What Frontier Airlines Membership Covers

Frontier Airlines offers two membership tiers: Frontier Miles (free) and Frontier Elite (paid annual fee). The free tier earns you miles on every flight and partner purchase, with no annual cost. Elite membership costs money but adds priority boarding, free checked bags, and seat selection — benefits that matter if you fly Frontier regularly or want to avoid paying for each bag.

Neither membership is a credit card product. If you're comparing this to airline cards, the key difference is that membership is what you earn through flying or pay for directly, while an airline card ties those benefits to spending on the card itself. Some people hold both: they use a Frontier card to earn miles faster, then use their membership tier to unlock perks like free bags.

The free Miles membership is automatic when you book a Frontier flight or create an account. You accumulate miles at a base rate and can redeem them for flights, seat upgrades, or baggage fees. There's no spending minimum and no annual fee to maintain it.

Key Takeaways

  • Frontier Miles (free) lets you earn miles on flights and partner purchases with no annual cost, but doesn't include perks like free checked bags or priority boarding.
  • Frontier Elite requires an annual fee and adds benefits including one free checked bag per flight, priority boarding, and free seat selection — savings that add up if you fly Frontier multiple times a year.
  • Miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, or other travel expenses, but their value depends on when and how you use them.
  • A Frontier airline credit card and membership tier are separate: the card earns miles faster through spending, while membership determines what perks you unlock when you fly.

Frontier Elite Membership Benefits and Cost

Frontier Elite membership costs $99 per year (the price varies by region and may change). The main benefit is one free checked bag per flight — on Frontier, a checked bag normally costs $35 to $45 per flight, so the membership pays for itself in roughly two round trips if you check a bag both ways.

Elite members also get priority boarding (you board before general passengers), free seat selection (normally $15 to $35 per seat depending on location), and a 10% discount on most ancillary fees like baggage, seat upgrades, and pet fees. You earn miles at the same rate as free members, so the membership is purely about the perks, not accelerated earning.

The membership renews automatically each year on your anniversary date. You can cancel anytime through your account, and Frontier will not charge you again after the current year ends.

How to Earn and Redeem Miles

You earn one mile per dollar spent on Frontier flights booked directly with the airline. Partner airlines and codeshare flights may earn at different rates — check your receipt or account to confirm. You also earn miles through partner credit cards, hotels, car rentals, and shopping portals, though the rate varies by partner.

Miles never expire as long as your account remains active. An account is considered active if you earn or redeem miles at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive, Frontier may close it and forfeit your miles, though you can reactivate it by flying or earning miles again.

To redeem miles, log into your Frontier account and search for award flights. You can book a one-way or round-trip flight using miles, or use miles to pay for part of a ticket (called a "mixed redemption"). You can also use miles to cover baggage fees, seat selection, or other fees at checkout. Award flight availability varies by route and date — popular flights and times book out faster.

Miles Value and Redemption Strategy

The value of a Frontier mile depends on what you redeem it for. A mile used toward a $300 flight is worth roughly 0.3 cents, while a mile used toward a $100 baggage fee is worth 1 cent. Redeeming miles for flights on off-peak dates or less popular routes typically gives you better value than peak travel times.

Frontier's award chart is not fixed — prices in miles fluctuate based on demand, similar to how cash fares work. A flight might cost 10,000 miles on a Tuesday and 15,000 miles on a Friday. This means timing matters: booking further in advance or choosing flexible dates can lower the mile cost.

Many people find the best value in using miles for domestic flights under 3 hours, where the cash price is lower and the mile redemption is more straightforward. International flights and premium cabin upgrades tend to have less predictable value.

Comparing Frontier Membership to an Airline Card

A Frontier airline credit card earns miles on every purchase you make with the card, not just flights. If you spend $10,000 per year on the card, you might earn 10,000 to 15,000 bonus miles plus ongoing earning, which could cover several free flights. The card also typically includes perks like a free checked bag or seat selection as a cardholder benefit.

Membership (free or Elite) is what you earn through flying or what you pay for directly. It determines what perks you unlock when you board a Frontier flight. A credit card is a spending tool that accelerates mile earning and may include some of the same perks as Elite membership.

The two work together: you use a Frontier card to earn miles faster, then use your membership tier to unlock perks like free bags. If you don't fly Frontier often, the free Miles membership plus a card might be enough. If you fly Frontier several times a year, Elite membership ($99/year) plus a card could be worth the cost.

How to Enroll and Manage Your Account

To join Frontier Miles, visit Frontier's website and create an account, or enroll when you book your first flight. You'll provide your name, email, and date of birth. Enrollment is when ready and free.

To upgrade to Elite, log into your account and select the Elite membership option. You'll pay the annual fee ($99 or the current price) and your membership begins when ready. Your benefits take effect right away, so if you have an upcoming flight, you can use your priority boarding and free checked bag on that trip.

You can view your miles balance, upcoming flights, and account settings in the Frontier app or on the website. You can also link a credit card to your account to earn miles on purchases, and manage your membership renewal settings.

When Frontier Membership Makes Financial Sense

Free Miles membership makes sense for anyone who flies Frontier occasionally. There's no cost, and you accumulate miles that you can use later. Even if you only fly once a year, you're building a balance toward a future free flight or fee waiver.

Elite membership ($99/year) makes financial sense if you fly Frontier at least two or three times per year and check a bag. Each checked bag normally costs $35 to $45, so two round trips with checked bags ($140 to $180 in bag fees) covers the annual membership cost. If you also value priority boarding or seat selection, the math improves further.

If you fly Frontier once a year or less, or never check bags, the free tier is sufficient. You still earn miles, and you can pay for perks as needed on individual flights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my miles if I don't fly for a while?

Miles don't expire as long as your account is active. An account stays active if you earn or redeem miles at least once every 24 months. If you don't fly or earn miles for two years, Frontier may close your account and forfeit your balance. You can reactivate by flying or earning miles again.

Can I transfer my miles to someone else?

Frontier does not allow direct mile transfers between accounts. However, you can use your miles to book a flight for another person if you have their name and date of birth. Some promotions allow you to gift miles, but this is not a standard feature.

What happens to my Elite membership if I cancel?

If you cancel Elite membership mid-year, you keep your benefits through the end of your current membership period. You won't be charged again after that date. Your free Miles account remains active, and you continue earning miles at the base rate.

How do I know if an award flight is available?

Search for your desired flight in the Frontier app or website and select "Award Travel" as the payment method. If award seats are available, you'll see the mile cost. If no seats appear, that flight is sold out for award bookings on that date. Try different dates or times to find availability.

Can I use miles to pay for part of a ticket?

Yes. Frontier allows mixed redemptions, where you pay for part of a ticket with miles and the rest with cash. This is useful if you don't have enough miles for a full award flight, or if the cash price is lower than the mile value on that particular flight.