What the Frontier Airlines credit card offers
The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard is a co-branded card issued by Barclays that earns points on Frontier flights and everyday purchases. You earn 3 points per dollar on Frontier purchases, 1 point per dollar on all other spending, and a one-time bonus of 50,000 points after you spend $500 in the first 60 days. The card carries an annual fee of $99.
The card's main value comes from the points themselves. Frontier operates a revenue-based rewards program, meaning points are worth a fixed percentage of the ticket price rather than a set cent-per-point value. One point typically equals roughly 1% of a ticket's cost, though this varies by route and booking class. You can also use points toward seat upgrades, baggage fees, and other Frontier purchases.
Beyond points, the card includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay reimbursement, and emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling. There is no primary rental car damage waiver or trip delay reimbursement, which are common on premium airline cards.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 3 points per dollar on Frontier flights and 1 point per dollar elsewhere, with a $99 annual fee that you need to offset through redemptions.
- Points are worth roughly 1% of ticket cost, so a $300 ticket costs about 300 points — the value depends on what you book rather than a fixed cents-per-point rate.
- The 50,000-point sign-up bonus covers roughly one round-trip domestic ticket on Frontier, depending on the route.
- The card makes sense only if you fly Frontier regularly enough to earn back the $99 fee through points or if you value the travel protections included.
How the points redemption actually works
Frontier's points system is tied to ticket price, not seat availability or distance. When you search for a flight, Frontier shows you the base fare and tells you how many points that flight costs. A $150 flight might cost 150 points; a $400 flight might cost 400 points. This means your points go further on expensive routes and less far on cheap ones — the opposite of fixed-value programs like Southwest or United.
You can redeem points directly toward the full cost of a ticket, or you can use them to cover specific fees. Frontier charges separately for seat selection, checked bags, and carry-on bags on basic fares, and you can pay these with points. You can also use points to upgrade a seat or purchase a higher fare class after booking.
Points do not expire as long as your account remains active, but Frontier defines active as having a flight or account activity within 24 months. If your account goes dormant, you lose the points. For someone who flies Frontier infrequently, this is a real risk.
Annual fee versus what you actually earn
The $99 annual fee is the card's biggest hurdle. To break even, you need to earn at least $99 worth of points per year. On a $300 round-trip Frontier flight, you earn 900 points (3 points per dollar × $300). If that flight costs 300 points to book, your 900 points cover three round trips. The math works only if you fly Frontier enough to generate that value.
For someone who takes one Frontier round trip per year, the card likely costs more than it saves. For someone who takes four or more Frontier flights annually, the card can pay for itself through points alone. The sign-up bonus of 50,000 points helps offset the first year's fee — that bonus alone covers roughly one domestic round trip — but you still need ongoing spending to justify renewal.
Barclays does not offer an annual fee waiver for the first year, so you pay the $99 when ready upon approval. You should only open this card if you plan to use it within the first few months.
Who should consider this card
The Frontier card works best for people who fly Frontier at least three to four times per year and live in or near a Frontier hub. Frontier's route network is concentrated in the Mountain West and parts of the Midwest and Southeast, so the card is most useful if you have regular trips on those routes. If you live in a city where Frontier is your cheapest or only option to frequent destinations, the points add up quickly.
The card is less useful if you fly Frontier only occasionally or if you live somewhere with limited Frontier service. In that case, the $99 fee eats into any points you earn. It is also less useful if you primarily value airline status or premium cabin access — this card does not earn elite may have access to miles or offer status benefits.
The travel protections (trip cancellation, baggage delay, emergency medical) are a secondary benefit and are not strong enough to justify the card on their own. Most premium airline cards offer more comprehensive coverage.
How this card compares to other airline cards
The Frontier card's 3x earning rate on airline purchases is standard for co-branded cards. Southwest's card also earns 3x on Southwest flights. United and American cards typically earn 2x or 3x depending on the tier. The difference is in what the points are worth and how straightforward they are to use.
Frontier's revenue-based points system is less predictable than fixed-value programs. On Southwest, a point is always worth roughly 1 cent when redeemed for a flight. On Frontier, a point's value depends entirely on the ticket price. This makes it harder to plan redemptions and can feel less rewarding on cheap fares.
If you do not fly Frontier, a general-purpose rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold often delivers better value. These cards earn 2x to 5x points on travel and dining, and the points can be transferred to any airline partner or used for cash back. You avoid the $99 annual fee and the lock-in to a single airline.
What happens after you open the card
After approval, your account opens when ready and you can start earning points on purchases right away. You have 60 days to spend $500 to earn the 50,000-point sign-up bonus. Points post to your Frontier account within one to two billing cycles after the purchase posts to your card.
You manage your points through your Frontier account online or through the Frontier app. You can search for flights, see the point cost, and book directly with points. You can also call Frontier's reservations line to book with points if you prefer not to use the website.
Your annual fee renews on the anniversary of your account opening. Barclays does not offer a courtesy period to cancel before the fee posts, so mark your calendar if you plan to close the card. You can keep the card open and inactive if you want to preserve your points balance, but remember that your account will go dormant after 24 months of no activity, and dormant accounts lose their points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Frontier points on partner airlines?
No. Frontier points can only be redeemed on Frontier flights and Frontier-related purchases like seat upgrades and baggage fees. Frontier does not have a transfer partner program like American Express or Chase. If you want to use points on other airlines, you need a different card.
What is the sign-up bonus worth in real dollars?
The 50,000-point bonus is worth roughly $150 to $300 depending on the routes you fly. On a typical $150 domestic round trip, 50,000 points cover about one ticket. On expensive cross-country or connecting flights, the same points might cover less. There is no fixed dollar value because Frontier's points are tied to ticket price.
Do I earn points on taxes and fees when I book a Frontier flight?
Yes. When you use the Frontier Airlines credit card to pay for a Frontier flight, you earn 3 points per dollar on the entire charge, including taxes and government fees. This is one of the few ways to earn points on taxes, since most airline cards only count the base fare.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Frontier account and do not disappear when you close the card. However, your account becomes inactive if you do not fly or use your points within 24 months. Once dormant, Frontier will delete the points. You can keep the card open to preserve your points balance, but you will pay the annual fee each year.
Is there a way to avoid the annual fee?
No. Barclays does not waive the annual fee for the first year or offer a no-annual-fee version of the Frontier card. The fee posts when ready upon approval. If the fee does not make sense for your travel patterns, you should not open the card.