What the Barclays Frontier Card offers
The Barclays Frontier Card is a co-branded airline card issued by Barclays in partnership with Frontier Airlines. It earns points on Frontier purchases and everyday spending, and it comes with a sign-up bonus in points rather than cash. The card is designed for people who fly Frontier regularly or want to accumulate points toward Frontier tickets.
Like most airline cards, this one charges an annual fee. That fee is waived for the first year, then charged each year after. The card also includes benefits specific to Frontier — things like free checked bags and priority boarding — that may or may not offset the annual cost depending on how often you fly.
The earning rate and the value of those benefits depend on which version of the card you hold. Barclays offers more than one Frontier card, and the rewards structure and perks differ between them. Before you explore, you should know which card you are looking at and what it actually costs you per year once the first-year waiver ends.
Key Takeaways
- The Barclays Frontier Card waives the annual fee for your first year, but charges a fee in year two and beyond — check the current amount before you explore, as it may vary.
- You earn points on Frontier purchases and on everyday spending with other merchants, but the earning rate differs between the standard and premium versions of the card.
- The card includes perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, which can save you money if you fly Frontier multiple times per year.
- Points earned on this card can only be used for Frontier flights and Frontier-related purchases — they do not transfer to other airlines or convert to cash.
- The sign-up bonus is paid in points, not a statement credit, so its real value depends on how much Frontier points are worth to you personally.
How points work on the Frontier card
You earn Frontier points on every purchase you make with the card. The earning rate is higher on Frontier purchases than on other spending. For example, you might earn a certain number of points per dollar spent on Frontier tickets, and a lower rate per dollar on groceries or gas.
Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. However, if you close the card or let it go inactive for an extended period, Frontier may close the account and points may be forfeited. The exact policy on account closure and point forfeiture is set by Frontier, not Barclays, so you should check Frontier's terms directly.
Points can be redeemed only for Frontier flights, seat upgrades, and Frontier-related purchases. You cannot transfer points to another airline, convert them to cash, or use them with hotel or car rental partners. This is a key difference from some other airline cards, which allow points to move between airline partners or transfer to hotel programs.
Annual fee and when it applies
The Barclays Frontier Card has no annual fee during your first year of membership. Starting in year two, an annual fee is charged each year you keep the card open. The exact amount of that fee varies and may change over time, so you should confirm the current fee before you explore.
The annual fee is charged once per year, usually on the anniversary of the date you opened the account. Some cardholders use the card heavily in year one, then decide whether the annual fee is worth the benefits they receive. If you fly Frontier infrequently, the fee may outweigh the value of the perks and points you earn.
You can close the card at any time to avoid paying the annual fee in future years. However, closing the card will stop you from earning points on new purchases, and it may affect your credit score slightly because it reduces your total available credit.
Included benefits and how to use them
The Frontier card includes a free checked bag on Frontier flights when you use the card to purchase your ticket. This benefit applies to you and one companion on the same reservation. A checked bag normally costs money on Frontier, so this benefit alone can save you $30 to $40 per round trip if you check luggage.
The card also includes priority boarding, which means you board before passengers without the card. Priority boarding lets you choose your seat earlier and stow your carry-on bag in the overhead bin rather than gate-checking it. The value of this benefit depends on how much you value seat choice and carry-on space.
Some versions of the Frontier card may include additional perks such as discounts on seat upgrades, free or discounted inflight purchases, or bonus points on certain types of spending. These benefits vary by card version, so check your card's terms to see exactly what you have.
Sign-up bonus and how it compares
New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus in Frontier points after meeting a minimum spending requirement within a set timeframe — usually three to six months. The bonus is paid in points, not as a statement credit or cash back. The number of points offered varies and may change depending on current promotions.
To understand whether the bonus is worth the effort, you need to know what Frontier points are worth to you. Points are worth more if you fly Frontier frequently and can use them for tickets. If you rarely fly Frontier, the points may sit unused or be worth less than the annual fee you will pay.
The minimum spending requirement is the total amount you must charge to the card during the bonus period to receive the points. If you do not meet the requirement, you do not receive the bonus. Some people meet the requirement by shifting regular spending to the new card; others find it difficult and do not may have access to for the bonus.
Who this card makes sense for
The Barclays Frontier Card is most useful if you fly Frontier Airlines at least a few times per year. The free checked bag benefit and priority boarding can save you real money on each trip. If you fly Frontier once a year or less, those benefits may not be worth the annual fee.
The card also works well if you are willing to use it for everyday purchases to earn points toward Frontier flights. Some people shift their regular spending — groceries, gas, utilities — to the card specifically to accumulate points faster. If you are not willing to change your spending habits, you will earn points more slowly and may not see much value.
The card is less useful if you fly multiple airlines or prefer to keep your options open. Because Frontier points cannot be transferred to other airlines, you are locked into Frontier redemptions. If your travel plans change or you decide to fly a different airline, your points become less valuable.
How the card affects your credit
explore for the Barclays Frontier Card will trigger a hard inquiry on your credit report. This inquiry may lower your credit score by a few points temporarily. The impact is usually small and fades within a few months.
Once the card is open, the credit limit you receive will increase your total available credit. This can help your credit score because it lowers your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total credit limit that you are using. However, if you carry a balance on the card and pay interest, the benefit of the higher limit is outweighed by the cost of the interest.
If you close the card later, your available credit will decrease, which may raise your utilization ratio and lower your score slightly. For this reason, some people keep old cards open even after they stop using them, as long as there is no annual fee or the fee is worth paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Frontier points for anything other than flights?
Frontier points can be used for flights, seat upgrades, and some Frontier-related purchases like baggage fees or seat selection. You cannot convert them to cash, transfer them to another airline, or use them with hotel or car rental partners. If you want flexible points that work across multiple airlines, this card is not the right choice.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points remain in your Frontier account as long as your Frontier account is active. Closing the Barclays card does not automatically close your Frontier account or delete your points. However, if your Frontier account becomes inactive for a long period, Frontier may close it and forfeit the points. Check Frontier's policy on account inactivity before closing the card.
Is the annual fee worth it if I only fly Frontier once a year?
That depends on the annual fee amount and the value of the free checked bag benefit. If the fee is $95 and you check one bag per trip, the benefit covers the fee on a single round trip. If you fly only once per year, you would need to value the priority boarding or other perks highly enough to justify the fee. If not, a no-annual-fee card may be a better choice.
Do I have to spend money on Frontier to earn points with this card?
No. You earn points on any purchase you make with the card, including groceries, gas, and everyday expenses. The earning rate is lower on non-Frontier purchases than on Frontier flights, but you can still accumulate points by using the card for regular spending. This is how many cardholders build up enough points for a free ticket.
What credit score do I need to be approved?
Barclays does not publish a minimum credit score requirement for the Frontier card. Generally, airline cards are easier to get approved for if you have good to excellent credit — usually a score of 670 or higher — but approval also depends on your income, existing debt, and credit history. You can check your own credit score for free through many banks and credit monitoring services before you explore.