For travelers who rely on Frontier Airlines to keep airfare costs low, the carrier’s loyalty program supplies concrete tools to offset the many add-on fees that come with ultra-low-cost travel. Members accumulate both redeemable miles and elite status points through flights, a co-branded credit card and select partners, with recent updates to earning rates and qualification thresholds shaping how quickly benefits become available. The program remains free to join and ties rewards directly to spending rather than distance flown.
Earning Through Flights, the Credit Card and Partners
Frontier Miles uses a revenue-based system in which miles and elite status points accrue according to the dollar amount spent on the ticket and any extras purchased. Rates vary by elite tier, fare bundle type and whether the traveler holds the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard, with bundled fares now delivering substantially higher returns than basic fares for bookings made on or after September 1. Cardmembers receive an extra boost on Frontier purchases, while the card itself awards 5 miles per dollar on eligible Frontier spending, 3 miles at restaurants and 1 mile on other purchases, plus 1 elite status point per dollar spent overall. New card applicants can receive 60,000 bonus miles after meeting spending and annual-fee requirements in the first 90 days, along with a temporary path to Elite Gold status. Hotel partners such as Marriott Bonvoy and Wyndham Rewards allow members to earn 1 to 2 Frontier miles per dollar spent at participating properties, though participants must switch their earning preference away from hotel points. Additional options include rental-car partners, flower orders through Teleflora and cruise bookings that credit preset mile amounts based on trip length.
Redeeming Miles for Flights and Bundles
Award flights begin at 5,000 miles one way in basic economy, with Economy, Premium and Business options starting at 7,000, 9,000 and 13,000 miles respectively. Taxes and fees remain modest on many domestic routes but rise for international destinations, and no blackout dates apply. Members can also apply miles to bundles that include seat selection and baggage, with Economy bundles available from 2,000 miles when the option is selected at booking. A concrete illustration appears on routes such as Denver to Atlanta, where 5,000 miles plus roughly $6 in taxes covers a basic one-way ticket. Similar low-mileage redemptions exist on longer itineraries with connections, allowing members to stretch smaller balances across multiple trips. This flexibility helps counter the extra costs that often accumulate on basic fares.
Elite Status Tiers and Changing Qualification Rules
Frontier adjusted its elite thresholds in August 2026, lowering the top Diamond tier to 75,000 elite status points while keeping Silver at 10,000, Gold at 20,000 and Platinum at 50,000 points for the remainder of the year. Beginning January 1, 2027, Silver and Gold requirements rise to 15,000 and 25,000 points, respectively, while Platinum and Diamond stay at 50,000 and 75,000. Status earned in one calendar year remains valid through the end of the following year. Current benefits scale with each tier. Silver members avoid change fees more than seven days before departure and receive priority boarding and family miles pooling. Gold adds a carry-on bag and Group 1 boarding. Platinum extends carry-on and checked-bag allowances to the entire party, plus companion travel and pet-fee waivers. Diamond further includes refundability and priority boarding for everyone on the reservation. Updated benefits effective in 2027 introduce space-available upgrades at different advance windows for each tier and replace unlimited companion travel at Platinum with two certificates.
Discount Den, GoWild and Fast-Track Options
Beyond the core program, Frontier sells a Discount Den membership for $59.99 annually after a first-year enrollment fee, granting access to discounted fares and “Kids Fly Free” promotions on select flights. The GoWild all-you-can-fly pass, currently priced at $249 for fall and winter travel through February 2027, permits confirmed bookings the day before domestic departures. Both memberships generate elite status points when purchased. Travelers can accelerate status through the co-branded credit card, which awards 1 elite status point per dollar spent, or by monitoring occasional status-match promotions. These routes allow members to reach perks without relying solely on flight spending. Frequent Frontier passengers who combine miles redemptions, elite benefits and targeted memberships often find meaningful reductions in the total cost of travel. The program’s value ultimately hinges on how closely an individual’s routes and booking habits align with the airline’s network and fee structure.
