I have a question re: Frontier. I've only ever flown once - last year. It was on a major airline and my sis did all the legwork and reservations (she is a frequent flyer and I just followed her and what she told me to do). I'm looking into taking a few mini vaca's and am considering Frontier (which my sis tells me to avoid completely so she is no help when I question) - and of course none of my friends who fly have flown Frontier. I don't carry a lot, so one small "handbag" will do for me - but can anyone explain to me how Frontier (or airlines like Frontier) actually works? What should I expect? Should I just spend more money and take a major carrier? No seat reserves right? Is it crazy getting on the plane? (Pushing/shoving, fights over seats?) Just trying to figure out if the cheap price is worth the headache. I found this board when I was looking up the carryon bag policy for Frontier. Thanks!
Elli

Frontier is not all that bad. If the flight schedule works for you, I would book it. It sounds like you travel light and don't care where you sit. Are you traveling with someone else or alone? If you are alone or don't care if you sit by your travel partner or not, you don't need to pay for a seat selection. One will be assigned to you when you check in for free. Just be aware you could get a middle seat in the back of the plane. If this doesn't bother you, great! Otherwise, consider paying the extra money to secure your preference.

There is no fighting over seats when boarding. Everyone is assigned a seat when they check in, and during boarding they go to their seat and sit down. No mess, no stress. Very easy.

Some of the bigger airlines have wifi and in-flight entertainment. On Frontier there is none, so be sure to bring something to do on the plane. A book, or a tablet loaded with a movie. Don't forget headphones. They don't have them on the plane and they are expensive if you have to purchase them in the airport.

Some will say that Frontier has a poor on-time record, but I don't believe this to be true. I think they are almost the same as any other airline in terms of on time and cancelations. One thing to consider though is that if a flight on Frontier is canceled, the next available flight might not be until the next day, as their routes are frequent. But the likelihood of your flight being canceled is very small.

So in essence, as long as the schedule and fare works for you, you seem to be a good fit for Frontier travel. Don't worry about what others say.

The biggest problem I have with low-cost carriers like Frontier and Spirit is that they have a more limited flight network and don't have interline agreements with other carriers. So if your flight is cancelled or severely delayed due to weather, mechanical issues, crew issues, etc, the best they can do is book you on their next flight with available seats, which could be a day delay or more. If you value time on your vacations, I would recommend spending a bit more for a major carrier, which all have large hub-and-spoke models for more connection options and can re-book you on another airline if there are any major issues.

I find the value of interlining extremely overstated. The legacies don't really like to put you on someone else's flight and they aren't obligated to. They usually only do it for high level elites or high fare passengers.

However the impact of any delay or disruption will be amplified on a ULCC like Frontier due to their low frequency of operation in most markets..

If your flight is cancelled your options are to wait or buy a ticket on another airline at walkup prices. Either option may cost you through additional hotel expense or air fare. If you fly a lot you can save a fair amount of money and in the unlikely event your flight is too delayed you can buy a ticket with the savings or you can possibly purchase travel insurance or you may have some coverage under a credit card, but that usually comes with a lot of strings.

Cancellation rates for pretty much all airlines are under 2%. The latest DOT report lists Frontier as cancelling 1.2% of it's flights in February.

Another issue many people have with ULCCs is the limitation of what you can carry on. Frontier limits you to a "personal Item" such as a purse, small bag or backpack which will fit under the set. There are specific sizes specified but in my experience Frontier is not too strict as long as you aren't ridiculous. You do not have to put the bag under the seat and since the charge for "Carry-on bags" aka roller bags they overhead bins are usually pretty empty. It is also cheaper to check a bag especially if you pay in advance.