Frontier Airlines???

[LoverDisney]

Hi,

We are leaving for Disney in July and trying to find a decent airline price is almost impossible right now. I live outside of Philly and came across Frontier Airlines. From Wilmington it will cost less than $800 for the 3 of us. Has anyone had any experience with them (good or bad) and how is the long term parking? Thanks!

 

[cma1842]

I just back from a trip flying Frontier & they were great. Just make sure you book directly through their website or there could end up being extra fees.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3235636&highlight=frontier
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3213359&highlight=frontier
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3161055&highlight=frontier
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3185791&highlight=frontier

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Frontier Airlines was owned by Republic Airways Holdings Inc. In a deal that was announced in October 2013 and closed in December 2013, Republic sold Frontier to Indigo Partners, a private investment group led by former Spirit Airlines chairman William Franke.

Franke is applying the formula that worked at Spirit, turning Frontier into an ultra-low-cost carrier similar to Spirit. If you Google Spirit Airlines, you'll find many complaints. Legroom/kneeroom is several inches worse than the already inadequate seating normally found in the economy cabins of other airlines. When things go wrong, customer service is poor. Spirit can be very inexpensive; that's why people buy tickets anyway. NPR's Planet Money recently had an interesting podcast about Spirit Airlines: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/02/19/279649208/spirit-airlines-taps-a-nation-of-hate-fliers

I'm not saying that Frontier will become part of Spirit, only that Frontier's intention is to become like Spirit.

So the experiences that passengers had with Frontier in 2013 may not be a good indicator of what Frontier Airlines will be like in summer 2014. It might be better to read up about Spirit.

 

[NJRRK]

Hi,

We are leaving for Disney in July and trying to find a decent airline price is almost impossible right now. I live outside of Philly and came across Frontier Airlines. From Wilmington it will cost less than $800 for the 3 of us. Has anyone had any experience with them (good or bad) and how is the long term parking? Thanks!

I don't know where outside of Philly you are, but if you are to the north Frontier also flies out of Trenton, just off of I-95, north of the Scudders Falls bridge.

 

[N365PA]

The carrier itself isn't bad, but make sure you read the fine print when it comes to fee's so you're not surprised.

 

[Lewisc]

HH Great link. I bookmarked it.

This quote says it all.

Ben Baldanza, Spirit's CEO. He doesn't pretend that Spirit is a fancy airline.

"We're not even Wal-Mart," he said. "We're Dollar General.

 

[PSULion]

We just recently had a great experience flying frontier out of Wilmington. Teensy airport, so it was super easy to manage with our small kids. Plenty of parking very close to the terminal, and it's free for the time being. We would fly out of there again in a heartbeat!

 

[Ranger111]

Don't be afraid./..

I fly frontier at least once a month, sometimes more (I hate flying nowadays) as my business takes me to denver frequently, and denver is their hub.

They are an airline. Never had any problem with them. They are at least as good as United, maybe not so good as KLM. Responsive when weather problems screw up departures and sympathic to issues with baggage, seating (of course, probably helps to be a FF).

They have changed some policies in the past year and added a few fees, but many of the airlines have done the same.

Unless they do something radical in the next several months, and who knows , I do not foresee you having any special problems with them, and I would venture you would not notice much, if any, difference between them and United, Alaska, etal.

Kids tend to like the animals painted on the tail of the planes, all the animals have names...

Finally, a lot more of you will be seeing Frontier as an option because they have recently expanded their system from mainly Denver/West Coast to include many other areas

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I've flown Frontier out of Trenton several times, most recently just last month. I've had good experiences each time.

As with any purchase, you should research the fees. As long as you book on their website, you get a free carry-on. Frontier has 3 levels of pricing. The cheapest gives you a seat but nothing else. The next a free checked bag (or 2), free TV, seat upgrades, etc.

I've read about Frontier being taken over and using Spirit as a model; however, I haven't read about any changes being announced yet.

Fly Frontier and save your money!

 

[Lewisc]

Frontier Airlines was owned by Republic Airways Holdings Inc. In a deal that was announced in October 2013 and closed in December 2013, Republic sold Frontier to Indigo Partners, a private investment group led by former Spirit Airlines chairman William Franke.

Franke is applying the formula that worked at Spirit, turning Frontier into an ultra-low-cost carrier similar to Spirit. If you Google Spirit Airlines, you'll find many complaints. Legroom/kneeroom is several inches worse than the already inadequate seating normally found in the economy cabins of other airlines. When things go wrong, customer service is poor. Spirit can be very inexpensive; that's why people buy tickets anyway. NPR's Planet Money recently had an interesting podcast about Spirit Airlines: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/02/19/279649208/spirit-airlines-taps-a-nation-of-hate-fliers

...

So the experiences that passengers had with Frontier in 2013 may not be a good indicator of what Frontier Airlines will be like in summer 2014. It might be better to read up about Spirit.

Don't be afraid./..

......

They are an airline. Never had any problem with them. They are at least as good as United, maybe not so good as KLM. Responsive when weather problems screw up departures and sympathic to issues with baggage, seating (of course, probably helps to be a FF).

.......
Unless they do something radical in the next several months, and who knows , I do not foresee you having any special problems with them, and I would venture you would not notice much, if any, difference between them and United, Alaska, etal.

I quoted HHs post. Something has changed. Something radical. The airline was sold. The new owner is planning on positioning the airline in the image of Spirit airlines. I would venture a dramatic difference between the new Frontier Airline vs United Alaska etc.

I don't know how much of the changes will be implemented by July.

 

[Ranger111]

I quoted HHs post. Something has changed. Something radical. The airline was sold. The new owner is planning on positioning the airline in the image of Spirit airlines. I would venture a dramatic difference between the new Frontier Airline vs United Alaska etc.

