Frontier Airlines EarlyReturns (Pre-Alignment) - Summit Airtran Upgrade?

Do Summit (or Ascent) members get complimentary business class upgrades on AirTran?

I see that a+ elite members get Summit benefits.

According to Frontier's website, no.

From: http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/faqs/airtran-faqs.do

I am a Frontier EarlyReturns® Ascent/Summit member. What benefits do I receive when flying AirTran Airways ?

As your Ascent/Summit status carries over to AirTran Airways, presentation of your Frontier EarlyReturns® Ascent/Summit card entitles you to dedicated check-in positions, priority at security checkpoints and priority boarding. At this time, upgrades to Business Class are not an Ascent/Summit member benefit when flying on AirTran Airways Airways.

I did receive a complimentary Business upgrade as a Summit flying on Airtran several years back, but it was just after the partnership announcement, and I don't think anyone really knew if it was a benefit or not. I asked the Airtran GA, showed him my card, and he took a pen and scratched a new seat assignment on my BP, without entering anything into the computer.

So, you might consider asking, but it would be entirely based on luck and Airtran not putting procedures in place to prevent this.

Flew Airtran recently on a flight from DEN through MKE (F9 non-stop was full).

Some comments on treatment of Summit by FL:

1. Used FL Elite Check-in to skip lines at DEN -- no problem in skipping line - asked TA whether I could get business class upgrade as Summit. She said no problem but need to wait at gate in case they sell them. TA also stamped FL boarding pass with "Business Class" stamp (although I had coach assigned seat) so I could use premium security at DIA.

2. Asked for Business Class upgrade at gate at DIA. GA said they aren't supposed to do that anymore after the Republic takeover. We discussed head-on competition between FL and Midwest in MKE. GA said coach was overbooked and he'd have to move someone anyway so he would upgrade me to Business Class.

3. Boarding at DIA. When starting boarding, the GA announced priority boarding for FL elites, business class, and F9 elites too.

4. Asked for Business Class upgrade at MKE. GA was unfamiliar with any details of partnership and wanted to know if I had upgraded before. She then looked and said they had sold out business class (FL sells $49 upgrades at checkin). She gave me a row to myself.

5. Onboard service in coach. Forgot to ask if I could get a free drink. F9 advertises on its website that Airtran elites get a free drink and I presume FL does the same for F9 but can't say for certain.

Some other comments:

1. You need to show your F9 Early Returns card. The systems don't know your status.

2. You can enter F9 Early Returns on the F9 website but it doesn't print on the boarding pass which makes me nervous. I'll update this posting when (if) it shows up on my F9 account.

3. This partnership can't last too long. FL wanted to buy Midwest a couple of years ago because they were both 717 operators and could get a midwest hub with semi-loyal market. The MKE community objected and got Northwest to invest heavily in Midwest. NW didn't want Midwest to succeed (NW has customer base in MKE) but just wanted Midwest to limp along. FL saw a competitive opportunity and started to build up in MKE. When Republic took over Midwest, eliminated mainline ops and replaced its crews, FL decided to agressively build up MKE. So, in effect, are now major competitors and the partnership will probably go by the wayside.

2. You can enter F9 Early Returns on the F9 website but it doesn't print on the boarding pass which makes me nervous. I'll update this posting when (if) it shows up on my F9 account.


I've been trying to do this for 3 years and only once, out of at least a half dozen tries, have miles from a FL flight posted to F9 without some sort of manual intervention. Most of the time I just end up emailing in the info to F9, and they take care of it in a day or two.


3. This partnership can't last too long. FL wanted to buy Midwest a couple of years ago because they were both 717 operators and could get a midwest hub with semi-loyal market. The MKE community objected and got Northwest to invest heavily in Midwest. NW didn't want Midwest to succeed (NW has customer base in MKE) but just wanted Midwest to limp along. FL saw a competitive opportunity and started to build up in MKE. When Republic took over Midwest, eliminated mainline ops and replaced its crews, FL decided to agressively build up MKE. So, in effect, are now major competitors and the partnership will probably go by the wayside.

I have to agree with you there. It seems odd that my F9 account can now accrue miles on F9, FL, *and* YX. But for the moment, I'll take it.

BTW, one other benefit that no one's mentioned - F9 elites get 2 free checked bags on FL. I believe that benefit works in reverse as well.

I've been trying to do this for 3 years and only once, out of at least a half dozen tries, have miles from a FL flight posted to F9 without some sort of manual intervention. Most of the time I just end up emailing in the info to F9, and they take care of it in a day or two.



Well its been almost three weeks and the FL miles have still not shown up on my F9 account. I suppose its time to email them.