Frontier Airlines?

[dtr_angel]

Has anyone flown Frontier before? Good experience? I've never really heard of them...

we're thinking of taking a trip in October for 4 nights so we can do MNSSHP. Our APs are burning a hole in our pocket We're going in December so since this is unplanned I'd like to do it as cheap as possible. Southwest was my first choice for free bags, family boarding, and if we end up canceling we will get the credit for another flight. It was looking like it would be around $900 on Southwest and I doubt the flights get much cheaper since the trip isn't far away (under 6 weeks) but I don't know. I just happened to be checking out other airlines and I found what I think is a good deal from Frontier. Direct flights for 3 for just under $500. But it looks like we have to pay for checked bags and carry on bags? I'm guessing we will have 2 checked bags and probably 2 or 3 small carry on bags (we have a 2 year old so we will need toys, snacks, baby supplies) it says $25-50 - does that depend on size? What else do they charge for? Our last few vacations have been driving, and we are driving to Orlando in December so I feel out of the loop. I just want to make sure I am including all the extras to see if this is a good deal, or if I should just splurge and pay for Southwest since I know what I'm getting, or if we should just forget this trip. Thanks!

 

[Disneyliscious]

I have flown Frontier a few times before and never really had any trouble with them. The reason I chose them was because their price beat others by miles.

Then they changed their fee schedule to "better assist their customers" which is a bunch of hogwash and I haven't flown with them since.

If you sign up for their Discount Den - for a family of 3 take your ticket price and add on another $70 per person for 1 checked bag ($15 each way) and 1 carry on bag ($20 each way). If you have a 2nd checked bag it is $30 each way per 2nd checked bag. So if you are flying bagless (everyone is allowed 1 personal item for free) then it might be a good deal. Otherwise stick to Southwest.

If you are not a member of their Discount Den -
Carry on bag - $25 each way
1st Checked bag - $20 each way
2nd Checked bag - $30 each way

So tally those up per person and add that to your ticket price. And note, that is if you pay for the checked bags online. If you do it at the airport/gate it can run from $50-$100 per bag.

http://www.flyfrontier.com/plan-book/fare-options

I have flown Southwest once (only other airline Ive flown besides Frontier) and liked it. I am trying to use Southwest for our trip in Oct but all the flights seems to be sold out.

The only real benefit Frontier has left is that you get to select your seats when you buy online at their website. If seat selection doesn't matter, there really isn't a reason to fly with them anymore unless you have no bags.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I've flown Frontier from Trenton before and after their changes and I will continue to fly Frontier whenever they have prices that beat the competition, often by a lot of money.

I am flying to Orlando from the Philadelphia area on November 4th to November 11th. The cheapest flight Southwest offers on those dates is $228.20.

Instead, I will be flying Frontier from Wilmington, DE for $137.64. Now, this is only the price for the ticket. I am a member of the Discount Den (free to join) and I will bring 1 checked bag ($15 each way). I will carry-on a bag that fits under the seat for free and I will choose my seat for free. I will purchase a soda and snack before I board ($5).

So, even with all the fees, I will end up paying $172.64 for my tickets and the added fees. I will be saving $55.56 on my ticket

I will be flying with my DW and DS. We will only need to check 2 bags, so my total savings for the 3 of us will be $196.68.

Frontier won't always be the cheapest, but when it is, I won't hesitate to fly them.

PS...Since the Discount Den is currently FREE to join, and allows you to reduce the fees, why wouldn't you join???

 

[Disneylover03]

My husband used to LOVE Frontier; flying from Minot, ND to Nashville,TN until they were bought out and then all the trouble started.
He will not fly them ever again, they've changed his schedule, bumped him from flights and they have awful customer service.
Oh yeah, when they had bumped him from his flight we had driven 2 hrs to get to the airport to be turned away. We've written letters, emails, and called without any response, even used social media and still nothing.
He only has a handful of options of airlines that fly out of MOT and will not fly Frontier no matter the savings due to all of the problems we've had with them.
They will nickel and dime you for everything so the savings you may think you are getting isn't that much of a bargain once you add on bags, even for carry ons.
Southwest is awesome and you get free checked luggage!
Good luck on whatever you decide. Have a great trip!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Had a friend get stranded for a day and a 1/2 by Frontier. The plane had mechanical issues and since Frontier only has a few planes in their fleet so there was not another plane to replace the broken one. He had to wait for the next time a Frontier flight was scheduled to fly into the airport before he could continue his trip. Luckily there was a available seating on the next flight!

