The Frontier Card gives you Frontier miles on every purchase, plus a sign-up bonus and perks tied to flying Frontier
The Frontier Airlines credit card earns you Frontier miles — the airline's loyalty currency — on purchases you make with the card. You get a one-time bonus of miles after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. Beyond that, the card includes benefits like free checked bags on Frontier flights, priority boarding, and sometimes discounts on Frontier's fees. The card costs money each year, so the real question is whether the miles and perks you earn will be worth more than what you pay.
This card makes the most sense if you fly Frontier regularly or live somewhere Frontier serves well. If you fly other airlines most of the time, or if you rarely fly at all, a different card — or no airline card — will probably save you money.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns Frontier miles on all purchases, with a higher earning rate on Frontier tickets and Frontier-branded purchases.
- You receive a sign-up bonus of miles after meeting a spending requirement, but this bonus has real value only if you plan to use those miles on actual flights.
- The annual fee is fixed, so you need to calculate whether the free checked bags and other perks will save you enough to cover it.
- Frontier miles expire if your account goes inactive for 12 months, so the card works best for people who fly Frontier at least once a year.
How the earning rate works and what it means for your wallet
The Frontier card earns miles at different rates depending on what you buy. Frontier flights and Frontier-branded purchases (like seat upgrades or baggage fees paid through Frontier's website) earn at a higher rate — often 2 or 3 miles per dollar, though this varies. Everything else earns at a lower rate, typically 1 mile per dollar. This structure rewards you for spending money with Frontier itself, not just for using the card.
To know whether this earning rate is worth it, you need to know what a Frontier mile is actually worth. Frontier miles are worth less than miles from larger airlines like United or American, because Frontier is a smaller airline with fewer routes. A rough estimate is that one Frontier mile is worth less than one cent, but the exact value depends on which flight you book and how far in advance you book it. If you can only find expensive award flights, your miles are worth less. If you find cheap flights, they're worth more.
The sign-up bonus and how to measure whether it pays off
When you open the card, you earn a bonus of miles after you spend a set amount — usually between $500 and $1,000 — within the first three months. The size of this bonus changes over time, so the current offer may be different from what you see advertised elsewhere.
The bonus sounds large, but it only has value if you will actually use those miles on a Frontier flight. If the miles sit unused, they are worth nothing to you. Before you open the card, search Frontier's website for a flight you actually plan to take in the next year, and see how many miles it costs. If that number is less than the bonus you'll earn, the bonus has real value. If you can't find a flight you want to take, or if the cheapest flight costs more miles than the bonus, the bonus is not worth pursuing.
Annual fee versus the value of included perks
The Frontier card charges an annual fee — the exact amount varies by card version, but it is typically between $75 and $95 per year. This fee is charged whether you use the card or not. To make the card worth the cost, the perks you receive need to save you at least that much money.
The main perk is a free checked bag on Frontier flights. Frontier charges for checked bags separately, and the fee varies by route and how far in advance you pay, but it typically ranges from $30 to $40 per bag per flight. If you fly Frontier twice a year and check a bag both times, you save $60 to $80 — enough to cover the annual fee. If you fly once a year, or if you never check bags, the fee is harder to justify. The card may also include priority boarding or other small perks, but the free checked bag is the main one that translates to real money saved.
When Frontier miles expire and what that means for long-term value
Frontier miles expire if your account has no activity for 12 months. Activity means flying on Frontier, earning miles through the credit card, or even just logging into your Frontier account. This rule matters because it means you cannot stockpile miles for years and then use them all at once. If you go more than a year without flying Frontier or using the card, your miles vanish.
This expiration rule makes the card less valuable if you fly Frontier only occasionally — say, once every two years. You would need to either use the card regularly to keep your account active, or fly Frontier at least once per year. If you cannot commit to that, miles you earn may expire before you use them.
Comparing this card to other airline cards and general rewards cards
Other airline cards — for United, American, Southwest, or Delta — may offer higher earning rates or better perks, depending on which airline you fly most. If you split your flying between Frontier and another airline, a card from the airline you fly more often will probably give you more value. A general rewards card that earns cash back or points toward any airline may also be worth comparing, especially if you do not fly Frontier regularly enough to use the perks.
The right choice depends on your actual flying habits. If Frontier is your primary airline and you fly at least twice a year, the Frontier card can make sense. If you fly Frontier only once a year or less, or if you split your flying among several airlines, a different card or no airline card at all will likely cost you less money.
What happens to your miles if you close the card
If you close the Frontier credit card, your miles do not disappear when ready — they stay in your Frontier frequent flyer account as long as that account remains active. However, those miles will still expire if your account goes 12 months without activity. Closing the card removes one way to keep your account active (by using the card), so you would need to fly Frontier or log in to your account at least once per year to keep your miles from expiring.
This matters if you are thinking about opening the card just for the sign-up bonus and then closing it. You would need a plan to use the miles within a year, or they will be gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Frontier miles to book flights on other airlines?
No. Frontier miles can only be used for Frontier flights. You cannot transfer them to other airlines or use them for hotel stays or car rentals. This limits your options compared to miles from larger airlines that have partnerships with many other carriers.
What if I earn miles but then decide not to fly Frontier?
If your account goes 12 months without activity, your miles expire and you lose them. You can keep your account active by logging in to Frontier's website, but the miles themselves have no value unless you book a Frontier flight. There is no way to convert unused miles to cash or transfer them to someone else.
Does the card come with travel insurance or other protections?
The Frontier card typically includes some travel protections like trip delay reimbursement or baggage delay coverage, but these vary by card version. Check the card's terms document for the specific protections included. These are secondary benefits and should not be the main reason to open the card.
Can I earn miles on the card without flying Frontier?
Yes. You earn miles on all purchases made with the card, not just Frontier flights. However, you earn at a lower rate on non-Frontier purchases, so the card is most rewarding if you use it for everyday spending and also fly Frontier regularly.
What if Frontier discontinues this card?
If Frontier closes the card program, your existing miles stay in your frequent flyer account and remain valid for booking flights. However, you would lose the ability to earn new miles through a credit card. Frontier has run this card for many years, but airline card programs can change.