Frontier’s New Companion Pass: How Does It Stack Up To Other Airlines?

Frontier Airlines has officially launched its unlimited companion travel benefit for Platinum and Diamond elite members in its loyalty program. That means qualifying flyers can now bring a plus-one on every Frontier flight for only the cost of government taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 each way.

It’s one of the most generous airline companion perks on the market — but how does it stack up against competitors like Atmos Rewards (the loyalty program of Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines), Delta’s annual companion certificates, and Southwest’s well-known Companion Pass?

Eligibility: Available to Elite Platinum (50,000 points) and Elite Diamond (100,000 points) members.

How it works:

• Unlimited use — bring a companion on every flight you book during your elite year.

• Flexible — you can choose a different companion each time.

• Affordable — companion flies for just taxes and fees (as low as $5.60 one-way).

• Must add companion during booking on flyfrontier.com or the Frontier app.

• Companion must have a Frontier Miles account.

Restrictions:

• Companion does not earn miles or elite credit.

• Benefit doesn’t cover add-ons like bags, seats, or other fees.

Why it matters: For elite flyers, this is one of the lowest-cost ways to bring someone along — with no blackout dates and unlimited use.

The benefit is available to Frontier Platinum and Diamond elite members. To reach these statuses, you have to earn at least 50,000 or 100,000 Frontier elite status points, respectively, in a calendar year.

Frontier Miles members earn 10 points per $1 spent on Frontier until they reach 10,000 points, the threshold for Silver Status. Silver and Gold members earn 12 points and 14 points per $1 spent on Frontier respectively.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® holders also have a fast track to achieve elite status. Cardholders earn 1 point per $1 spent on the card, plus they can unlock automatic Gold elite status for 12 months if they spend $3,000 in net purchases on the card in the first 90 days after account opening.

If you were to apply for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® and meet the requirement for Gold elite status, you’d already have 3,000 points. From there, if you put $3,134 of spending on Frontier on your card that year, you’d earn another 47,000 points.

So you could spend as little as $6,134 to earn Frontier Platinum status and Frontier’s unlimited companion pass. That’s much cheaper than the cost to earn high tier status with other airlines, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.

Learn more: The guide to Frontier elite status

Atmos Rewards and Delta offer a one-time certificate as part of their respective co-branded credit card benefits, whereas Frontier and Southwest offer an unlimited companion option tied to your elite status in each loyalty program.

Alaska companion fare

Alaska doesn’t offer unlimited companion travel, but Atmos Rewards provides two ways to bring a friend or family member along:

Atmos Companion Fare (credit card perk)

• Earned by spending $6,000+ annually on the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card

• Good for one round-trip or one-way saver or main cabin fare for $99 + taxes/fees (from $23).

• Valid anywhere Alaska and Hawaiian fly.

• Both travelers earn redeemable and status points.

Global Companion Awards (premium card perk)

• Exclusive to the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card.

• Earn a 25,000-point Global Companion Award each year, plus another 100,000-point award with $60,000 annual spend.

• Valid on Alaska, Hawaiian, and partner airlines — including international itineraries.

• Can be used in premium cabins.

Takeaway: It's not unlimited like Frontier, but it's far more versatile for long-haul international trips.

Delta companion certificate

Like Alaska, Delta offers one annual companion certificate through its co-branded credit cards. There are two versions depending on the card you have — and no spending is required other than paying the card’s annual fee.

If you have a Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, you’ll get a companion certificate each year upon card renewal good for one round-trip economy flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America. Out-of-pocket expenses are capped at $80 for domestic flights and $250 for international flights. Terms apply.

Those with a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card get an enhanced version of the companion certificate with the same terms, except it’s valid for premium economy and first class flights as well. Terms apply.

Restrictions: You must fly with your companion and pay for both tickets using your AmEx Delta card. You will earn miles for your ticket, but your companion won’t earn any.

Learn more: Airline credit cards with companion tickets

Southwest Companion Pass

Before now, Southwest was the only airline with an unlimited companion pass. To earn it, you must fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. You’ll be able to use the pass for the remainder of the calendar year you earned it, plus the full following calendar year. Similar to Frontier, you can earn qualifying points through a Southwest credit card.

Restrictions: You must designate one person as your companion, but can change your option up to three times per year. It’s valid for paid or award flights, too.

One slight quirk is you must book your flight and then add your companion after the fact. They won’t earn points for their flight, but you’ll earn points for the cash portion of your ticket, not including taxes and fees.

Learn more: Pros and cons of Southwest’s companion pass

Frontier companion travel

Frontier describes its upcoming companion benefit as a perk you can use foras long as you maintain elite status.

But unlike Southwest, you can change your companions whenever you want. You’ll also be able to book both tickets at the same time, though your companion won’t earn elite status credit or miles for their Frontier flight.

This new offering could be valuable, especially for families. Combined with Frontier’s new first class seats coming later next year and upgrade eligibility, flying on Frontier could be more comfortable and affordable for Platinum and Diamond elites than flying with legacy carriers.

As far as Atmos and Delta go, they’re one-and-done and tied to credit cards, so it’s not a big commitment to earn or use. The most apples-to-apples comparison is with Frontier and Southwest, which both require a high level of elite status. So how do they stack up?

The best companion benefit for you might depend, in part, on where you want to travel. Frontier and Southwest both have large networks domestically. They also fly to international destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. But there are some major differences. For example, Southwest offers flights to Hawaii; Frontier doesn’t currently.

Either companion benefit can be worth hundreds or even more, especially if you fly a lot. And one thing is sure: It’s nice to have another worthwhile option for nearly-free companion fares.