Frontier Airlines for so long was the home town team. I have been a faithful flier of Frontier for probably 15 years and always tried to use them to support the home team. In recent years their financial issues have lead them into the hands of the creators of Spirit Airlines. If you are not familiar with Spirit, in essence you get a seat on an airplane at an inexpensive rate, then pay for everything else in the form of a fee including booking your flight on line, picking a seat, carrying on or checking a bag, rebooking a flight, etc. And the fees are hefty in some cases - for example booking an award flight is $100! If you just want to fly carrying a purse and nothing else, it is cheap.
Frontier has followed this model. Disappearing are the seats with TVs. New planes have the first 3 rows with stretch seating, the next 5-6 rows with what one might consider traditional seating. From emergency exit back are the rest of the seats. Two more rows have been added and the first time I walked to the back of the plane I was struck by how even folks without long legs had their knees pressed up against the seat in front of them and their trays were barely big enough for their smart phones let alone a drink or something to eat. Also, only the first two rows recline. None of the other rows recline anymore. I suppose if they did you would truly be in the lap of the person behind you.
Those "tiny" seats are cheap. They have had $1 days where they sell 2000 tickets for $1 (plus fees of about $14 for basics). Specials start at $17. Of course the number of seats are limited and once gone, the fare bumps up to the next level. I had all but written Frontier off as an option until I discovered the "Works". They have taken all the "extras" (carry on luggage, checked luggage - 1 bag, pick your seat, 100% refundable and stretch seating) and bundled them into the "Works" then discounted the package significantly. In essence it replaces Classic and Classic Plus tickets. But if you can get one of the lower fares plus the bundle, you can actually end up in Zone 1, first three rows, for a really descent fare. And unlike Southwest, to upgrade you don't have to upgrade your ticket first, then pay for the upgrade. Using this method I was actually able to get a fare to DC Reagan for about $100 less that Southwest's best fare and still pick my seat, sit in the 3rd row with stretch seating, board in Zone 1 (get on before anyone else) and had a fully refundable ticket that included a carry on bag and a checked bag.
One word of warning with the "Works" that I learned the hard way - and cost me $40 from a very rude customer service agent. Even though you pay for checked baggage and carry on baggage, if you don't check them off during online check in so they print out on your boarding pass, you will be charged before you're allowed on the plane. Even when they looked it up, because I didn't check it off when I checked in, it appeared as if I hadn't paid.
Other things to be aware of:
- Print your boarding pass at an airport - up to $10
- Book your ticket over the phone - up to $10
- Change a booking - $99 plus change in fare
- Change a name - $75 plus change in fare (it is like a whole new reservation)
- 1-800 Customer service line - gone (it's now a phone number in Salt Lake City UT)
- Checking and paying for baggage at the airport (as opposed to checking and paying on line) add another $10-$25 or possibly more. I also noticed they increase these fees "temporarily" during peak periods (holidays and spring break).
Sadly Frontier is no longer the Home Town airlines it used to be. Jobs have been shipped out of town and the old days of in flight TV and free carry on bags are gone. In essence if it isn't attached to your seat, you will pay a fee for it. So your seat belt is still free! BUT if you watch for their specials which come out almost once a week (sign up for email notices) AND if you are booking with in their select period (usually flights within 6 months) you can score some great deals. Just beware if you don't get in the first 8 rows of the plan, you and your knees will become very close!
