The Frontier Card Rewards You for Flying Frontier Airlines
The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard gives you points on every dollar you spend, with bonus points when you book flights directly through Frontier. You earn one point per dollar on all purchases, and the card comes with a sign-up bonus — the exact amount changes by offer, so check Frontier's website for the current promotion. Those points convert to Frontier flight discounts or free flights, which is the main reason to carry this card if you fly Frontier regularly.
The card also waives Frontier's baggage fees for you and one companion on the same reservation. That alone saves money if you check a bag on every trip, since Frontier charges for the first and second checked bags. You get priority boarding, which means you board before basic economy passengers and have a better chance of overhead bin space.
Key Takeaways
- You earn one point per dollar on all purchases, with bonus points for Frontier bookings, and points redeem as flight discounts or free flights.
- The card waives baggage fees for you and one companion, saving $35 to $70 per round trip if you check bags.
- Priority boarding comes with the card, letting you board earlier and claim overhead bin space before basic economy passengers.
- An annual fee applies — the amount varies by offer — so the card makes financial sense only if you fly Frontier at least a few times per year.
- The card is a Mastercard, so you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted, not just for Frontier bookings.
How Points Add Up and What They're Worth
Every dollar you spend earns one point, whether you're buying groceries, paying utilities, or booking a flight. When you book a Frontier flight directly on Frontier.com using the card, you earn bonus points on top of the base point — the bonus amount varies by promotion. Points don't expire as long as your account stays open and active, so you can let them accumulate if you're saving for a bigger redemption.
Points redeem as statement credits toward Frontier flights, or you can use them to pay for a full ticket outright. The value depends on the flight price and how many points you use, but generally one point is worth roughly one cent when redeemed for a flight. That means a $500 flight costs around 50,000 points. You can also transfer points to Frontier's loyalty program if you have one, though that's mainly useful if you're already a frequent flyer there.
Annual Fee and When the Card Pays for Itself
The Frontier card charges an annual fee. The exact amount changes depending on current offers, so you'll see it clearly before you accept the card terms. To decide whether the fee is worth it, think about your actual Frontier spending. If you fly Frontier once or twice a year and check a bag, the baggage fee waiver alone ($35 to $70 per round trip) can cover the annual cost. Add in the points you earn on everyday purchases and flights, and the card often breaks even or comes out ahead for regular Frontier travelers.
If you fly Frontier less than once a year or never check bags, the annual fee is harder to justify. The points you earn on non-Frontier spending accumulate slowly, and you won't see the baggage savings. In that case, a no-annual-fee card that earns cash back on all purchases might serve you better.
Comparing the Frontier Card to Other Airline Cards
Airline cards work best when you fly that airline regularly. The Frontier card rewards Frontier flights and Frontier-specific perks like baggage waivers. If you split your flying between Frontier and other carriers, you might earn points faster with a general travel card that gives the same earning rate on all airlines, or a cash-back card that lets you book any airline you choose.
Other airline cards offer different trade-offs. Some have higher annual fees but come with a free flight certificate each year, which can be worth $200 or more. Others waive baggage fees for your whole family, not just one companion. The Frontier card is straightforward: you get points, baggage savings, and priority boarding. If those three things match how you travel, it's worth comparing to what you'd earn with a different card over a year of actual spending.
How to Use the Card Beyond Frontier Flights
The Frontier card is a Mastercard, so you can use it everywhere Mastercard is accepted — grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, online shopping, utility bills, everything. You earn the same one point per dollar on all of it. This matters because most of your spending probably isn't on flights. If you spend $2,000 a month on non-flight purchases, that's 24,000 points a year just from everyday life, which could cover a domestic flight or two depending on the price.
Some cardholders use the card as their everyday card and let points accumulate, then redeem them for a free flight once a year. Others use it only for Frontier bookings and keep a different card for daily spending. Neither approach is wrong — it depends on whether the points you earn on everyday purchases make the annual fee worthwhile for you.
Sign-Up Bonuses and Current Offers
Frontier periodically runs sign-up bonuses for new cardholders. These bonuses give you a large number of points just for opening the account and meeting a spending requirement within the first few months — usually something like $1,000 or $1,500 in purchases. The bonus amount changes, so check Frontier's official website or the card issuer's site to see what's current. A sign-up bonus can be worth $100 to $200 in flight value, which can offset the annual fee in your first year.
Sign-up bonuses are one-time offers, so you can't earn them repeatedly by opening and closing the account. If you're thinking about getting the card, it's worth timing it with a bonus offer if one is running. Just make sure you can meet the spending requirement without forcing purchases you wouldn't normally make — the bonus is only valuable if the card itself makes sense for your travel patterns.
Things to Know Before You explore
The card issuer will run a hard credit inquiry when you explore, which can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points. If you're planning to explore for a mortgage or car loan soon, you might want to wait. The card requires a credit history and a Social Security number, and approval depends on your credit score and payment history — there's no may provide of approval.
Once you have the card, the baggage waiver and priority boarding are automatic — you don't have to do anything to set up them. You just present the card when you check in. Points post to your account within a few days of a purchase. If you stop using the card and let the account sit inactive, Frontier may close it after a period of time, which would also close any points balance you had, so keep the account open if you're saving points for a future flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I earn bonus points on Frontier flights booked with the card?
Yes. You earn the base one point per dollar plus bonus points when you book directly on Frontier.com using the card. The bonus amount varies by promotion. Booking through a third-party site or paying cash doesn't earn the bonus.
Can I use my points on other airlines?
No. Frontier points redeem only for Frontier flights or Frontier-related purchases. You cannot transfer them to other airline programs or use them with partner airlines. If you want flexibility across multiple carriers, a general travel card might suit you better.
Does the baggage fee waiver cover my whole family?
The waiver covers you and one companion on the same reservation. Your spouse, kids, or other family members on a different booking would need to pay baggage fees unless they also have the card. Some other airline cards waive fees for the whole family, so compare if that matters to you.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Points are tied to your Frontier account, not the card itself. If you close the card, your points stay in your Frontier account as long as you keep that account active. You can still redeem them for flights. However, if your Frontier account becomes inactive for an extended period, Frontier may close it and you could lose the points.
Is there a way to avoid the annual fee?
The annual fee is part of the card terms — there's no version without it. If the fee doesn't make sense for your travel, you can decline the card or close it after the first year. Some cardholders close the card after redeeming a sign-up bonus if they don't fly Frontier regularly enough to justify keeping it open.