Traveller reference · F9
Frontier Airlines
No alliance · IATA F9 · Denver-based, unbundled, priced by the item
Travelaidnow is an independent travel agency and is not Frontier Airlines, nor affiliated with or endorsed by it.
This page is a general reference written by our team. Baggage allowances, fees and policies are set by the airline and change without notice, so confirm anything that affects your trip with Frontier Airlines directly before you travel.
Official site: flyfrontier.comFrontier runs an unbundled fare: a low headline price covering a seat and a personal item, with carry-on bags, checked bags, seat selection and flexibility all sold separately. Denver is its largest base, with substantial operations in Orlando and Las Vegas. Since Spirit ceased operations in May 2026 it is the largest ultra low-cost carrier in the United States, and it added capacity on domestic and Central American routes in the months that followed.
As with any ultra low-cost carrier, the fare comparison that matters is the all-in one. Once two bags and two seat assignments are added, the gap to a legacy carrier narrows considerably, and on some routes closes entirely. That is not an argument against Frontier — it is an argument for doing the arithmetic before booking.
Frontier Airlines at a glance
- IATA code
- F9
- ICAO code
- FFT
- Based in
- United States
- Alliance
- No global alliance
- Type
- Ultra low-cost
- Frequent flyer
- Frontier Miles
How Frontier Airlines baggage works
A personal item is included. Full-size carry-on and checked bags are paid extras, priced separately from the fare.
Charges increase the later they are added, with the gate being the most expensive point. Bundles combining bags, seats and flexibility are frequently better value than the individual items if you need more than one of them.
Frontier's aircraft configuration and fee structure change more often than a legacy carrier's, so check flyfrontier.com for the terms attached to your booking rather than relying on a previous trip.
Check-in
Online check-in typically opens 24 hours before departure and avoids counter-assistance charges that apply at some airports.
Cutoffs are enforced firmly. With no alliance partners, missing one generally means buying a new ticket rather than being accommodated on another airline.
Boarding
Boarding is by zone with paid priority available. Because overhead bags are a paid extra, bin pressure is lower than on carriers where every passenger brings one.
Bag dimensions are checked at the gate, since size determines whether a charge applies. A personal item within the published dimensions avoids the issue entirely.
Before you fly Frontier Airlines
Compare the total, not the headline
Add the bags and seats you will genuinely use before comparing with another airline. On some routes Frontier remains clearly cheapest; on others the all-in figures converge.
The seat pitch is tighter than average
Standard seats are closer together than on a legacy carrier and most do not recline. On a short hop that is a non-issue; on a longer flight the Stretch seats may be worth the difference.
Schedules can be thinner than they look
Some routes operate only a few days a week. If a flight is cancelled, the next departure on the same route may not be the same day, which matters more here than on a carrier flying it several times daily.
Planning a trip rather than researching a carrier?
Our route and airport guides cover the journey itself — when demand peaks, which airports work, and how long the connection really takes.
FAQ
Frontier Airlines — common questions
General guidance only. Frontier Airlines sets these policies and can change them, so confirm anything that affects your trip at flyfrontier.com.
Does Frontier charge for carry-on bags?
A personal item that fits under the seat is included. A full-size carry-on for the overhead bin is charged separately, as are checked bags. The amounts vary by route and rise the later you add them, so check flyfrontier.com for your specific booking.
What is Frontier Stretch seating?
Stretch seats are the extra-legroom rows toward the front of the cabin, sold as a paid upgrade. They are still standard economy seats rather than a separate cabin — Frontier does not operate a premium cabin in the way a legacy carrier does.
Is Frontier reliable?
The relevant risk with any ultra low-cost carrier is not so much the chance of a delay as what happens afterwards. With no alliance partners and thinner schedules on some routes, recovery from a cancellation can take longer than on a carrier with several daily departures and interline agreements. Weigh that against the fare saving for trips where timing is critical.