Frontier seat assignments

[SarahC97]

I just booked a last minute trip for next week and we're taking frontier for the first time. I'm traveling alone with 2 kids (10,7) and I did not pay to pick my seats ahead of time. I'm having a hard time understanding their seat assignment process. Are the chances we'll be assigned seats near one another at check in slim to none? I'd have to pay an extra $75 each way to chose seats so I originally thought that I wouldn't bother. Now, I'm not so sure. I take it you get assigned an actual seat unlike Southwest where you get assigned a zone and have a chance to find seats together?

 

[Capang]

You do get an assigned seat at check in. I’d read their fine print about traveling with children and seat assignments.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I just booked a last minute trip for next week and we're taking frontier for the first time. I'm traveling alone with 2 kids (10,7) and I did not pay to pick my seats ahead of time. I'm having a hard time understanding their seat assignment process. Are the chances we'll be assigned seats near one another at check in slim to none? I'd have to pay an extra $75 each way to chose seats so I originally thought that I wouldn't bother. Now, I'm not so sure. I take it you get assigned an actual seat unlike Southwest where you get assigned a zone and have a chance to find seats together?

Spend the $75 NOW! The can separate you. If it is important to sit be your young children this isn't place to be frugal or cheap! You could luck put but you might not getting seats together. You could get middle seats all over the plane - away from each other. Asking others who paid for seats together is very rude and people might not move. It's not fair for them to pay and a person to try and save money and then ask them to move. This isn't meant to be mean just a blunt warning.

People have been separated from kids on plane when they don't pay for seats. Sometimes people will move but if someone paid for aisle up front chances are they won't move to middle seat in back. Also flights to MCO are full of families. People will say to "threaten" your kids on them to get you to move. That is wrong! Kids are wonderful - I have two and when they were young and even now we pay for seats. If I paid I wouldn't move. Kids don't entitle people -

OP this is a general to everyone considering not paying. In end pay and factor into cost! Have a good trip. Others will say people will move and airline won't separate you - is that a chance you want to take?

 

[kristenrice]

Do not rely on others to move. Plan on being separated from your children if you did not pay for assigned seats. You have been given the option to keep your children with you by paying the $75 to pick seats that are together. Instead, you have allowed the airline to choose your seats. They may or may not choose to seat you together, but the reality is that there will not even be three seats together. You will most likely be seated in middle seats throughout the plane since those will be the only ones left open by those who have already paid for their preferred seats.

 

[msb578]

We’ll be in this same age scenario (well, plus an extra 7 year old twin) next April if we end up booking Frontier. At these ages, I have to admit to thinking maybe they’re old enough to make it through the 2-3 hour flight sitting separately.

 

[tjmw2727]

My dd flies frontier a lot, she is single and has a flexible schedule for her the "unbundled" fare works as she can sit anywhere and doesn't usually check a bag. When we travel as a family it isn't as good a deal; after you add back in the "extra" costs that are included in other airlines fares so we fly other airlines.

I always advise people to add back in all the costs that they require when comparing flight prices, sometimes the cheapest fare isn't the cheapest.

OP - if you would like to sit with your children then I would pay and select the seats, otherwise you are going to be assigned whatever is left when you check in. If you think they can manage on their own if you are separated then take the chance but IMHO don't rely on others to accommodate your choice not to select seats (aka move for you).

 

[piccolopat]

At 7 and 10, your kids are likely away from you a good part of the day in school and on school buses. If THEY are comfortable sitting apart from you and you want to risk it, I would simply take the furthest back seat so you can see them and then make sure they know where you are if they need something. Make sure they each have things to keep busy and snacks/water. Have a "safety" sign if you want such as them standing up or raising their hands above their heads if they need you. Some kids like the little bit of freedom this gives them. It's up to you to decide if that will work for you and your kids. I agree with PP that you should not expect others to move if you're not willing to pay to get reserved seats in advance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You do get an assigned seat at check in. I’d read their fine print about traveling with children and seat assignments.

It',s not even fine print. It's blatant https://www.flyfrontier.com/travel-information/seating-options/select-seating?tablet=true

 

[n2mm]

I agree, plan on being seated apart and in middle seats. I’ve only flew them once and found their customer service non existent and unaccommodating. Don’t expect them to make any exception for you. When we flew them we paid for seat assignments. We were 4 hours late with no apology or even communication between the crew and passengers. All I can say is we got there safely after midnight.

 

[SarahC97]

Ok, everyone - never said I expected anyone to move for me. I simply wanted clarification for the seat assignment procedures. Truth be told, I think we'd be perfectly fine sitting apart if it turned out that way. It's a less than two hour flight and they both have flown before. I just wanted to understand how it worked.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

One last thing....
On Touring Plans over the past week a few people have had Frontier flight canceled without warning or reason. Just handed letter at airport. Just be prepared for anything - some people paid several hundred dollars to fly another airline. One drove from Indiana to Orlando. These werent weather delayed. Think offer was Frontier vouchers - with limited time to use.

