Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns - First Frontier Flight...What to Expect?

Well I'm taking my first ever Frontier flight in April on their new route SMF-SJD...the fare of $99 each way plus tax was just too good a deal versus United SFO-SJD for $600. Their frequent flyer program with double miles on new routes and very low award rates looks pretty good as well.

What can I expect on this flight?

-is DTV in every seat back? Do you have to pay to access it?
-is there any pay for meal service?
-is liquor free on this as its an International flight?
-how easy is it to book award travel with say 30 days notice for future award use?

Thanks
Bigshaker

- Yes, Yes -$5 ($8 for a movie)
- No, meals are complimentary. Here's a link (http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/flight-info/inflight-catering.do;jsessionid=f1f949315566512f44148177c23 ) to the catering website
- Nope, $5 a glass
- Depends on the route popularity. I've not had a hassle

Direct TV is free on Mexico flights. They don't charge because they lose the signal south of the border.

why are you flying from SMF? F9 is also adding a SJC-SJD flight a couple days a week.

SMF-SJD
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from March 3, 2007 through August 14, 2007
Saturday from August 15, 2007 through November 14, 2007
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from November 15, 2007

SJC-SJD
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from March 3, 2007 through August 14, 2007
Saturday from August 15, 2007 through November 14, 2007
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from November 15, 2007

Thanks for the feedback. As the schedule shows the dates are different from each city SJC and SMF and to get the low $96 fare I had to leave from SMF and retunr into SJC. Cheap one way car rentals made this work out close to the same as airport parking.

Also, if you are flying in the morning, as I was, they hand out a free doughnut to all passengers *on select originators. When they come around to do beverage service, which is usually 2-3 per flight, they fill up your cup and sometimes let you keep the can to refill on your own! They hand out an assortment of chips, including SunChips, a tasty and welcome surprise. If for some reason you show an act of courtesy towards someone and makes the FA impressed, they will comp your DirecTV, which happened to me when I asked for a blanket but gave it up to a mother and her baby.

For a low-cost carrier, they sure go the extra mile to put in some frills.

Enjoy the flight!

- Yes, Yes -$5 ($8 for a movie)
- No, meals are complimentary. Here's a link (http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/flight-info/inflight-catering.do;jsessionid=f1f949315566512f44148177c23 ) to the catering website
- Nope, $5 a glass
- Depends on the route popularity. I've not had a hassle
Hi Frontier crowd! I'm taking my first F9 flight this weekend. Found lots of info here and on their website, but one thing I'm not clear about, does the $8 for a movie cover DirecTv for the rest of the flight?

Ok, I thought everything was clear! What's the small snack referred to for Tier 2 flights? Is that smaller than a granola bar, or bigger? And what's the "full bev service" for Tier 3 flights? Does that mean Tier 2 don't get to drink with their small snack? And Tier 3 don't get to eat with their drink? So, hopefully you connect from a T1/2 to a T3, so you can get a snack and a beverege?

Thanks!

does the $8 for a movie cover DirecTv for the rest of the flight?

I always wondered about this. Do you get locked into the channel you swiped on or do you get to change the channels all you want? Anyone have experience with this?

What's the small snack referred to for Tier 2 flights? Is that smaller than a granola bar, or bigger? And what's the "full bev service" for Tier 3 flights? Does that mean Tier 2 don't get to drink with their small snack? And Tier 3 don't get to eat with their drink?

I'm not sure on Tier 2 since I have only flown Tier 3s. I assume it is the usual pretzels/crackers. All tiers get "full beverage service". Don't be afraid to ask for the can if you want it. They seem to load a larger supply of drinks compared to other airlines.

that if you pay for a movie, that's all you get. I don't think that the movie cost will then get you TV after the movie is over.

If you pay for the TV, you get all the TV channels except the movies, for the duration of the flight.

I'm Ascent, so I get the TV free, and I usually do the 2-ish hour hauls so have never done a movie...

RFTraveler :p

Hi Frontier crowd! I'm taking my first F9 flight this weekend. Found lots of info here and on their website, but one thing I'm not clear about, does the $8 for a movie cover DirecTv for the rest of the flight?

Ok, I thought everything was clear! What's the small snack referred to for Tier 2 flights? Is that smaller than a granola bar, or bigger? And what's the "full bev service" for Tier 3 flights? Does that mean Tier 2 don't get to drink with their small snack? And Tier 3 don't get to eat with their drink? So, hopefully you connect from a T1/2 to a T3, so you can get a snack and a beverege?

Thanks!

Well, having now taken my flights, I can report back what to expect!

Movie and DirecTv: Purchasing the movie does NOT include DirecTv. I didn't watch a movie, but it appeared they showed some other cartoons or extras to make up the extra time. DirecTv is free to and from Mexico, and you do lose the signal about 150 miles south of the border.

Food:

This is an absolute joke. Frontier, go retool this, or just bag it and tell people you're not going to have any food! What's worse, is there's not Buy-on-Board option, so I had to resort to Bloody Mary's to try and get some calories!

PDX-DEN 2.5 hour early morning flight. Once bev service, and a Biscoff ginger cookie thing. ONE Biscoff ginger cookie thing, weighing in at 3/16 oz. Yes, they found someone to make them a cookie that weighed LESS than a quarter ounce!

DEN-PVR 3.0 hour, afternoon flight, leaving sometime after 1pm. One Bev service, choice of Sun Chips or Dorritos. .5 oz bags. Well, I guess it's better than those bags you put in your kids lunches!

PVR-DEN same as above.

DEN-PDX .4 oz pretzels. One full bev service, one walk through with coffee and water.

So, in the end, generally freindly service, on par with AS, much better than the legacy cariers. If I were to fly them more often, I would beg them to offer a BOB option. Connecting in Denver late, with a 1.25 connection time for customs and imigration, all the restaurants were closing up, I would have appreciated a reasonable snack box option. The DirecTv availability made the difference. No DirecTv and to me, Frontier is the same breed.