than that and I am undecided I would stroll off a Frontier flight feeling that approach. And vacationers who’ve again or mobility points would possibly wind up paying a steeper value for the discomfort.
The shortage of padding is most blatant with the headrest: There actually is not one. And it is perhaps simply me, however these seats additionally really feel a bit shorter than your common airplane seat.
However the legroom was a shock … and a nice one, at that! On paper, Frontier presents simply 28 inches of seat pitch – the usual aviation measurement of legroom from the again of 1 seat to the following. In comparison with the usual of 31 inches or so on most main carriers (and much more on Southwest or JetBlue financial system), you would possibly assume your knees could be crunched.
However that is not the case. The shortage of padding, seatback extras, and the scalloped form of the again of every seat makes the legroom fairly manageable. In reality, I would say it is near on par with any main U.S. airline.
Learn extra: The Airways with the Greatest Legroom (& The way to Discover Them!)
The under-seat storage, nonetheless, is one other matter. With how compact every seat is, there’s simply not a lot room for a bag beneath with out consuming into precious foot area. My normal-sized backpack clearly caught out.
Whereas the padding and seat pitch would possibly really feel tight, at the very least there are nonetheless simply six seats in every row – the identical as some other airline flying these narrowbody planes. Which means every seat is about as vast as you’d anticipate – although Frontier makes center seats in every row a tad wider. That is not sufficient for me to take a spot between two strangers, however you do you!
What’s that on the seatback? Just about nothing. Do not anticipate a seatback display to remain entertained flying Frontier Airways. And Frontier would not presently provide inflight Wi-Fi, so there is no method to get linked to work in flight. There are additionally no energy shops or USB sockets to maintain your gadgets charged.
Every seat does have a tray that folds down, although it is virtually comically small – sufficient to set down a drink and never a lot else. There’s additionally a small pouch for literature and anything you would possibly wish to retailer.
Happily, there are air vents overhead if it’s essential cool off.
There have been simply three toilets on the airplane: One on the entrance and two all the best way on the again. With our departure earlier than daybreak, passengers had been slumbering fairly than getting up to make use of the toilet. However throughout a daytime flight, I would in all probability fear about strains forming exterior every bathroom.
Service, Meals & Drinks Flying Frontier Airways
Neglect about morning blues: The 5 flight attendants working this Frontier Airways flight had been cheery for our 5:30 a.m. flight.
A pair of flight attendants buzzed down the aisle shortly after leveling off with a drink cart – and given the early hour, there weren’t many takers. However if you’d like one thing, put together to pay for it: Except for a cup of water, Frontier Airways prices for every little thing.
A soda, juice, full bottle of water, or espresso all price $3.99. Beer, wine, and liquor every price $9.99 whereas Buzzballz cocktails clock in at $10.99 and a small bottle of glowing wine will price you $11.99. There are additionally some snacks like sweet, chips, and even cheese trays accessible for buy.
I settled on a cup of espresso, which was brewed and served a couple of minutes later in a cute cup with the declare that Frontier is “America’s Greenest Airline.” Refills had been free, which was an sudden contact.
Backside Line
Above all, the worth was proper.
At $49 for a one-way flight, Frontier was considerably cheaper than my different choices for attending to Denver – even after including a seat project for $25. However add in bag charges and all the opposite extras, and the maths would have rapidly modified. And that is the complete level: Frontier and fellow ultra-low-cost carriers are banking on drawing in vacationers with dirt-cheap fares, then gathering rather more in extra charges.
When you can journey gentle and survive a stiff seat for a couple of hours, flying Frontier Airways is simply high-quality when you ask me.