FRONTIER AIR
- Thread starter Topher99
- Start date
wwffan7385
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2017
They're more similar to Spirit. Great rates but you pay for basically anything beyond your physical body (checked bags, carryon bags, etc)
Dis703
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2010
They are a discount airline like Spirit or Allegiant. Their tickets are essentially ala carte. You buy the base ticket and then if you need carryon you pay for it, if you need a checked bag you pay for it, if you want to pick your seats yourself you pay for it. There's no tv on the plane and you pay for snacks (or bring your own) as well. Frontier has become my go to airline and I've saved a ton of money flying them. Well, maybe not quite saved as because their flights are so cheap I know fly a lot more often, lol.
I usually pay for my seat choice because I'm picky and I'm nervous about getting separated from my family. But I usually fly with only a free personal item (backpack, diaper bag, etc.) that goes under the seat and never take a carry on that I pay for. For shorter trips I also skip checked bags but for longer ones we combine and take one large bag for all 5 of us to cut down significantly on baggage fees. Doing this we generally fly for $50-$100RT from NJ/PA.
As for the service, we've been very happy with them. Great flights, on time, great staff and good customer service when I've had to call. Only other thing to note is that they don't have many flights running typically. Some airports only 1 or 2 a day. So if there is a problem with your flight and it gets canceled you may be stuck an entire day before getting out. Knock on wood, it hasn't happened to me, but it can happen.
I usually pay for my seat choice because I'm picky and I'm nervous about getting separated from my family. But I usually fly with only a free personal item (backpack, diaper bag, etc.) that goes under the seat and never take a carry on that I pay for. For shorter trips I also skip checked bags but for longer ones we combine and take one large bag for all 5 of us to cut down significantly on baggage fees. Doing this we generally fly for $50-$100RT from NJ/PA.
As for the service, we've been very happy with them. Great flights, on time, great staff and good customer service when I've had to call. Only other thing to note is that they don't have many flights running typically. Some airports only 1 or 2 a day. So if there is a problem with your flight and it gets canceled you may be stuck an entire day before getting out. Knock on wood, it hasn't happened to me, but it can happen.
Like MOST budget airlines they will nickel and dime u to death...u pay for everything...and just a FYI...IF something goes wrong they have no backup planes and since they more than likely only fly that route once a day u could be stuck there for a long time IF their is a mechanical problem....So yes u can save money BUT if u REALLY need to get somewhere on time I would avoid all of them...this includes Frontier/Alegaint/JetBlue/Spirit...IMO
FCDub
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2008
Jet Blue doesn't belong in that category at all.
Westcoastwild
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2016
I'm not sure I'd do frontier if it was cross country. Over 3 hours and I need more leg room. I've only done short flights with them and really, they aren't worse than most. Sure, they charge for things like seat assignments but it's getting to the point that most airlines do.
Service is okay, never had any serious delays, and the lack of tvs does not bother me because I think the airlines are moving away from that anyway.
I would pick Delta or JetBlue over them unless you are saving a lot of money and you won't know if you are until you add everything up. But that's pretty much it. I know most people like southwest but I don't like the no seat assignment thing.
Service is okay, never had any serious delays, and the lack of tvs does not bother me because I think the airlines are moving away from that anyway.
I would pick Delta or JetBlue over them unless you are saving a lot of money and you won't know if you are until you add everything up. But that's pretty much it. I know most people like southwest but I don't like the no seat assignment thing.
TamaraQT
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2009
I like Frontier and have left Southwest Airlines due to the competitive rates of Frontier. Sure Southwest allows 2 FREE bags, but I never take more than 1 anyway. Yes, Southwest offers FREE snacks, but I grab something in the airport while waiting anyway. And Southwest doesn't charge for seating assignments, but they do charge for early-bird check-in POSITIONS!! Actually that doesnt count because Frontier charges between $9 and $12 for a seat and SouthWest charges $12 for a higher boarding position, so the charges offset each other but FRONTIER wins because you get an ACTUAL SEAT not a POSITION in a line. So last year from my airport (PHL), I paid $49 for a flight (PHL to MCO)....add in $9 seat....$25 for bag. So for $83 I had a GREAT flight and sat where I wanted. No need to worry about being there to LINE-UP. A flight on SouthWest last year only dropped down to $109. I saved a few bucks and the convenience of not stressing about my family's seating position was worth it. I used to LOVE Southwest. But when the FAMILY seating took over it wasn't so appealing anymore. If your boarding position was less than an A positions your options were really limited. Below a B, you would be lucky if you got to sit together. It got to be terrible. So I started making comparisons based on convenience and have been VERY happy with Frontier so far. I have my flights coming back from MCO into PHL on the Saturday before Labor Day. I paid $73 each. After I choose my seats and pay for a bag, it will cost me $110 each. There isn't a single ticket available on Southwest for under $140 for Saturday MCO to PHL. In fact, it was over $170 the last time I checked. All of these prices I am quoting are for NON-STOP flights only, so it is a fair comparison. If they bring back the Wanna Get Away fares for under $100 then I may try them again....but now its no longer worth it.
