I did the $80 status option and it updated to my account the next day. It's only good through September, but do I understand correctly that it will extend past that if we fly X miles between now and then?

Yep, just have to earn 5k miles to extend status through the end of the year. But I assume you need to earn the standard 20k if you want status next year, as well.

Here's something weird... I paid the $80 to get 20k elite through the end of September. My challenge was to fly 5,000 miles or spend $5,000 on the Frontier World Mastercard to get status through the end of the year (if I remember correctly)...

Well, my laptop battery ran out and after I rebooted my computer and restored my browser windows that were open, the challenge had changed to 10,000 miles and $10,000 spend by Dec 31, 2023 to earn 20k status through Dec 31, 2024.

Maybe a gift from Frontier's notoriously bad IT?
Spending more to extend status through next year is now an option, though it's supposed to cost more.

From the offer terms:

Hi -

How does one upgrade to the new challenge requirements for an additional fee?

Just got an email about purchasing the 20k status and it has changed to extend to 31Dec24. A better deal.

• a. The Instant FRONTIER Miles Elite 20K status offer provides eligible and approved members Frontier Elite 20K status through December 31, 2024.
  
  Instant Purchases will now receive status until December 31, 2024 at a price of $599. Members that purchased the offer at $499 and had status until December 31, 2023 will have their status extended through end December 31, 2024.

• b. The Accelerated FRONTIER Miles Elite 20K status offer provides eligible and approved members Frontier Elite 20K status through the end of September 30, 2023, and upon earning 5,000 qualifying miles from flying or spending $5,000 on the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard, or any combination of flying and spending by September 30, 2023, will enjoy the perks and benefits of Elite 20K status through December 31, 2023. The first 2,000 approved customers will pay a reduced fee.
  
  Update from May 31, 2023: Standard pricing of $299 for the Elite 20K challenge ($199 for the first 1,000 members to purchase under this rate) will receive elite status valid until December 31, 2023. Upon earning 10,000 elite qualifying miles, the member will qualify for extended status until December 31, 2024. Members who purchased the challenge offer under the original offer of $80 with a 5,000 elite qualifying miles requirement may be eligible to upgrade to the new challenge requirements for an additional fee.

I purchased the $80 option and am flying the 5000 miles to extend the status until the end of 2023. Pretzlaff mentioned that there may be an opportunity to upgrade to get status until the end of 2024. Do any of our informed members know the terms for getting that upgrade and the best way to go about it. Thanks.

Revisiting this... I think I've been operating under a misunderstanding, which might be a problem. I bought the original $80 option, flew my 5k miles before Sept. 30, and got extended to Dec. 31, 2023. I've been doing mileage runs (and just booked another) to get to 10k before the end of December so I can keep status through Dec. 31, 2024... but now I'm reading that there was some additional fee or enrollment necessary for that? Is that right?

I should hit 10k after a mileage run to ATL on Nov. 11; if it doesn't update then, I plan to purchase the Elite 50k option through the Status Match offer.... but I sure would like to know in advance so I don't have to waste a day flying to ATL and back. LOL

Purchase 20K status
 

I was in your same situation (paid $80, flew 5,000 miles before September 30 and got Elite 20K status through December 31, 2023).
Frontier Get Status sent out an email in August offering an extension of Elite 20K status through the end of December 2024 by flying 10k miles before December 31, 2023. I had to pay an additonal $69 to get the offer. The 10K miles included the miles I flew for the first offer.
I don't know if the offer is still available. If it is, it's probably cheaper than paying for a match.

Thanks! I will hit 10k miles this Saturday... if I don't get 20k extended through 2024, I'll pay for the match. I'd rather have the 50k anyway, so I can justify it as a gift to myself. LOL