I have a job interview for a terrific position here in Seattle. The interview is in Omaha next week. The company got me tickets on Frontier Airlines. I looked at the fares online and can see why they did this as it is half the price of United.

I know I can earn Continental miles with them (even though I don't have a CO OnePass account yet) but I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on this little Southwest-wanna-be?

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I have flown Frontier a couple of times recently. For last minute tickets they are always cheaper, but with careful planning and the hefty discount my employer gets for other airlines, I can usually avoid them. I was able to use one of my return Frontier ticket on United, who took the ticket and put me on a UA flight.

I have flown them many times. They are the best of the current startups. They are financially sound and offer a decent in-flight product, but are somewhat on the no-frills side. On a breakfast flight, for example, you'll probably get a choice of a bagel or muffin. They compensate by offering attentive service and, in my experience, the in-flight crews are friendly. Although you'll get Onepass miles, they don't count for status. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Let us know after the trip.

One of only two airlines that fly jets out of little ole' BMI (that's Bloomington, IL) - I've never flown it, but many of my co-workers have - no-frills, usually on time - no FC (!!!), and a free stop in Omaha.

Glad to hear the feedback on Frontier. Doesn't sound that bad. A client tried to put me on it with a change to some other airline I can't remember the name of a few months ago. Made ABQ to BOS a 3 hop with 2 changes. I balked and they agreed to spend the extra $60 or whatever for DL. I was grateful!

I wound up flying RT Phx to Denver on Thanksgiving week, and had to take Frontier instead of the usual United. Frontier is a shadow of its former self from the pre bankruptcy days; and has all of its flights via its only hub in Denver.

Anyway, Frontier seems to be copying SWA's formula. The FAs were very pleasant, and the flight was your basic no-frills type package. Nice, but, somewhat limited. A definite A+ for attitude, however. Nice folks.

[This message has been edited by BR (edited 01-29-2000).]

I did a DFW-DEN-SEA run last year on Frontier. Things were just fine and I would fly them again. Their one way tickets were much better than American's rates.

I have flown them a moderate amount over several years and they have always been pretty good. Service is generally friendly and they are mostly on time. In their early days their fares were really a good deal and they offered a decent amount of seat pitch - 34" to 36". However, their fares are now much closer to their competitors and they reduced their seat pitch several inches. Thus, they really are just a generic airline. Finally, as One Pass miles do not count towards elite level, I fly other airlines.

There was an article recently about Frontier, I don't remember where. They are not connected with the old Frontier, just used the name like the new new Pan Am.

They are careful not to undercut UA too much so that UA doesn't try to wipe them out. That's why their prices aren't a fraction of UA's. Lower, but not 1/3 or 1/2 of UA's prices.

I flew them a few times and I would compare them to WN but with assigned seats. They are okay but I would not fly them given a choice of other airlines where I could upgrade.

I did the impossible!

Since I did not like the idea of arriving very late in OMA, I went to visit my favorite UA rep at the local city ticket office. I humbly bowed my head and put my hands together in prayer-like form and jokingly pleaded with her not to make me fly some rinky-dink loser airline (Frontier). She laughed and started clicking away at her computer screen. Even though the UA ticket was substantially more money, she locked me into some UA seats for both the outbound and return! She said that she can not reissue tickets from another airline but the info she put on my record would permit me a hassle-free conversion at the airport two days from now when I leave. Wow, that was a terrific break! Now I get into OMA earlier, I earn UA miles and Hilton bonus points, my return flight has 50 minutes less layover time in DEN and I get some food on board. I'm very pleased with United and my wonderful CTO agent.

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I just took the Seattle to Denver and back to Seattle route over Superbowl weekend and was very pleased with them. I got my ticket by way of their site and waited for the wed specials that come out at 9am every wed. Only had to pay $205 total with all taxes. the FA were very friendly, and since I checked in early on both legs of the flight I asked for a front row seat and both times was able to get in first 5 rows. I'll fly with this carrier again, and rack up the miles with Continental. Anyways, If you have business in Denver, this is a good way to go in my opinion. And hey, I don't count on any airline to please me with thier meals. Id rather save big on the ticket purchase and then carry aboard some, great snacks, sandwitch or whatever...with all the money saved. by the way they will serve you soft drinks, coffee all day long if you want...good luck.

In my last post I said:

"Even though the UA ticket was substantially more money, she locked me into some UA seats for both the outbound and return!"

What I didn't emphasize was that she did not charge me anything! Pretty cool deal, eh? I love my city ticket office.

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As a former UA Premier who flies out of DEN, I have to add a comment. I fly more and more F9 and always find ex UA flyers who are more than happy with the service. I will echo those comments above concerning personnel who are genuinely glad to do business with you the customer. I also notice that F9's pitch is such that when the person in front of you fully reclines, you don't get a nose full of hair! F( does seem roomier in comparison to UA. Best of all, no shuttle to SLC! In short, if your schedule permits, there is no reason to pay UA's premium out of DEN, let alone brag about it.

I am from Denver also and I think most local residents like Frontier rather than United. On a trip back from Minneapolis, my flight on United was cancelled and Frontier put on on their next flight with no problems. Some of Frontier advantages are:
1) You don't have to take the trains at DEN to get to concourse A
2) No ESOP program so employees are happy to help the customer and appreciate the business.
3) They serve hot bagels or pretzels (real ones, not bagged) on short flights like to LAX where United just serves bagged nuts!
4) It is nice to use an alternative carrier out of DEN since United has > 70% and has jacked fares up since Western Pacific went out of business.

It is a nice, young airline and all of Denver flyers will benefit in the future by flying F9 now

Paul