Frontier Airlines Teases Flyers With 100%* Off Tickets
Joe Cortez January 06, 2022
Frontier Airlines announced a 100%* off promotion for international travel on tickets purchased through January 10, 2022 – but the offer comes with several caveats.
100%* Off Offer Doesn’t Include Taxes or Fees, and Comes with Restrictions
In the press release, the promotion is extended to all flyers outbound to “15 international vacation stops with convenient nonstop flights from major U.S. markets.” When using the code “TROPICAL,” travelers can get the base fare discounted from their tickets.
However, this does not make it a “free” flight to an exotic location with the ultra-low-cost-carrier. Travelers will still be subject to the usual fees, including taxes, government fees, and airline-imposed fees. The mandatory fees include:
- U.S. Transportation Tax, Passenger Facility Charges and U.S. Domestic Flight Segment Taxes
- A “Carrier Interface Charge” per passenger, per segment on tickets booked through the website or call center, which is displayed in the standard fare price.
- A “High Cost Airport Charge,” which the airline says “offsets Frontier’s higher operating costs in select major airports where, for example, landing fees and gate rentals are significantly higher than other major airports where Frontier operates.”
The promotion is valid for travel booked through March 3, 2022 but comes with two sets of blackout dates. The discount is not available between January 13-17 and February 17-22, 2022. The discount is not available for tickets booked in class fares Y, B, or H, nor is it applicable to group fares.
Flyers are also limited as to what days of the week they are allowed to travel for certain destinations. For outbound trips to Cancun, Punta Cana, or San Juan, the discount only applies to trips booked between Sunday and Wednesday. For travel to the U.S. from the three destinations, discounted flights are limited to between Tuesday and Friday.
Although the restrictions are very constricting, it doesn’t mean the base fare “discount” isn’t a good deal for the right flyer. Those who took advantage of the Frontier Miles status match with either current airline status or hotel status may be able to book a discounted international flight with upgraded amenities.
Fees and Refunds Remain Contentious for Flyers
The “100%* discount” language is nothing new for the discount airline, which is known for their unique tactics with their fees. In 2020, the Colorado Attorney General asked the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the carrier for their refund policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2021, the carrier decided to drop plans to add a $1.59 “COVID Recovery Fee” to tickets after customer pushback.
Some of the fares I've bought on Frontier are actually negative. One was, for example, -4¢. The advertised price was "$39" with the various fees.
I can understand being on the hook for taxes, but adding mandatory fees entirely made up by the airline seems like false advertising, IMHO.
"Carrier interface charge" seems to be unavoidable since I can think of no other way to book. "High cost airport" is just the cost of doing business and should be bundled with the fare