Earlier this spring, I did something pretty brave in my travels. To be fair, I'm already brave when it comes to air travel. After all, I fly with babies and toddlers. (Often! And voluntarily!). But this trip required even more of a leap of faith. I decided to fly Frontier Airlines, one of the U.S. domestic ultra-low cost carriers, for the very first time.
I've warned readers about the many traps for the unwary aboard ultra-low cost airlines. These airlines charge for everything: checked bags, carry on bags (!), drinks on-board, seat assignments, and much more. Frontier used to be an airline not unlike Southwest. It was known for being inexpensive and simple, but it was not bare bones either.
A few years ago, however, Frontier started adopting many of the features of the bargain basement airlines like Spirit and Allegiant. These other two airlines are sometimes a bit notorious for stranding passengers - often for days - because their small fleets have no room for error if a plane has a mechanical problem. Frontier seems to still be a step above but still avoided by most in the frequent flyer community. I've certainly heard a few horror stories from friends. But to be fair, I've personally experienced horror stories on many legacy airlines too (being stranded in Dallas by American at Christmas time a few years ago comes to mind). Stuff goes wrong in modern air travel no matter who you fly. Many of the complaints I've heard about Frontier are really a result of passengers not doing their research to understand the fees and (lack of) amenities before they book.
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Why Fly Frontier Airlines?
So what made me consider Frontier for the first time? I was headed to Orlando for an annual conference at Walt Disney World. Due to limited babysitting back home, my trip needed to be as quick as possible. This meant I really needed to take a redeye to minimize time away. Frontier is the only airline that flies redeye flights from SFO to MCO.
And it was cheap. Like less than half the price of United which is the only other airline that flies non-stop from the Bay Area to Orlando. Money talks.
I was traveling solo with just a carry on bag. If there was ever a time to give the airline a try, this was it.
The Booking Process on Frontier
I booked my flights on Frontier.com a few months in advance. (By the way, I always recommend booking directly with the airline and not with third party middlemen - much safer if something goes wrong). Booking was quick and easy. I also joined Frontier's EarlyReturns frequent flyer program at the same time. You should never leave a frequent flyer mile on the table!
While booking, I paid for a seat assignment on my first flight (a $12 upcharge) to make sure I would have a window seat for more comfortable seating on my redeye. I decided to live dangerously on the return, opting not to pay for a seat assignment then. I also pre-purchased a carry on bag each way for an additional $60 ($30 one-way). My total roundtrip cost plus these extras? $268.40 - a total steal for a cross-country trip.
Communication from the airline before my trip was helpful and more than adequate compared to many airlines I've experienced. I received one email from Frontier several weeks after I booked informing me of a slight schedule change (that ultimately worked even better for my travel plans, so no problem). I also received an email a few days before my flight, prominently noting that paying for bags in advance would be cheaper if done online rather than at the airport - a nice reminder for passengers who might not have pre-booked bags as I had done. Then I also received a check-in reminder email 24 hours prior to my departure.
SFO to MCO on Frontier
On flight day, I got an email from Frontier before I left home (about 6 hours before flight time) telling me that my flight was delayed. Sounds like the start of another Frontier horror story, right? Perhaps, but the reality was that this delay was entirely the fault of San Francisco International Airport and weather. Every flight on every airline at SFO was delayed that day due to the all-too-common problem of low ceilings (basically: fog which affects how many flights can take off and land and delays the very busy airport quite regularly). This is why I avoid SFO when I can. I give credit, however, to Frontier for keeping me informed of delays at the very least.
I headed to the airport on time anyway since evening rush hour traffic had already cleared. I figured I could get some work done while I waited. I used my CLEAR cut-the-line service to speed through airport security (Frontier also added TSA Pre-Check participation as of last fall so you can now use that service too if you have it). Then I set up shop at the gate and waited while I worked.
Frontier staffs at airports pretty leanly so there was no one at the gate. Often smaller airlines have their staffs move from the check-in counters to gate agent positions so I suspect that was what was going on. But since all of us had been informed of the delay via email and it was listed on the board at the gate area, people were not too anxious.
We ended up leaving SFO over 2 hours late which I knew would eat into the very short time I had at Disney World. But we lucked into a seriously strong tailwind and pilots who were determined to make up as much time as possible on our trip. We were on the ground in MCO less than 1.5 hours late and I had crazy-good luck with the Magical Express which had me to my Disney hotel in record time.
The On-Board Experience on Frontier Airlines
How about the flight experience itself?
Seats. Once I boarded my flight, the first thing I noticed were the seats on Frontier. They are ultra-slim line. What does that mean? Minimal cushioning. I was worried they were going to be extremely uncomfortable. Surprisingly, I found them totally adequate for economy flying. I brought two travel pillows with me so I was able to get fairly cozy with little bit of extra space I had against the window. I actually got a bit of sleep on the short flight.
Tray Table. The only thing that was slightly laughable about Frontier was the tray table. It was big enough for a drink but that was about it. There was definitely no room to use a laptop on it and even an iPad would have been a stretch. Since my first flight was a redeye, it didn't matter because I was planning to sleep. On the return flight, I used one of my two travel pillows as a lap desk to work on my laptop.