Did you meant to say Frontier/Allegiant/United/Spirit??? Not sure how you can lump in JetBlue with those other airlines? United sure because they will abuse you just like Spirit. JetBlue generally has higher customer satisfaction scores than most airlines.
keishashadow
Proud Redhead...yes, I have some bananas!
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2004
Haven't tried frontier out of PIT, relatively new to area. Only one flight a day issue and spirit tends to beat them & allegiant on sale fares for last minute trips.
I'm seeing $54 RT flights on spirit for many dates this summer into fall from PIT to MCO. Unfortunately, already booked on SWA using credits from earlier booked flights that dropped. It's nice when they do drop but you are basically stuck using said credits for what rolls out later.
Question: I am seeing crazy cheap flights to LAS on Frontier. Much longer flight for us, wondering if their planes tend to be newer types?
I'm seeing $54 RT flights on spirit for many dates this summer into fall from PIT to MCO. Unfortunately, already booked on SWA using credits from earlier booked flights that dropped. It's nice when they do drop but you are basically stuck using said credits for what rolls out later.
Question: I am seeing crazy cheap flights to LAS on Frontier. Much longer flight for us, wondering if their planes tend to be newer types?
NotUrsula
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2002
IMO, the chief difficulty with Frontier (aside from the need to know how to pack light!), is that their new reduced-weight standard seats are rather uncomfortable. They do not recline, and they feel like sling-seat lawn chairs to sit in, though they are much sturdier, of course. They also have gone with the tiny tray table option, it's big enough for a drink and a small snack, but it won't accommodate a laptop (it is approximately the size of a man's large shoe, squared off.) For me, that means that Frontier is fine for short hops, but if I were to take a long-haul with them these days, I'd bring something soft to sit on. (They do have some "premium" seats available for a $45 per-segment fee; these recline, are normally padded for aircraft seats, and have extra legroom.)
Note that there is a very large difference between Frontier and rock-bottom budget airlines such as Allegiant and Spirit: the fleet. Frontier was a full-service carrier until a couple of years ago, and the fleet is very new, as commercial fleets go. They also still have full maintenance facilities in DEN, and they don't cheap out on upkeep. IMO, that counts for a lot. I feel fine about flying them as long as I don't have a need for a lot of baggage, as their bag fees add up very quickly.
Note that there is a very large difference between Frontier and rock-bottom budget airlines such as Allegiant and Spirit: the fleet. Frontier was a full-service carrier until a couple of years ago, and the fleet is very new, as commercial fleets go. They also still have full maintenance facilities in DEN, and they don't cheap out on upkeep. IMO, that counts for a lot. I feel fine about flying them as long as I don't have a need for a lot of baggage, as their bag fees add up very quickly.
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stinkpickle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2013
I haven't tried them yet, but their "Works" package (basically a discounted deal for all the nickel and dime stuff) sounds interesting.
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keishashadow
Proud Redhead...yes, I have some bananas!
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2004
Frontier new in our market, prices so much lower than spirit/allegiant & their reviews I've read seem 'worse', many mentions of the lawn-chair seats.
GrumpyBa*D
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2005
another issue for me using them is the they basically only have 1 fight a day. If for some reason the flight is cancelled it could take days to get a flight home. they are great for fair weather flights. I was very nervous using them for out February trip knowing weather could be an issue her in NJ
StageTek
It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2007
I was nervous when I took Frontier for the first time. I booked and THEN looked at the reviews. Yikes!
I bought the upgraded seats and am glad I did. The regular seats look terribly uncomfortable. Even
then it was cheaper than Jet Blue. I've taken Frontier twice now. I know I'll be nickle and dimed so
I'm not surprised. All in all it's fine for a budget airline. Frankly the only reason I'm going Jet Blue
this time is because Frontier dropped the "redeye" flight I liked. It used to get into MCO at 8:45AM
but now gets in at 5AM.
I bought the upgraded seats and am glad I did. The regular seats look terribly uncomfortable. Even
then it was cheaper than Jet Blue. I've taken Frontier twice now. I know I'll be nickle and dimed so
I'm not surprised. All in all it's fine for a budget airline. Frankly the only reason I'm going Jet Blue
this time is because Frontier dropped the "redeye" flight I liked. It used to get into MCO at 8:45AM
but now gets in at 5AM.
Dis703
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2010
While the Trenton airport only has 1-2 flights per day Philly has 4-5 a day throughout the year. All nonstop to Orlando. It's further for us, but to get flight times we prefer we started driving to PHL. Worth looking into if more flights give you piece of mind.
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