 

[jessa07]

This thread is so frightening...I bought a $30 ticket out of IAD for a one night trip (for that cheap why not?) but I hope the plane actually leaves the airport!

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

This thread is so frightening...I bought a $30 ticket out of IAD for a one night trip (for that cheap why not?) but I hope the plane actually leaves the airport!

I bought $15 sale fares for our Disney trip back when they announced flights starting out of DC... I have since cancelled the flights and forfeited the money ($60) because of the reviews online. I do not like the idea of being stranded when a trip like Disney is waiting for us -- plus the cost alone of the vacation plus the potential cost of needing to buy a ticket same day for another airline to get to said expensive vacation? No way!

I booked us flights on Southwest, and was happy with the sale deal we got ($69)! So we ended up adding my boyfriend to the whole trip (it was a mother/daughter trip) and I couldn't be more excited! Plus I am really loving the free checked bags on Southwest, not to mention they are local to us (Richmond).

Frontier just wasn't a risk I wanted to take, I took the loss of $60 bucks as lesson learned. I wont fly an airline that only has one flight out per day! (and terrible reviews from people who had been stranded and the airline didn't care!)

 

[n2mm]

Like others I also booked frontier out of Dulles and now have second thoughts. I wish I hadn't done it. We are flying down 1 day early for a cruise. The flights out do Dulles just started a few weeks ago, so had not begun when I booked. Now every day I find myself checking the status and so far they are late most of the time. Sometimes up to 3 hours and one day they were cancelled. Ugh.....I do have insurance for this trip so hopefully we will be covered should they cancel. But I don't want to miss my cruise. We have 6 seats. We only booked one way tickets and flying home on united.

 

[WDWFan06]

I asked about Frontier awhile ago and also got conflicting reviews by other posters. I am currently booked on Frontier for a flight to Disney in January and a flight out west in March. The price with baggage was still way under the competitors. You can have a bad experience on any airline. Any airline can have delays, lost baggage, mechanical problems, or a cancelled flight. Just because some have had a bad experience doesn't mean you will as well. Know ahead of time what you are paying for and make your decision accordingly. I read a recent article in the newspaper about Frontier and the reviewer had a fine experience flying into Orlando. Let us know how it goes if you decide to give them a try.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I asked about Frontier awhile ago and also got conflicting reviews by other posters. I am currently booked on Frontier for a flight to Disney in January and a flight out west in March. The price with baggage was still way under the competitors. You can have a bad experience on any airline. Any airline can have delays, lost baggage, mechanical problems, or a cancelled flight. Just because some have had a bad experience doesn't mean you will as well. Know ahead of time what you are paying for and make your decision accordingly. I read a recent article in the newspaper about Frontier and the reviewer had a fine experience flying into Orlando. Let us know how it goes if you decide to give them a try.

I totally agree! And I hope everyone that does fly with them has a good experience. For us, it wasn't worth the risk of not being able to fly out on the day we wanted to because they only have 1 flight a day in some places and IF some delay or cancellation were to occur, they couldn't get you out till the next day.... that doesn't work for an expensive trip like Disney or a cruise... I guess I felt more secure in a larger airline that if our flight had problems, they were more likely to have the resources to get us on a different flight asap.

Everyone has to decide what type of risk level makes them comfortable and if they want to do it or not. I have terrible luck and didnt want to play the odds with my Disney trip

 

[WDWFan06]

I totally agree! And I hope everyone that does fly with them has a good experience. For us, it wasn't worth the risk of not being able to fly out on the day we wanted to because they only have 1 flight a day in some places and IF some delay or cancellation were to occur, they couldn't get you out till the next day.... that doesn't work for an expensive trip like Disney or a cruise... I guess I felt more secure in a larger airline that if our flight had problems, they were more likely to have the resources to get us on a different flight asap. Everyone has to decide what type of risk level makes them comfortable and if they want to do it or not. I have terrible luck and didnt want to play the odds with my Disney trip

I had not even thought about the only having one flight a day scenario. Which is a concern for Marathon Weekend in January out of snowy Cleveland. I understand about the concerns as I haven't flown them yet as well. I read in the newspaper today with all the issues of flying to "keep calm and fly on." I guess I will adopt that model with the conflicting reviews on Frontier. I hope everyone flying on Frontier has a positive experience, better yet anyone flying in general has a good experience. Safe travels to all!

