What Frontier Airlines Membership Covers

Frontier Airlines offers a paid membership program called Frontier Miles, which is their frequent flyer program. Unlike some airline memberships that charge an annual fee just to join, Frontier Miles itself is free to enroll in — you earn points (called miles) every time you fly with them or use their co-branded credit card. The membership gives you the ability to redeem those miles for flights, seat upgrades, and other perks.

If you fly Frontier regularly, the real value comes from their co-branded credit card, which is issued by a bank partner. This card charges an annual fee (the amount varies and changes over time) and gives you a sign-up bonus of miles, miles on every purchase, and benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding. The card is what transforms casual flying into a rewards program that actually saves money.

Frontier also runs periodic promotions where they offer elite status tiers — like Silver, Gold, and Platinum — if you spend enough money on the card or fly enough segments in a calendar year. These tiers come with perks like free seat upgrades, priority boarding, and bonus miles on flights.

Key Takeaways

  • Frontier Miles, the free frequent flyer program, costs nothing to join but requires you to fly Frontier or use their credit card to earn miles.
  • The Frontier co-branded credit card charges an annual fee and is where most of the membership value comes from — it includes a sign-up bonus, miles on purchases, and free checked bags.
  • Elite status tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum) are earned by spending on the card or flying a certain number of segments, and they unlock upgrades and bonus miles.
  • Miles can be redeemed for Frontier flights, seat upgrades, and partner airline tickets, though the redemption value varies by route and season.

How to Enroll in Frontier Miles

You can enroll in the free Frontier Miles program directly on Frontier's website or through their mobile app. Go to the Frontier Airlines homepage, look for the "Frequent Flyer" or "Frontier Miles" link, and click "Enroll" or "Join Now." You will need to provide your name, email address, date of birth, and a password. The process takes about five minutes and is when ready — you get a membership number right away.

Once enrolled, your membership number appears in your account dashboard. You should add this number to your Frontier profile before you book your next flight, so miles automatically post to your account when you fly. If you forget to add it before booking, you can usually request miles be added retroactively within a certain window (typically 90 days), but it is easier to add it upfront.

If you already have a Frontier account from booking flights, you may already have a Frontier Miles account created automatically. Log in to your existing account and check your profile — your membership number should be there.

The Frontier Credit Card and Annual Fees

The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard is the co-branded credit card issued in partnership with Frontier. It charges an annual fee, which the bank adjusts periodically. You can find the current fee on the card's product page on Frontier's website or the issuing bank's website. The card typically waives the first-year fee for new cardholders, then charges the annual fee on your anniversary date each year after.

The card comes with a sign-up bonus — usually a large number of miles if you spend a certain amount within the first few months of opening the account. It also earns miles on every dollar you spend, both on Frontier flights and on everyday purchases. Most importantly, the card includes benefits like a free checked bag on Frontier flights, priority boarding, and discounts on seat upgrades.

Whether the card makes financial sense depends on how often you fly Frontier and how much you value those perks. If you fly Frontier at least once or twice a year and check a bag, the free checked bag alone can offset the annual fee. If you rarely fly Frontier, the card is probably not worth the cost.

How to Earn and Redeem Miles

You earn Frontier Miles in three main ways: by flying Frontier flights, by using the Frontier credit card, and by shopping through Frontier's online mall (where you earn miles when you make purchases at partner retailers). The number of miles you earn per flight depends on the distance and the fare class you purchased — a short flight on a basic economy ticket earns fewer miles than a long flight on a higher fare class.

To redeem miles, log into your Frontier Miles account, search for a flight, and select "Pay with Miles" instead of a credit card. You can also use miles to upgrade your seat, purchase a checked bag, or add other services. The number of miles required varies by route, date, and demand — a flight might cost 5,000 miles in the off-season and 10,000 miles during peak travel times.

Miles do not expire as long as you have account activity (flying or earning miles) at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive for more than two years, your miles may be forfeited, though you can usually reactivate your account by flying or using the credit card again.

Elite Status Tiers and Benefits

Frontier offers three elite status levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. You earn status by flying a certain number of segments (one-way flights count as one segment) or by spending a certain amount on the Frontier credit card in a calendar year. The thresholds change annually, so check Frontier's website for the current year's requirements.

Each tier unlocks progressively better perks. Silver members typically get priority boarding and bonus miles on flights. Gold members add free seat upgrades and additional baggage allowances. Platinum members get the most perks, including complimentary upgrades on more flights and higher bonus mile multipliers. Elite status is valid for the calendar year you earn it, plus the following calendar year (so if you reach Gold in November, you stay Gold through the end of the next year).

Most people earn elite status through the credit card spending requirement rather than flying alone, since Frontier's base fares are low and flights alone would require a lot of travel to hit the segment threshold.

Comparing Frontier Membership to Other Airline Programs

Frontier's program is simpler than some major airline frequent flyer programs but offers fewer perks than carriers like United or American. The main advantage of Frontier membership is that the credit card includes a free checked bag, which saves money on every trip if you check luggage. Most other airline cards do not include this benefit, or they charge extra for it.

Frontier miles are generally worth less per mile than miles from larger carriers, meaning you need more miles to book the same flight. However, Frontier's base fares are also lower, so the total cost (miles plus out-of-pocket) can still be competitive. The best use of Frontier miles is usually to book short-haul flights or to upgrade your seat, rather than to book long international flights.

If you fly multiple airlines, you might earn miles faster with a major carrier's program. But if you fly Frontier regularly — even just a few times a year — the free checked bag benefit on the credit card usually makes the membership worthwhile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to get the credit card to earn miles?

No. You can earn miles by flying Frontier flights alone, even without the credit card. However, you earn miles much faster with the card because you earn on every purchase, not just flights. The card is optional but recommended if you fly Frontier more than once or twice a year.

What happens to my miles if I close the credit card?

Your miles stay in your Frontier Miles account and do not disappear when you close the card. However, if you close the card and stop flying Frontier, your account will eventually become inactive (after 24 months with no activity), and your miles may be forfeited. As long as you fly Frontier or use another way to earn miles, your balance is safe.

Can I transfer Frontier miles to another person?

Frontier does not allow direct transfers of miles between accounts. However, you can purchase miles as a gift or use your miles to buy a ticket for someone else. Check Frontier's website for current policies on gifting miles or purchasing miles for others.

How do I know how many miles my flight earned?

Log into your Frontier Miles account and check your account history or transaction log. Miles typically post within 24 hours of your flight. If you flew with your membership number attached to the booking, the miles should appear automatically. If you flew without adding your membership number, contact Frontier customer service with your booking confirmation and they can add the miles retroactively.

Are there blackout dates for redeeming Frontier miles?

Frontier does not publish a blackout date calendar like some other airlines. However, miles redemptions are subject to seat availability, which means popular flights during peak travel times may have few or no seats available for miles redemption. Off-peak flights typically have more availability and lower mile costs.