The Guide to Frontier Elite Status

Frontier Airlines may not be the fanciest airline around, but it offers low fares and a decently strong route network. Even better, its loyalty program is pretty rewarding — think free checked luggage, pet-in-cabin fee waivers and the ability to gift elite status to someone else.

Let's examine Frontier elite status, the tiers available, and the perks offered.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Like most airlines, Frontier offers exclusive benefits and perks to its frequent flyers. Frontier elite status has four levels: Elite Silver, Elite Gold, Elite Platinum and Elite Diamond.

Elite status holders earn points for spending on flights, and those with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® can accrue additional points by making purchases with their card.

Because Frontier is a low-cost airline, there are certain perks — such as first class upgrades or airport lounge access — that it doesn’t offer as part of its elite status program, not even for those in the highest tier. Instead, those with top elite status can expect benefits such as free checked luggage, waived pet-in-cabin fees and fully refundable airfare.

» Learn more: Is Frontier a good airline?

Here’s a quick overview of Frontier’s elite status levels and what each offers:

Elite Silver

• Estimated value: $271.

• Points required to earn: 10,000.

• Estimated cost to earn: $1,200.

• Best benefits: No change/cancellation fees (up to seven days before the flight) and priority boarding.

Elite Gold (previously Elite 20K)

• Estimated value: $714.

• Points required to earn: 20,000.

• Estimated cost to earn: $2,400.

• Best benefits: Free carry-on bag and premium seating at check-in.

Elite Platinum (previously Elite 50K)

• Estimated value: $2,215.

• Points required to earn: 50,000.

• Estimated cost to earn: $6,000.

• Best benefits: Free checked bag and pet-in-cabin fee waiver.

Elite Diamond (previously Elite 100K)

• Estimated value: $5,510.

• Points required to earn: 100,000.

• Estimated cost to earn: $12,000.

• Best benefits: Two free checked bags and fully refundable flights (up to 24 hours before departure).

» Learn more: Frontier vs. Spirit: The battle of the budget airlines

All Frontier elite status holders get benefits like standard seat assignment at booking, priority boarding and family pooling. But only those with the top two levels of elite status get benefits like a free checked bag and a pet-in-cabin fee waiver.

Member

Signing up for Frontier’s loyalty program is free and earns you member status. As a member, you'll get 10 Frontier points per $1 spent.

Elite Silver

You'll reach Frontier's introductory elite status, Elite Silver, once you earn 10,000 points in a calendar year. Silver gives you some decent benefits, including:

• Waived change or cancellation fees up to seven days before departure.

• Free standard seat selection at booking.

• Priority customer care.

• Ability to pool points with family.

• Priority boarding in Zone 2. 

Elite Gold

You'll reach Elite Gold status once you earn 20,000 points in a calendar year. Those who earn Gold are entitled to a few more benefits than Silver. You'll have all the perks of Silver, plus:

• Free carry-on bag.

• Priority boarding in Zone 1.

• Premium seat at check-in. 

Elite Platinum

If you earn 50,000 points in a calendar year, you'll reach Elite Platinum status. In addition to the perks you’ll get from both Silver and Gold, as a Platinum member, you’ll get:

• A waiver for pet-in-cabin fees.

• First checked bag free — including ski and golf bags.

• Premium seat for yourself at booking.

• The ability to gift Silver status to someone.

• 50% off a Discount Den membership. 

Elite Diamond

To reach the top Frontier elite status, Elite Diamond, you'll need to earn 100,000 points in a calendar year. Frontier’s top-tier status provides all the benefits Frontier has to offer, including:

• Being the first to board.

• Premium seating for you and your companions at booking.

• The ability to gift Gold status.

• A free Discount Den membership.

• Two free checked bags.

• Tickets are fully refundable up to 24 hours prior to departure. 

There are two ways to earn the points you need for Frontier elite status.

Flying

The first way to earn points toward elite status is to purchase flights. You’ll earn points for every dollar spent with the airline, including airfare, checked bags, premium seating and more.

The number of points you earn for each dollar spent increases with your status level, from 10 per $1 spent for general members to 20 points per $1 spent for Elite Diamond members.

Credit card spending

Those who hold the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® can earn at least 1 qualifying point per $1 spent on all purchases. There’s no limit to this, which means cardholders can conceivably earn top-tier status without ever needing to step foot on a plane.

Can you status match with Frontier Airlines?

To participate in status matching programs, you typically need to have elite status with another airline. From there, the airline you want to match status with — in this case, Frontier — would have to be running a status match promotion.

Frontier Airlines does occasionally offer status matches. You’ll want to visit the Frontier Airlines status match page to see if there are any current offers, or put yourself on the waitlist to be alerted when opportunities arise.

Frontier elite status may provide some serious benefits, especially in its upper tiers. However, how does the value of its benefits compare to the cost of earning it? We broke down the elite earning rate in NerdWallet’s annual analysis of the best airline elite status programs.

» Learn more: Why Frontier Airlines elite status is great for families

Frontier Airlines may lack some of the benefits elite members would expect on other airlines, such as first class upgrades, but that doesn’t mean its rewards program isn’t practical.

And with the ability to earn your way to status by spending on the airline or its co-branded credit card, elite status may not be that hard to come by.

(Top photo courtesy of Frontier Airlines)