I don't know how much of the changes will be implemented by July.

But, and here is THE THING...

You could say that about any airline. Any of them could (and probably are) planning changes in the coming months. Just because some company EXEC says something, does not really mean a heck of a lot....spouting off, trial balloon, bad mood, tentative plans that are not really set in stone -- or even real plans...what do you really know?

They may be for the better. They may be for the worst, or they may not make much difference. Frontier may stop giving out bags of "peanuts." Do I care if they do? Not really.

They may decide to change seating -- if so -- while that may not meet my needs, that is something that takes a significant amount of time to accomplish and I seriously doubt it would be done by any significant percentage by summer (I fly with them in two weeks, if they have doubled the number of cabin seats, I will let you know )

So, for any serious change to affect the OP, I seriously doubt it. Already bought the ticket? If so, immune to any fee "bites" and that is the only real "possibility" at the moment for the OP.

Yes, as I said, they could implement some serious changes -- and as I said -- so could United, Delta, etal.

With the American public complaining loudly and widely about airfares, it would almost be counterintuitive for airlines NOT to take "cuts" in service as far as the market "will bear" in search of greater market share.

The test comes when the public rebels (and we have already seen that in other fare models).

Anyway, when United tells me I have to share my row with a crate of turkeys, that's when I protest (....wait, has not that already happened? )

 

[atcae2]

Don't be afraid to book Frontier, they are a great Denver based company. Speaking in my professional capacity as an Air Traffic Controller they are good at what they do. Speaking as a consumer as I fly with them 3 or 4 times a year with my family they are always courteous and on time. Spend the extra 15 bucks for the extra 4 inches, you would be amazed how much difference 4 inches makes.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I had no idea Frontier was bought by a group associated someone who used to be associated with Spirit...ugh. Was looking at taking a trip on Frontier...I think I'll look elsewhere now.

 

[Lewisc]

But, and here is THE THING...

You could say that about any airline. Any of them could (and probably are) planning changes in the coming months. Just because some company EXEC says something, does not really mean a heck of a lot....spouting off, trial balloon, bad mood, tentative plans that are not really set in stone -- or even real plans...what do you really know?

Certainly not. Frontier Airline is the only airline recently sold to a group led by a former Spirit chairman. A group who plans on remaking Frontier in the image of Spirit.

I'll agree with your other point. I don't the airline will be able to make all the changes by this July. They might drop some flights/routes between now and this summer.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Frontier is adding new routes:

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thebalancesheet/2014/02/24/frontier-airlines-adds-six-new-routes/11628/

The article above includes these ominous sentences:

This marks the first major scheduling announcement for the carrier since it was sold to Indigo Partners LLC in December. Bill Franke, the private equity firm’s managing partner, has made his intention clear of transitioning Frontier into an ultra-low-cost carrier.​

Legacy carriers (United, American/US Airways, Delta) charge separately for luggage too, but none of them have announced plans to transition into an "ultra-low-cost carrier" modeled after Spirit Airlines. ("In fact, Consumer Reports said Spirit's rating was among the lowest of any company it has ever rated.")

The focus of legacy carriers is still primarily on serving the needs and expectations of business travelers.

 

[SunshineTK]

We flew out of Lehigh Valley/Allentown PA in Dec 2012. It was a nightmare. We bought 8 tickets to Orlando 6 months in advance. My husband luckily was curious to see how much tickets were for our flights 4 days before our scheduled departure. He couldn't find our Frontier flight anywhere. I called the airline and was rudely informed that they no longer fly on those days(the ones we booked). We scrambled to find 8 seats on another flight on different days than our WDW reservation. We had to extend our hotel stay and park tickets by 2 days or be forced to reduce our 7 day trip by 2. Once we found another flight, they "kindly waived the change fee", which was not our fault. When I inquired about not being notified their reply was "an email or call should have been made to you but our records do not show that." Just wonderful! I'm afraid of what would've happened when we showed up to the airport on our scheduled day.

After the stress of booking 2 additional hotel rooms, then transfering to our DVC, adding days to our tickets, adding dining reservations, etc, it was a great trip.

I hope this doesnt happen to anyone else.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I hope this doesnt happen to anyone else.

And that was the old Frontier Airlines, a year prior to being acquired by former Spirit chairman Bill Franke's Indigo Partners.

Maybe Frontier will actually become a better airline now. But I really doubt it. Transitioning from a low-cost carrier to an ultra-low-cost carrier suggests that things will get worse, not better.

Based on where I live, I could fly on Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Allegiant Air -- but I don't.

 

[Ranger111]

I hesitate to post this in a way, because it was last fall when I read this -- probably in WSJ, possibly Bloomberg or Kiplinger, but there was a fairly good interview with an executive from Indigo -- not Mr. Bill , but someone else.

Talked about the challenges they faced moving Frontier's focus, especially since a misstep could send them plunging down in their core market of DEN, which could be very concerning, considering the competition they face in DEN now from WN and UAL.

However, and this is the key, I believe, the intention is (was?) to move segments, including debundle of fares, elimination of some services and increasing number of seats per plane, but the group had learned from issues in the past and had no intention of jeopardizing their current position in Denver or elsewhere with any ill-thought moves.

One thing they ARE doing ASAP, IIRC, is removing TVs from the plane -- Thank heaven....

What this meant to me at the time (and it was last fall, so...) is that while changes will be made, they may not necessarily be bad. I can take a few less perks for a significant break in price.

In other words, I'll not say the sky is falling, until I start to see some cracks -- have not seen any yet and I flew F9 some three weeks ago and will be onboard again in mid-March.

If I see those cracks, I still have UAL WN or a few others to choose from.