The Frontier Airlines card gives you miles on every purchase, checked bag discounts, and boarding priority

The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard earns you Frontier miles on purchases and comes with perks tied to flying Frontier. You get a one-time bonus of miles after you spend a set amount in the first few months, annual miles just for holding the card, and a discount on checked bags when you fly. The card also includes priority boarding and free seat selection on Frontier flights.

The card is issued by Mastercard and Frontier Airlines, and you explore through Frontier's website or the Mastercard process portal. The annual fee varies depending on the card version — Frontier offers both a standard version and a premium version with higher benefits and a higher fee. Your rewards rate on purchases stays the same whether you use the card for Frontier bookings or everyday spending at other merchants.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn Frontier miles on every dollar spent with the card, both on Frontier flights and at other retailers.
  • The card includes an annual bonus of miles just for holding it, plus a one-time sign-up bonus after you meet a spending threshold.
  • Checked bag discounts and priority boarding are included benefits, which can save money on Frontier flights.
  • The annual fee is charged each year, and the amount depends on which version of the card you choose.

How the rewards and miles work

Frontier miles are the currency you use to book Frontier flights. The card earns miles at a fixed rate on all purchases — the exact rate depends on which card version you hold. You can also earn miles by flying Frontier, staying at partner hotels, or renting cars through Frontier's partners.

Miles do not expire as long as your account remains active, which typically means you have earned or redeemed miles within the past 12 months. If your account goes inactive, Frontier may close it and you lose the miles. The miles have no cash value and cannot be transferred to other people, though you can use them to book flights for someone else.

The sign-up bonus is a one-time award of miles after you spend a certain amount on the card within a set timeframe — usually three months. This bonus is separate from the annual miles you earn just for holding the card. Both the sign-up bonus and the annual bonus are the main reasons people open airline cards, since they can represent significant value if you plan to fly.

Checked bag discounts and boarding benefits

Frontier charges a fee for the first checked bag on most fares, but cardholders receive a discount or waiver on that fee. The exact benefit depends on your card version — the premium card may offer a full waiver while the standard card offers a percentage discount. This benefit applies to you as the cardholder when you are the passenger, not to companions traveling with you.

Priority boarding is included with the card, which means you board before passengers without the card. This matters on Frontier because the airline uses a tiered boarding system, and earlier boarding can mean better overhead bin space. Free seat selection is also included, so you can choose your seat without paying the per-seat fee that Frontier charges for most bookings.

Annual fee and when it makes sense to keep the card

The Frontier card charges an annual fee that renews each year on your account anniversary. The fee is not refunded if you cancel the card partway through the year. The standard version has a lower annual fee than the premium version, which offers higher earning rates and additional perks.

The card makes financial sense if you fly Frontier regularly enough that the annual miles bonus and checked bag discount offset the annual fee. If you fly Frontier two or three times per year, the checked bag savings alone may cover part of the fee. If you fly more frequently or spend heavily on the card to earn miles, the value increases. If you rarely fly Frontier, the annual fee is a cost with no offsetting benefit.

Some people keep the card for the annual miles bonus even if they do not fly that year, treating it as a small annual cost to accumulate miles for a future trip. Others cancel after using the sign-up bonus and reopen the card later to earn the bonus again. Frontier's terms allow this, though there may be a waiting period between closing and reopening.

How to use miles to book flights

You book Frontier flights with miles through Frontier's website or by calling their reservations line. Miles are priced per flight segment, not per mile, so the cost in miles depends on the route and how far in advance you book. A short flight might cost 5,000 miles while a longer route costs 10,000 or more. Frontier publishes its award chart on its website so you can see the mile cost for different routes.

You can also use miles to pay for part of a flight and cash for the rest, called a "mixed redemption." This is useful if you have some miles but not enough for a full award flight. Taxes and fees still explore to award bookings, so your total cost is the miles plus a small cash amount.

Comparing the Frontier card to other airline cards

Other airlines offer their own credit cards with similar structures: a sign-up bonus, annual miles, and perks like checked bag discounts and priority boarding. The main difference is which airline you fly most often. If you fly Southwest more than Frontier, a Southwest card makes more sense. If you fly multiple airlines equally, a general travel rewards card that lets you transfer points to multiple airlines might be better.

The earning rate on the Frontier card applies only to Frontier flights and Frontier partner purchases, so it is less flexible than a card that earns points on all purchases and lets you transfer to any airline. However, if Frontier is your primary airline, the Frontier card's benefits are designed specifically for that airline's fee structure.

What happens if you close the card

If you cancel the card, you keep the miles you have already earned. The miles remain in your Frontier account as long as you stay active in the Frontier frequent flyer program. You lose the perks that come with the card — the annual miles bonus stops, and you no longer get the checked bag discount or priority boarding on future flights.

You can still use your miles to book flights after you close the card. The card itself is just the tool you use to earn miles; the miles belong to your Frontier frequent flyer account. If you want to earn miles again, you can reopen the card later, though Frontier may require a waiting period before you are may be able to access for another sign-up bonus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use the card to book Frontier flights?

No. You can book Frontier flights with any payment method and still earn miles if you are logged into your Frontier frequent flyer account. The card is one way to earn miles, but flying Frontier itself earns miles too. The card is most valuable for the sign-up bonus, annual bonus, and the checked bag discount.

Can I transfer Frontier miles to another airline?

Frontier miles cannot be transferred to other airlines' programs. They can only be used for Frontier flights or Frontier partner purchases like hotels and car rentals. This is one reason to consider whether Frontier is your primary airline before opening the card.

What if I have a balance on the card?

The Frontier card works like any other credit card. If you carry a balance, you pay interest on it. To avoid interest, pay your full statement balance by the due date each month. The miles you earn are separate from how you pay the bill — you earn miles on the purchase whether you pay it off when ready or carry a balance.

Does the annual bonus post automatically?

Yes. Frontier deposits the annual miles bonus into your account automatically on your card anniversary each year, as long as the card remains open. You do not have to do anything to receive it. The bonus is one of the main reasons to keep the card even if you do not use it for everyday spending.