Fellow Passengers. Because of Frontier's reputation as a budget airline, you are not likely to be flying with the frequent flyer crowd. Depending on your perspective, that might be good or bad. I found the clientele to be fairly similar to what I see on Southwest Airlines, with a lot of budget-conscious leisure travelers and some families. There was a big group of high schoolers headed to a dance team competition on my first flight but that was probably more a function of our Orlando destination than the airline. They weren't perfectly behaved at the gate area but I didn't notice them at all on board as a problem. I sat next to a nice gentleman headed to Orlando for a work conference. In short, the passengers were not as much of an issue as I feared.
Service. For the most part, I found the service aboard Frontier Airlines as good if not a bit better than many domestic airlines. The pilots on both of my flights to and from Orlando put on a bit of a comedy routine over the loudspeaker that was cute and made everyone laugh. The flight attendants were friendly and kind (not Southwest level, but certainly a significant improvement on the surly service I often encounter on United). Of course, the service can be good when flight attendants have less to do. Because Frontier charges for snacks as well as all beverages except water, most passengers turn down beverage and snack service. The flight attendants arguably don't have as many duties as they might on a mainline carrier.
Other Amenities. Looking for amenities on-board your flight? You won't find them on Frontier. There is no in-flight entertainment. There's also no WiFi for purchase on Frontier. Drinks and snacks (other than water) cost extra. There's no in-seat power ports.
As long as you know all that in advance as I did, the experience isn't so bad. There are cheap and easy ways around all of these issues. Bring your own food and drinks. Buy a portable battery pack for your iPhone or tablet to recharge it. Pre-load it with a few movies or games since the lack of WiFi and in flight entertainment means you won't have much to keep you occupied. Frankly these are things my family does already when we travel with kids because you never know when an airline amenity will be unavailable or broken or when food will sell out.
My Return & the Final Verdict
My return trip on Frontier from MCO to SFO was very similar to my first flight experience. We had about a 2 hour delay but this time it was due to scheduled runway construction at SFO (I swear, that airport is going to be the death of me). Again, Frontier kept me well-informed of the delay. Frontier is located in a terminal at MCO that has a "The Club" lounge which takes Priority Pass memberships, so I spent the delay comfortably consuming free snacks.
My final verdict? I'd fly Frontier again if the schedule worked for me as it did this trip. I'd even do it with kids. It saved me a ton of money and it was just fine in terms of the on-board experience. That's about all I ask for in domestic economy flying today.
Tips If You Plan to Fly Frontier Airlines
If you are thinking about flying Frontier Airlines too, here are a few tips for the best experience.
1. Do Your Research: Make sure you know what you are getting into when flying a budget airline like Frontier. Think about whether you will check bags, how many carry ons you need, etc. Calculate the cost of all the extras to get a fair price comparison with other airlines. Know what amenities you will have (and more likely not) so you can take steps to prepare.
2. Pack Smart: Since you have done your research, prepare accordingly. Pack plenty of snacks for you and your kids and buy any drinks you might want in the airport beforehand to save money. Load up your devices with any in-flight entertainment you might needs and bring an external battery charger to make sure your smartphone or tablet never runs out of juice.
3. Buy all Bags in Advance: If you are going to check a back or bring a carry on larger than an personal item, pay for them at least 24 hours in advance online. You'll save money.
4. Consider Paying for Seats: While solo travelers like me might be willing to chance it without pre-selecting seats, if you are traveling with kids, consider paying for seat assignments. The stress of perhaps being separated is not worth the cost savings.
5. Download the Frontier App: Having airline apps on your phone is always helpful for tracking delays and for checking in for your flight while on the go. Frontier's is basic, but I used it for flight notifications as well as for my mobile boarding pass.
Harmony, Momma To Go says
im considering booking an orlando flight on frontier. i just need to figure out is a back pack a personal (no charge) item?
mieko says
I haven't flown with frontier, but I have flown several times with spirit and I'm assuming it's similar . You should be able to find the personal item dimensions on their website and make sure your back back falls within that range (so long as you're not cramming it to maximum capacity and it's not ridged luggage this doesn't have to be insanely precise) My personal experience is so long as the item can fit under the seat they don't really care, no one has ever pulled out a tape measuror on me to check.
Hope you enjoy your vacation if you decide to go !
Nyome says
I JUST flew with Frontier and yes you can bring a backpack onboard but no purse/laptop bag..id say its worth it for the $ .> paid $118 one way from SFO to Fort Lauderdale..so no complaints..bring your own food and drinks.... you will be fine!!
Peter Redman says
The non stop flight from Orlando to Portland Maine was as good as it gets. Top quality seats, clean and the hostesses were extraordinary.
Highly recommend Frontier Airlines.
Zoë says
I was waiting for you to include the fact that Frontier's seats are significantly wider than, well, ANY airline economy seat. That is something someone who needs a bigger seat really appreciates. I was very surprised, impressed, and grateful for a comfortable seat that didn't pinch or punish my well-padded form.
