Airline trust profile
Frontier Airlines F9
Independent · Hub: Denver
At a glance
Key facts about this carrier
Frontier Airlines is a US ultra-low-cost carrier operating an all-Airbus A320 family fleet on domestic and near-international routes from Denver (DEN).
- Ultra-low-cost carrier based in Denver (DEN) with a la carte pricing for bags, seats, and extras.
- All-Airbus A320 family fleet serving primarily US domestic and Caribbean/Mexico routes.
- Independent carrier with no alliance membership or interline ticketing with other airlines.
- Not typically bookable on multi-carrier itineraries; must be purchased directly.
Why this tier
Why we rate Frontier Airlines Limited
We rarely put Frontier in a recommended itinerary, and it is left out of our automated search. Ultra-low-cost carriers do not interline, so a Frontier flight is ticketed separately rather than as part of one through fare, which means more coordination and less protection if an earlier flight runs late. If you want it, we will book it - it holds a 7/7 safety rating, and on a domestic US leg it can be the right call.
Strengths
- 7/7 safety rating from Airline Ratings - top marks for a US ULCC
- Low base fares with extensive US domestic network from Denver hub
- Cancellation rate of only 1-3% despite on-time challenges
Watch-outs
- Ranked last among 10 major US airlines for on-time performance in 2024 at 63-67%
- Extreme unbundling - fees for carry-on bags, seat selection, and all extras
- No international long-haul service and no alliance or interline partnerships
Best used for
- Budget economy
- Short regional hops
Consultant intelligence
Operational notes
Hub and Connections
Primary base at Denver (DEN). Additional focus cities at MCO (Orlando), LAS, PHX, ATL, PHL. Ultra-low-cost carrier serving US domestic and limited international routes (Mexico, Caribbean, Central America). No alliance membership. No meaningful codeshare or interline agreements. Point-to-point network, not hub-and-spoke. Self-connections only.
Baggage and Interline
No interline baggage agreements. Bags never check through to other carriers. All bags are paid add-ons except one personal item (must fit under seat). Bag fees are cheapest at booking and increase at check-in and gate. Carry-on bag fees can exceed $60 if purchased at the gate.
Terminal Notes
At DEN, typically operates from Concourse A. At MCO, operates from Terminal C. No proprietary lounges. No priority boarding except with premium fare bundles. Terminal assignments shift seasonally at some airports.
Operational Notes
All-A320 family fleet (A320, A320neo, A321). ULCC model with aggressive unbundling. Seat pitch is 28-30 inches, among the tightest in the industry. Stretch seats offer more legroom for a fee. Not available in most GDS channels. GoWild! All-You-Can-Fly Pass available for frequent domestic travelers. High route churn: routes added and dropped frequently based on demand.
What has changed on this profile (2)
Safety
Checked against the EU Air Safety List: not listed.
Fact-check
Clarified how we handle this airline: sold on request, rarely recommended.
It is left out of our automated search results. That is not the same as refusing to sell it - a consultant can and does book it when a traveller wants it. The page briefly said we do not sell it, which was wrong.
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