Anyone flown Frontier?

[Anonymous]

What's it like? They are the cheapest by far on an upcoming trip I'm taking...

[Anonymous]

They're fine, except for the extra fees. As I recall, not only do you have to pay checked bag fees for every bag you check, but they'll charge you for any carry-ons beyond your one personal item.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're fine, except for the extra fees. As I recall, not only do you have to pay checked bag fees for every bag you check, but they'll charge you for any carry-ons beyond your one personal item.

The fare difference is so significant I imagine it would still be a better deal for me. How do seats work? Are they assigned?

[Anonymous]

Frontier saves money by having few planes in each airport. Thus if your plane has a mechanical problem, your flight might be canceled and the next available one not until the next day at best. A work colleague of mine had to wait 2 extra nights in Florida due to the next day's flight already being oversold.

[Anonymous]

We just flew them IAD to Orlando about three weeks ago. We paid a $5 pp fee to reserve each seat in advance. We also paid $20 per bag to book three suitcases. We each took a "personal item" on the plane (backpacks or purses) and that was free.
Our flight was clean, on time, and the staff was friendly. No complaints here!

[Anonymous]

If you're going to fly Frontier, book directly through them - you will pay fewer/lower fees on many different levels, including seat assignments.
I haven't flown them since they were sold last December to a private equity group that had previously been heavily involved in Spirit Airlines - that's definitely the direction they are taking Frontier as well. Ignore pretty much all pre-2014 feedback as I've heard the customer service experience has changed dramatically.
Is there a connection? Is it the last flight of the day? Either of those puts you at risk of major disruption if there's any hiccup with the first flight - they just don't have the fleet capacity to reschedule entire planeloads in an efficient manner.
Basically, caveat emptor.

[Anonymous]

$3 for a seat assignment.
Make sure you study the bag fees. They are completely convoluted. I knew that I had paid for my bag, but the agent was confused and tried to charge me again. Checking my bag took a lot more arguing than it should've.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! I will keep all of this in mind! If I go this route, the flight will be direct thankfully.

[Anonymous]

On the flight I flew a few months ago, they also made you bring your carry-on bag up front to be measured before boarding. If it was over the exact measurements they specify, they charged you a significant amount to check it ($50 I think - but I could be wrong). It was kind of bizarre.

I definitely got the feel that it was a super budget airline trying to make money on each and every fee. Nothing wrong with budget airlines, but there certainly weren't any pretenses in my experience

[Anonymous]

They have a fee per bag. When traveling w/ the kids we pack 2 peoples stuff in one bag. Then we only have 2 checked bags for the 4 of us. Just have to stay below the weight/size limit. Verify limits b/c each airline is different.

[Anonymous]

They have AWFUL customer service if anything goes wrong.

[Anonymous]

And, if you pre-pay for the bags, it is cheaper (pre-pay online - not at the airport). If I recall, checking luggage was cheaper than a carry on - they are evidently discouraging carry on, which is fine with me - can’t stand boarding an airplane and waiting while someone tries to stuff their over-size bag in the overhead.
Also, they charge you for printing a ticket, so print at home before you leave.
It is a good deal, if you are aware of the extra fees - basically, they charge for everything. Even water.
Take a drink and a snack.

[Anonymous]

I'm flying them tomorrow for the first time tomorrow. From Dulles to Memphis nonstop. The flight was dirt cheap.

I hope it goes well, I'm travelling with my 15 month old. Wish me luck.

[Anonymous]

Flying them to Cancun this weekend.

Pray for me.

[Anonymous]

Just flew to Ft Lauderdale from Dulles. $100 RT. DH carried on a small duffel and I carried a large hand bag (size of beach bag). Not charged for them. No complaints. Oh, and paid $20 extra for more room in emergency exit row.