Anonymous says
Tipping flight attendants is encouraged. First they nickel dime you, now tips. Are we gonna have to tip the pilot too?
Barbara Buzzell says
I flew Frontier Airlines from Grand Rapids, MI to Orlando, during the Polar Vortex storm, on nonstop flight. We had a 2 he departure delay, but it was due to shortage of airport crews, because of the weather. Seats were comfortable, flight crew were friendly, and once in the air we made good time. I too pre-booked with Frontier on line, including purchasing luggage check in bag. I had to declare a firearm in my checked bag, and that went smoothly. I took one personal bag on with me, in which I placed my purse, snacks,phone and reader. It was a very enjoyable flight, and I would recommend Frontier Airlines as a good, inexpensive way to travel.
Lisa says
We have also enjoyed Frontier. Flew direct from DFW to Denver and back without purchasing seats (with a 6 and 8 year old in tow). And they managed to seat us all together without any special request . I think airlines ultimately want your family to be together too...but you take the risk if you don't pick seats. When I have gambled, it hadn't bit me...yet!
Anonymous says
I have been flying with frontier for over 4 years every few months to Cancun. I only had one delay due to weather and it was for 30 minutes
I always fly with them.
DLM says
Just returned from RT on Frontier and it was fine. I was nervous after all of the horror stories i read online but it was just as good as as any other airline I had traveled. You just have to know the fees and the timeline in which they increase. Customer service was fine in Philadelphia and Orlando and our tickets were on $70 each way base. Chose cheap seats of $12/13 and we each checked a bag at $38 so for $133 each way wasn’t bad. The only problem is the space between seats are shorter and the tray table can only hold a cup a phone and a pair of sunglasses. Other than that it was fine. Also bring a snack or you will be purchasing it cc only. Just make sure you pay fees before checking in. I plan to use them again if they are the cheapest!
Karthik says
I had very bad experience with frontier . Flight was delayed and I will miss connecting flight with other airlines . So I booked other flight and went. They refused to refund my ticket fare.
Anonymous says
Frontier is a horrible run operation!!
Savannah says
For families with kids, it says on their website that if your child is under 13 they will be seated with a family member over the age of 13 at no charge. Hope this helps!
Anonymous says
They charge for all baggage whether carry on or checked, except small personal items. But they are a good, reliable, safe airline. Don’t let the look of folding chair seats scare you. Quite comfy!
Mark Van Ark says
Frontier cancelled my flight at the last minute, offered no help to find alternate travel. Had to buy a last minute flight on United at $489.00. Frontier promises to reimburse up to $400.00, bit after 6 weeks I have seen nothing. Impossible to contact a human being in what they consider 'customer service '. No such thing. Frontier is a crap shoot. Don't bother to fly with them.
Johanna Munoz says
I have been flying frontier for a few years now. From PHL to Cancun, DR, Puerto Rico, Orlando and Atlanta. And have never had any issues. My husband and I are den members and the prògram works great. We love using our miles for free travel. We’ve actually had worst travel experiences with legacy airlines. We prefer frontier or JetBlue
Ruth Matthews says
I fly frontier all the time period my last flight was a little fit difficult. The need to schedule at least enough time to vacuum the Carpets. I was seated at the window, and there was a 1/2 eaten cracker where I would have to place my stuff under the seat in front of me. There were several food items by the 2 seats next to me parrot they did not vacuum at all.. I am By no means a neat freak hear it I just don't want to place my stuff on top of someone's half eaten cracker.
Marsha says
Yes you can carry on a back pack for free and I was still able to have my purse also.
Janel Brockton says
We have flown them almost exclusively for the last 4 years. Some tips:
1.If you buy the tickets at the counter, they waive some of government the taxes. One flight I booked was $36 one way online and only $16 at the airport. Plus they assign seats immediately and for no charge. (DD and online ticket promos such as kids fly free do not work at the counter)
2. If you buy tickets online, it's cheaper to purchase seats after online check in. I have rolled the dice for random seats assignments then modify after for 1/3 of the original cost to select a seat.
3. Also, they are accommodating. We were assigned to row 39 out of 40. My fiance had limited walking ability as he was recovering from a foot surgery. So I called CS and within two minutes of explaining my situation. They moved us to row 1 at no charge.
Anonymous says
Hello to all my first trip on frontier the first plane was nice and new then i find they dont even give u water smh the second looked very old and i can tell as soon as i saw the front door .Iwas shocked when the pilot said the computer was giving problem and a tech had to come fix it .so for almost 2 hours all of us in the plane waiting not even once the stewardess ask or offered anything they just stayed in the back or front eating and chatting..once we finnaly took off then we even had to press the stewardesses button for them to come to us and say would u like to buy something. Im a jetblue,united, customer and will never fly frontier again i dislike sprit airlines also but rather fly them because they tell u all cost upfront,not like frontier ...
Anonymous says
Frontier is horrible.... BEWARE if u r planning on flying with them. They cancel flights ALWAYS and leave you stranded. It took me 3 says to get from san francisco to austin because of a cancelled flight. Horrible customer service..horrible planes...just horribke spend the few extra bucks a fly a more reliable carrier with a network of flights