 

[jessa07]

I'm going on Tuesday - I'll try to remember to let you all know what happens!

 

[dsnymomof4]

I'm going on Tuesday - I'll try to remember to let you all know what happens!

Have a great trip!

We are booked to fly down on Frontier in October. I was hesitant and after reading some reviews on here, am a little worried, but just wanted to add that my Mom, Sis and Niece just flew Frontier to Chicago a few weeks ago and said that it was great. Sis, who usually flies SW to Disney said she liked it better than SW! I'll just pray that there aren't any mechanical problems!

 

[Gary M]

Doesn't Frontier fly into Sanford instead of MCO? If you are staying at a WDW Resort then you can't use DME.

 

[n2mm]

Doesn't Frontier fly into Sanford instead of MCO? If you are staying at a WDW Resort then you can't use DME.

Frontier out of Dulles flys into MCO. I know allegiant air flys into Sanford from our area.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I have flown Frontier 50+ times. They used to be my favorite carrier, however their new baggage fees have shied me away because when I add those, Southwest usually ends up being cheaper.

Now if my total fare with the bag fees is cheaper than Southwest, I fly Frontier. We have never had any trouble with them or been stranded. We live in Denver where Frontier is based and we have always found them to be very good with their customer service but I have heard things have changed on that front. I haven't flown them in over a year so I have no recent experience. I can say that I have NEVER had any mechanical problems however they do have a small but relatively new fleet of airbuses. So its not some value jet type thing with really old planes. But since they are a smaller airline, if your plane has issues, and you're not in Denver where they are based, you may run into problems. I do love that they have Direct TV for each seat (for a fee).

Just make sure you prepay for your bags, if you wait the price goes up. They charge for everything now and it makes me sad because my family of four flew them multiple times per year for many years with never a problem. But now not so much. Just too many fees and when you have four travelers it just adds up too much.

 

[Gary M]

Frontier out of Dulles flys into MCO. I know allegiant air flys into Sanford from our area.

That's right. Allegiant is the one that flies from Ft. Wayne. IN to Sanford and not MCO. A neighbor is a flight attendant and was telling us about the cheap airline flying out of Ft. Wayne and I looked into it and saw it went to Sanford.

 

[3darlings]

We flew Frontier out of Wilmington, DE in January and out of Trenton last April. We had a good experience each time and I planned to use them in the future. Now, however, I would be hesitant to fly them. Since Spirit has taken them over, things seem to have gone down hill fast. Several friends have horror stories after flying Wil to Orlando recently. The convenience and price were great (no parking fees at either Wil or Trenton as well), but there would have to be a very significant price difference now for me to fly them instead of SW.

 

[jessa07]

I am back! I flew Washington Dulles to MCO on Tuesday and came back last night. Overall, it went pretty smoothly. Only thing that really turned me off was at Dulles when they made everybody with a carry on bag get up and put their bag in the sizer before they were allowed on the plane. My flight home was a little bit delayed because the flight before was late.

They do seem stuck in the Stone Age though. No mobile boarding passes, no in flight wifi, the tv screens in the seats did not work on either flight.

That all being said, I think I will stick to Southwest, who flies nonstops to MCO out of BWI (much closer to us...the hour and a half drive from Dulles late last night was tough). A lot less to worry about.

 

[Gillyrose779]

We flew out of Bloomington, IL to Orlando using Frontier and had a perfect experience.

We were able to check-in in advance and my young sons loved that they had tvs on the back of the seats- something they complained about with SW (it's the little things with toddlers).

We didn't pay any baggage fees b/c we carried on our baggage- we had 3 medium sized luggage that fit overhead and we even checked a stroller at the gate- all free.

My advice would be to book directly with Frontier- no third party sites as they tend to mess up the fees and check in early online when you can. Also, read the luggage size rules and see if you can work with a carry on- it's free and no waiting at baggage claim.

I would def. use Frontier again. We just use SW b/c of my rewards card and they have more flights available.