The go to the counter trick is effectively over
Sep 1, 2023, 6:25 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
They are advertising one thing and doing another if they are refusing to sell tickets at the airport. They state the Carrier Interface Charge as a charge per passenger, per segment, charged on tickets purchased through the website. It is not charged on tickets purchased outside of the website. Booking a ticket through reservations has a separate fee. Neither applies when purchasing at the airport. That is how they classify it as an optional fee, and how they provide an outlet to avoid it. If the airport won't sell tickets, or provide a designated time when they do so, then they aren't providing what is named in their own terms and conditions.
Sep 5, 2023, 8:32 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 163
I'm not surprised by that, realistically most people should be going over to the bag check line. What is shocking is how some of these F9 flyers just throw money away. When I have been in that line to buy tickets I heard one of their employees tell the person behind me it would cost them $15 per bag more to check it in the agent assist line instead of just punching in their code and getting it done in the bag check line. The guy said he didn't care and stood in the line. I looked behind me, he and his lady had 5 bags! Knowing how much they charge for 2nd and 3rd bags I guess what's another $75?
Sep 5, 2023, 8:41 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: KUSA
Programs: Whatever AMEX Plat comes with... I buy on price.. Spirit Big Front Seat, want First/buy First
Posts: 1,538
I'm not surprised by that, realistically most people should be going over to the bag check line. What is shocking is how some of these F9 flyers just throw money away. When I have been in that line to buy tickets I heard one of their employees tell the person behind me it would cost them $15 per bag more to check it in the agent assist line instead of just punching in their code and getting it done in the bag check line. The guy said he didn't care and stood in the line. I looked behind me, he and his lady had 5 bags! Knowing how much they charge for 2nd and 3rd bags I guess what's another $75?
I helped a passenger who was looking for a Frontier rep after the counter closed... I think they wanted to buy a ticket as they said they hadn't missed a flight or anything. I told them that United is handled by the same contractor (G2) so to go bug them. I think it yielded someone coming out of the office to at least speak to them.
Sep 6, 2023, 10:37 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 585
Had an agent at DEN tell me this last month. The agents at the bag check (which by the way, was completely empty) weren't willing to sell me the ticket, said could only be done from the agent assistance line. I made a deal with the original agent to wait 45 minutes for the line to go down then she would help me. She agreed... even though the line had not really gone down, she did wave me over 45 minutes later. I got the impression this was really HER policy rather than the Frontier policy...
I prefer to buy tickets at the help counter inside Concourse A if the line is short, we'll see if they have the same new 'rule' next time. There's usually only one person working that counter so it's often a crapshoot there.
I prefer to buy tickets at the help counter inside Concourse A if the line is short, we'll see if they have the same new 'rule' next time. There's usually only one person working that counter so it's often a crapshoot there.
Sep 6, 2023, 3:35 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 30
Here's a nice GAO report related to the excise tax: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-10-785.pdf
The station staff here at DCA have tried to say that they cannot sell tickets, period, per the manager's policy. Or they've tried to charge me the $25 agent assistance fee.
I think either a class complaint to the DOT, some class action, informing the IRS, or reaching out to your Senator (since they're currently reauthorizing the FAA and the tax provisions) could be helpful.
Sep 6, 2023, 5:27 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 9
For not selling at the counter: From what I understand, for them to impose the 'carrier interface charge' for the site, they need to offer some sales channel that doesn't include this fee. Otherwise, it would be classified as an abusive fee. (Which I already believe it is.) Therefore, they are obligated to sell at the counter without this charge. The practice of claiming they don't sell at the counter is also abusive. If it were me, I would file a complaint with the DOT.
Sep 6, 2023, 8:09 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 163
For not selling at the counter: From what I understand, for them to impose the 'carrier interface charge' for the site, they need to offer some sales channel that doesn't include this fee. Otherwise, it would be classified as an abusive fee. (Which I already believe it is.) Therefore, they are obligated to sell at the counter without this charge. The practice of claiming they don't sell at the counter is also abusive. If it were me, I would file a complaint with the DOT.
Sep 6, 2023, 11:48 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: TOL
Posts: 771
For not selling at the counter: From what I understand, for them to impose the 'carrier interface charge' for the site, they need to offer some sales channel that doesn't include this fee. Otherwise, it would be classified as an abusive fee. (Which I already believe it is.) Therefore, they are obligated to sell at the counter without this charge. The practice of claiming they don't sell at the counter is also abusive. If it were me, I would file a complaint with the DOT.
Sep 7, 2023, 8:13 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 100K, Frontier Elite100K
Posts: 223
Frontier would lose its ability to charge the online carrier service fee if it does not have a way to purchase tickets without the fee under DOT rules. So the current practice of telling customers they can't sell tickets unless there are no people in line will shut down the service fee.
Sep 10, 2023, 12:49 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,475
Frontier would lose its ability to charge the online carrier service fee if it does not have a way to purchase tickets without the fee under DOT rules. So the current practice of telling customers they can't sell tickets unless there are no people in line will shut down the service fee.
Sep 11, 2023, 2:45 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 163
Right. Frontier management should clearly instruct their airport staff not to discriminate against customers on line who want to buy tickets. They will kill the golden tax goose. I could easily envision a very large fine -- probably equal to the tax -- if the DOT investigates Frontier over this practice and finds they are taking steps not to actually sell these tickets.
Sep 14, 2023, 7:05 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 100K, Frontier Elite100K
Posts: 223
No, agent cannot deny any customer who stood in line by pulling such a stunt. That would clearly be in violation of the terms with DOL and would result in the elimination of the privilege of their online CIC fee. Doubt if customer stood ground that agent would not service him. Just pull out ur phone to record the transaction if agent presses and time how long it takes them fold like a lawn chair.