This is the first time I have flown Frontier since its move to a la carte everything.

Arrived 40 min before OKC-DEN flight, only carry-on, to find no Frontier representatives at the desk, automated check-in yielded the message "see (non-existent) desk representatives". Saw Frontier employee, called out to ask to get a boarding pass, looked at me and went behind the locked employee door. No go on the mobile check-in. Missed flight.

Joined 6+ people in the "confused, no-where to turn" world.

Both TSA and law enforcement get daily complaints in OKC about Frontier's abandon the desk to go to the flight gate tactic. They are the only airline that leaves their front desk unattended before a flight.

Hey Frontier you should consider this as another opportunity at incremental revenue, $20 add front desk staff in the event that you arrive without bags and plenty of time to get through security to make your flight.

I fail to see the issue. 45 min is check in cut off time for frontier. Next time check in on-time. Only thing I would suggest is they put a small sign up saying "You have missed check in time please call to be rebooked".

Yep, Frontier has a 45 minute rule about checking in. You need to have your boarding pass by then. Its all part of saving money to lower fares, if people abide by it then they can save money. If you normally cut it this close then you should learn the rules of the airline you are flying.

It was certainly a lesson learned - have yet to encounter an airline that abandons the check-in desk.

huh? At outstations, that's how it works, world wide..

Check in deadline reached, counter closed, most often the agent needs to go to the gate, especially at smaller outstations, to continue the boarding process there.

Now, at Hubs it might be different regarding the staffing, but then you don't show up after CI deadline there either, do you?

Sorry OP, but you're looking at it the right way...as a lesson learned. Is it even F9 staff at OKC? At RDU they contract out to someone called Charter Express. We don't even have check-in machines so I've learned to arrive really early.

Extremely common practice at out-stations for all airlines I know. UA and B6 do this at PWM, for example. If you fudge the well-known check-in deadline you are sunk. Live and learn.