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Nerdy takeaways
- Frontier charges for both carry-on and checked bags.
- The cost depends on the distance of your flight and when you pay the fees (the earlier the better).
- You can usually minimize these costs by purchasing a ticket option with included bags.
Frontier Airlines, headquartered in Denver, is considered an “ultra low-cost carrier.”
Frontier’s pricing model lets you choose what you want to pay for. The airline offers extremely low basic fares that include only the flight — all other amenities are considered “extras” and come with an additional charge.
Depending on the fare class you purchase, you’ll pay for seat assignments, carry-on luggage and checked bags, as well as the in-flight food and drinks that come complimentary on many other airlines. This can allow a minimalist traveler to get some incredibly cheap airfares.
But before you fly Frontier, understanding the airline’s fees can give you a fuller picture of your total flight cost.
» Learn more: Checked bag vs. carry-on, what you need to know
Frontier baggage fees: The basics
Frontier has four ticket options: basic, economy, premium and business. The only thing that comes free with your Frontier basic airfare is a small personal item, which needs to fit under the seat in front of you. If you elect to purchase an economy, premium or business fare, a carry-on bag is included. Checked luggage is only included with a business ticket. (In fact, you get two checked bags with a business booking).
The fees for carry-on and checked luggage depend on the route and dates you’re flying, the weight of your bags and when you purchase your baggage allowance. You’ll typically get the cheapest price by paying for your bags online during booking. The price generally goes up the longer you wait, with the highest fees charged at the airport boarding gate. Frontier’s website offers a bag price checker that lets you see luggage costs on specific flight routes.
Here’s an example of the luggage fees for a Frontier flight between Cincinnati and Denver.
The cheapest price comes during booking, and the fees go up from there.
Types of bags on Frontier
Frontier divides bags by size into three standard categories:
- Personal item: 8 inches deep by 18 inches wide by 14 inches high, including wheels and handles.
- Carry-on bag: 10 inches deep by 16 inches wide by 24 inches high and less than 35 pounds. Should fit overhead or under your seat.
- Checked bag: 62 linear inches (all dimensions added together) and less than 40 pounds.
According to Frontier’s website, your personal item will be measured during boarding; it's subject to an additional charge if it exceeds the limits. At check in, the airline will also weigh and measure any checked bags, so make sure they meet the requirements.
- Checked bags weighing 41-50 pounds cost $75 per bag, per direction.
- Checked bags weighing 51-100 pounds cost $100 fee per bag, per direction.
- If you purchase a business ticket, you're allowed two checked bags up to 50 pounds each.
- Bags over 100 pounds are not accepted.
When planning your airport arrival, remember that Frontier’s ticket counters close for check-in and bag drop 60 minutes prior to your flight's departure.
» Learn more: 7 tips to save on baggage fees
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Other Frontier fees
In addition to bag fees, Frontier also charges you to pick your seat if flying on a basic economy fare. If you do not pay for a seat assignment by purchasing a fare bundle that includes this perk (more on that below), you will be assigned a seat when you check in.
The fees for seat selection on basic fares depend on the flight and which seat you pick. A premium, exit row, or "UpFront Plus" seat will cost more than a middle seat in the back of the plane.
Remember that all bag and seat selection fees are per person and per flight. For example, a round trip flight with four people will incur those bag and seat fees eight times. That $19 airfare starts getting expensive pretty quickly!
Buying bundles
Another way you can save on your Frontier fees is by purchasing a fare bundle.
These fare classes include:
| Basic Fare | Economy Bundle | Premium Bundle | Business Bundle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal item | Included. | Included. | Included. | Included. |
| Carry-on bag | Available for purchase. | Included. | Included. | Included. |
| Checked bag | Available for purchase. | Available for purchase. | Available for purchase. | Included (two bags, 50 lbs. each). |
| Priority boarding | Available for purchase. | Available for purchase. | Included. | Included. |
| Seat selection | Available for purchase. | Included - standard. | Included - premium. | Included - UpFront Plus. |
| Bundle price (per person, per direction) | N/A. | Varies by booking. | Varies by booking. | Varies by booking. |
Booking a fare bundle could be cheaper than booking a basic fare and purchasing amenities piecemeal.
How to get Frontier baggage fees waived
If you want to book a fare without baggage included, there are still a couple of ways to get your Frontier bag fees — and other fees — waived.
Frontier elite status
- Elite Gold members can bring one carry-on bag for free.
- Elite Platinum members — plus up to eight others on their booking — get one free checked bag in addition to a free carry-on.
- Elite Diamonds (and up to eight travel companions) can check two free bags.
- Active-duty military members in uniform also get one free carry-on and two free checked bags.
Booking with a credit card
Booking directly on a Frontier-branded credit card can get you two free checked bags on Frontier-operated flights.
You might also consider paying for your checked bags with a card that covers airline incidental fees or offers a general credit for travel purchases. Some cards may require you to name Frontier as your preferred airline in order to receive credit for qualifying expenses.
» Learn more: How to pick your first travel awards credit card
Fees across U.S. airlines
In NerdWallet's most recent analysis of airline fees, we compared seat selection, checked baggage and overhead carry-on baggage fees charged by the major U.S. airlines on typical one-way fares.
Here's how they stacked up:
The bottom line
When you’re eyeing an attractive low-fare flight on Frontier, you may not be seeing your total cost. Baggage, seat selection and even soft drinks can add to the price of your trip.
It’s worth factoring in all the extras, or carefully considering one of the airline’s bundles, before deciding whether the fare is a good deal.
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