Frontier Airlines Elite Status Guide

Deals Points is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. Terms apply to the offers. See our Advertising Disclosure for more information.

When you think of airline elite status, you typically don’t think of ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines.

But Frontier Airlines has an elite program with three elite status levels: Elite 20K, Elite 50K, and Elite 100K.

This post will cover everything you need to know about Frontier Airlines’ elite status, including the benefits and how to earn each level.

Post Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    How to Earn Elite Status

    To earn elite status, you need to earn qualifying miles.

    Qualifying miles are not redeemable for flights but are miles earned to gain elite status.

    You earn qualifying miles towards elite status in two ways:

    Frontier Elite 20K Status

    Frontier Airlines’ lowest status level is Elite 20K, which gets members a free carry-on bag, seat assignment, priority boarding, access to Stretch seating at check-in, and waived points redemption fees.

    How to Earn 20K Status

    You can earn Frontier Airlines 20K status by either:

    Elite 20K Status Benefits

    Free Carry-On Bag

    Elite members receive a free carry-on bag on Frontier flights, which can save you up to $60. 

    However, this benefit does not apply to anyone traveling with the member.

    Carry-on bags can be no larger than 24″H, 16″W, 10″D (including handles, wheels, and straps), and should be no heavier than 35 pounds.

    Frontier Airlines Bag Fees

    Free Seat Assignment

    20K elite members receive a free seat assignment, not including Stretch (extended legroom) seats, which saves you $17 to $55 per flight.

    However, this benefit does not apply to anyone traveling with the member.

    Family Pooling

    Elite members or Frontier credit cardholders get access to Family Pooling, which allows you to pool your points for flights with up to eight family or friends. 

    Frontier Airlines Family Pooling

    Priority Boarding

    Elite members enjoy priority boarding and Express TSA (at participating airports), which helps you be one of the first people to board the aircraft.

    However, this benefit does not apply to anyone traveling with the member.

    Waived Points Redemption Fees

    Frontier Airlines typically charges fees to redeem your points for flights:

    • 180+ days before travel: Free
    • 21-179 days before travel: $15
    • 7-20 days before travel: $50
    • <6 days before travel: $75

    However, these fees are waived for elite members. 

    Some Travel Fees Waived

    Elite members get some travel fees waived, including:

    • Call center reservation fee
    • Same-day confirmed fee
    • Same-day standby fee

    However, change fees, cancellation fees, or redeposit fees are not waived, so this benefit doesn’t have much value.

    Stretch Seating at Check-In

    20K elite members get access to Stretch seating upon check-in if seats are available, which offers 5 to 7 extra inches of legroom.

    Last Seat Avaliability

    Elite members get access to more award space, which allows you to use your points for any available seat.

    However, Frontier Airlines charges elite members more points than the standard redemption level when booking the “Last Seat,” so this benefit is not as good as it sounds.

    Frontier Airlines Last Seat

    Frontier Elite 50K Status

    Frontier Airlines’ mid-tier status is Elite 50K, which gets members Stretch seating during booking, extra points, and 50% off a Discount Den membership.

    How to Earn 50K Status

    You can earn Frontier Airlines 50K status by either:

    Elite 50K Status Benefits

    Elite 50K members get all the benefits below, plus the 20K benefits above, including:

    • Free carry-on bag.
    • Family pooling.
    • Priority boarding.
    • Waived points redemption fees.
    • Some travel fees are waived.
    • Last seat availability.

    Family Seating Including Stretch Seats

    50K and 100K elite members get free seat assignments for up to 8 travelers on the same reservation, including Stretch (extra-legroom) seating. 

    This is the best benefit of Frontier elite status because Stretch seating can be $35 to $70 per flight.

    Frontier Airlines Stretch Seating

    50% Off Discount Den Membership

    50K members can buy Discount Den at a 50% discount ($29.99 a year instead of $59.99), which gets you:

    • Access to the lowest fares for up to six people on the same reservation.
    • Access to Kids Fly Free flights (select flights) where one kid under 15 years old can fly for free with every adult Discount Den fare purchased.
    Frontier Airlines Discount Den
    You can save by booking Discount Den fares.

    25% Points Bonus from Flights

    50K elite members earn a 25% mileage bonus on all eligible Frontier flights, allowing 50K members to earn 1.25 Frontier miles for each mile flown on Frontier.

    For example, a flight from Chicago to Denver would net non-elite members 888 miles or 50K elite members 1,110 miles.

    Frontier Airlines Plane
    Photo: Frontier Airlines

    Frontier Elite 100K Status

    Frontier’s top-tier status is Elite 100K, which gets members a free “The WORKS” bundle for up to eight travelers, extra points, and a free Discount Den membership.

    How to Earn 100K Status

    You can earn Frontier Airlines 100K status by either:

    Elite 100K Status Benefits

    Elite 100K members get all the benefits below, plus the 50K benefits above, including:

    • Free carry-on bag.
    • Free seat assignment.
    • Family pooling.
    • Priority boarding.
    • Waived points redemption fees.
    • Last seat availability.
    • Family Seating
    • Stretch Seating

    Free Discount Den Membership

    Elite 100K members get a free Discount Den Membership, which saves you $59.99 per year and gets you access to the best deals on flights.

    50% Bonus Points on Flights

    100K elite members earn a 50% mileage bonus on all eligible Frontier flights, allowing 100K members to earn 1.5 Frontier miles for each mile flown on Frontier.

    For example, a flight from Chicago to Denver would net non-elite members 888 miles or 100K elite members 1,332 miles.

    The WORKS Bundle for Up to 8 Passengers

    One unique aspect of Elite 100K status is that members can share their elite status with friends and family members traveling on the same ticket as the Elite 100K member.

    This gets up to 8 travelers access to “The WORKS” bundle, including a carry-on bag, checked bag, any seat on the aircraft, priority boarding, free changes, and refundability. 

    Frontier Airlines the Works

    Frontier Elite Status Match

    Frontier runs a limited time promotion typically in December where you can match your status from and airline or hotel to Frontier Airlines for a $49 fee.

    Frontier Elite Status match

    The Verdict

    Frontier Airlines’ elite status is not a program I would prioritize as a business traveler because Alaska, American, Delta, and United’s elite status programs offer better benefits, including upgrades to business class.

    But Frontier’s elite program could be a good option if a status match or similar promotion returns, where you can get Elite 50K or Elite 100K status.

    Top offers from our partners
    75,000 Bonus Miles
    Terms Apply
    100,000 Bonus Points
    Terms Apply
    $200 Cash Back & No Annual Fee
    Terms Apply