Also how are you getting $75 each way?
Cheapest seats $6 per person so $36 round trip.

 

[SarahC97]

One last thing....
On Touring Plans over the past week a few people have had Frontier flight canceled without warning or reason. Just handed letter at airport. Just be prepared for anything - some people paid several hundred dollars to fly another airline. One drove from Indiana to Orlando. These werent weather delayed. Think offer was Frontier vouchers - with limited time to use.

Also how are you getting $75 each way?
Cheapest seats $6 per person so $36 round trip.

Cheapest seats I can pick for my flight are $13 each way and those aren't all together. I'd have to pay $25/piece to get us all in the same row.

 

[Capang]

Do not rely on others to move. Plan on being separated from your children if you did not pay for assigned seats. You have been given the option to keep your children with you by paying the $75 to pick seats that are together. Instead, you have allowed the airline to choose your seats. They may or may not choose to seat you together, but the reality is that there will not even be three seats together. You will most likely be seated in middle seats throughout the plane since those will be the only ones left open by those who have already paid for their preferred seats.

This! We pay up front to sit together with our child and so do most families on frontier. No way is anyone moving after paying for a seat.

 

[SarahC97]

This! We pay up front to sit together with our child and so do most families on frontier. No way is anyone moving after paying for a seat.

No worries, didn't have a plan to ask anyone to move for me. Crisis averted.

 

[Lori74]

you could pay for 2 of the seats to be together and at least let kids sit together? just a thought. have a great time!!

 

[Capang]

No worries, didn't have a plan to ask anyone to move for me. Crisis averted.

I want directing this at you, I was making a more general statement. Sorry if you took it that way. You should be able to call or go back online and add the seat assignments if you need to. I know it's a pain with the cost but it does make it easier.

 

[Hrhpd]

I just booked a last minute trip for next week and we're taking frontier for the first time. I'm traveling alone with 2 kids (10,7) and I did not pay to pick my seats ahead of time. I'm having a hard time understanding their seat assignment process. Are the chances we'll be assigned seats near one another at check in slim to none? I'd have to pay an extra $75 each way to chose seats so I originally thought that I wouldn't bother. Now, I'm not so sure. I take it you get assigned an actual seat unlike Southwest where you get assigned a zone and have a chance to find seats together?

10 and 7 are considered by the airline to be old enough to sit alone. They will not work harder to seat them close to you. It may happen or it may not. Your group (the unpaid seat group) will be the last to get their assigned seats. As others have said, unless the plane is not full (very unlikely these days) most likely they will be middle seats spread across the plane. Especially since you said you just booked last week, so you are at the bottom of the totem pole for seat selection.

If one wants them close to them, they need to pay for assigned seats.

If one is expecting people to give up the assigned seats they paid for when they didn't pay for assigned seats to insure sitting by their children, good luck on that.

 

[RedAngie]

I just booked a last minute trip for next week and we're taking frontier for the first time. I'm traveling alone with 2 kids (10,7) and I did not pay to pick my seats ahead of time. I'm having a hard time understanding their seat assignment process. Are the chances we'll be assigned seats near one another at check in slim to none? I'd have to pay an extra $75 each way to chose seats so I originally thought that I wouldn't bother. Now, I'm not so sure. I take it you get assigned an actual seat unlike Southwest where you get assigned a zone and have a chance to find seats together?

You will receive assigned seats at check-in. It's not like Southwest where you can search around for empty seats.

Be prepared to be seated apart from your kids. It's possible you might luck out and be seated together or near each other, but don't expect it.

 

[SarahC97]

10 and 7 are considered by the airline to be old enough to sit alone. They will not work harder to seat them close to you. It may happen or it may not. Your group (the unpaid seat group) will be the last to get their assigned seats. As others have said, unless the plane is not full (very unlikely these days) most likely they will be middle seats spread across the plane. Especially since you said you just booked last week, so you are at the bottom of the totem pole for seat selection.

If you want them close to you, then pay for assigned seats.

If you are expecting people to give up the assigned seats they paid for when you didn't pay for assigned seats to insure sitting by your children, good luck on that.

I'm not sure why people are feeling the need to lecture me about having people give up their seats. I have stated nowhere that was an expectation. I was simply asking how the seat assignments work so I can determine if it's truly worth it to pay extra for a seat of my choosing. It's pretty clear it is. Thanks for your input.

 

[SarahC97]

I want directing this at you, I was making a more general statement. Sorry if you took it that way. You should be able to call or go back online and add the seat assignments if you need to. I know it's a pain with the cost but it does make it easier.

Sorry, I'm feeling a little lectured about people giving up seats when that wasn't an expectation of mine. Thanks for your insight. I'm getting the feeling that it will totally be worth it to choose my own seats.