Frontier lets you buy miles directly, but the price per mile is usually higher than earning them through credit card spending

Frontier Airlines sells miles through its website under the "Buy Miles" section of its frequent flyer program, called Frontier Miles. You can purchase miles in bundles ranging from 1,000 to 1 million miles at a time. The price per mile varies based on how many you buy — larger purchases cost less per mile, but even the best rate is typically between 1.5 and 2 cents per mile, which is expensive compared to what you pay when you earn miles through a co-branded credit card.

Buying miles makes sense only in specific situations: you are 5,000 or 10,000 miles short of a ticket you want to book, you have a limited time to use miles before they expire, or you want to top up an account for someone else. For most people, earning miles through everyday spending on a Frontier credit card is a better use of money.

Key Takeaways

  • Frontier sells miles directly on its website in bundles of 1,000 to 1 million, with prices that drop as you buy more.
  • The cost per mile usually ranges from 1.5 to 2 cents, making it more expensive than earning miles through credit card rewards.
  • Miles purchased directly do not expire as long as your account remains active, but miles earned through credit cards may have their own expiration rules.
  • Buying miles is most practical when you need a small number to complete a booking or when you are close to a redemption threshold.

How the pricing structure works

Frontier's mile pricing is tiered. A small purchase of 1,000 miles might cost around 20 dollars, while 10,000 miles might cost 140 dollars, and 100,000 miles might cost 1,200 dollars. The exact prices change, so you should check Frontier's website directly before deciding to buy. The larger the bundle, the lower the per-mile cost, but even at the best rate, you are still paying significantly more than the value you would get from a credit card bonus.

Compare this to a Frontier co-branded credit card, which typically offers a sign-up bonus of 50,000 to 75,000 miles for meeting a spending requirement. That bonus alone is worth far more than what you would pay to buy the same number of miles outright. Even ongoing rewards — usually 2 to 3 miles per dollar spent on Frontier purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases — accumulate faster and cheaper than direct purchases.

When buying miles makes practical sense

The most common reason to buy miles is to bridge a small gap. If you have 45,000 miles and a one-way ticket costs 50,000, buying 5,000 miles for roughly 75 to 100 dollars might be worth it if the cash price for that ticket is much higher. Before you buy, price the ticket in dollars on Frontier's website and compare it to the cost of the miles you need. If the dollar price is close to or lower than what you would spend on miles, book with cash instead.

Another scenario is account activity. Frontier Miles expire if your account has no activity for 24 months. If you have miles sitting unused and they are about to expire, buying a small number of miles to top up an account and keep it active might be cheaper than losing the miles you already have. However, this is rare — most people either use their miles or let the account close.

How to buy miles on Frontier's website

Log into your Frontier Miles account on Frontier's website. Look for the "Buy Miles" option, usually found in the account menu or rewards section. Select the number of miles you want to purchase from the available bundles. Frontier will show you the total cost before you confirm. Payment is processed by credit card, and the miles appear in your account when ready after the transaction completes.

Keep your receipt or confirmation email. Miles purchased directly are non-refundable, so if you change your mind or make a mistake, Frontier will not reverse the transaction. Double-check the bundle size and total cost before you click to confirm.

Comparing buying miles to earning them through credit cards

A Frontier World Mastercard or Frontier Card typically earns 2 to 3 miles per dollar on Frontier purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. If you spend 5,000 dollars on the card in a year, you earn 5,000 to 15,000 miles depending on how much you spend on Frontier versus other merchants. That same 5,000 to 15,000 miles would cost you 75 to 300 dollars to buy outright.

The sign-up bonus alone — often 50,000 to 75,000 miles — is worth 750 to 1,500 dollars in mile value at the typical purchase price. Even if you pay an annual fee of 75 to 99 dollars for the card, you come out far ahead compared to buying miles directly. The only exception is if you never use the card and never meet the spending threshold, in which case the annual fee is wasted money.

What happens to miles you buy

Miles you purchase are added to your Frontier Miles account balance when ready. They are treated the same as miles you earn through credit card spending or flying — you can use them to book flights, upgrade seats, or transfer them to a travel partner in some cases (though Frontier's transfer policy is limited). Purchased miles do not expire as long as your account remains active, which means you have time to use them without pressure.

If your account becomes inactive for 24 months with no flights, credit card activity, or mile purchases, Frontier may close it and forfeit any remaining miles. To keep an account active, you need at least one may have access to activity every two years. Buying miles counts as activity, so if you buy even a small number of miles, it resets your inactivity clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy miles as a gift for someone else?

Frontier does not offer a direct gift option for miles. However, you can purchase miles into your own account and then transfer them to a family member or friend in some cases, depending on Frontier's current transfer policy. Contact Frontier customer service to ask about transfer options before you buy.

Do purchased miles expire?

No, purchased miles do not expire as long as your account is active. However, if your account has no activity for 24 months, Frontier may close it and forfeit all remaining miles, including ones you bought. Any activity — a flight, a credit card purchase, or buying more miles — resets the inactivity timer.

Is there a limit to how many miles I can buy at once?

Frontier allows purchases up to 1 million miles at a time, though very large purchases may require you to contact customer service. There is no stated annual limit on total mile purchases, but extremely large purchases might trigger additional verification.

What if I buy miles and then find a cheaper flight?

Miles purchased through Frontier are non-refundable. If you buy miles and then find a cheaper cash fare, you cannot get your money back. Always compare the cash price to the mile price before you buy.

How do purchased miles compare to miles from a sign-up bonus?

Purchased miles and bonus miles work identically once they are in your account. The difference is cost: a 50,000-mile sign-up bonus costs you nothing except meeting a spending requirement, while buying 50,000 miles costs 750 to 1,000 dollars. The bonus is always the better deal.