10 Common Traveler Complaints About Frontier Airlines

The 2026 Spirit shutdown left travelers with fewer budget airline options, including Frontier Airlines. Frontier and its competitor, Allegiant, are arguably the two most popular ultra-low-cost carriers remaining for domestic travelers in the United States. With its unlimited GoWild travel pass system and extremely low base fares, Frontier, in particular, may be appealing to those looking to save money on airfare. However, the brand's "no frills" business model can lead to more than a few issues.

Around the web, past Frontier passengers complain about various problems, from the airline's à la carte pricing to horribly uncomfortable seats to a complete lack of helpful customer service when service disruptions arise. Here, we'll look at 10 of the most common traveler complaints about Frontier Airlines. Managing expectations is key when flying with any budget airline, so we will also look at ways to prepare for or handle these problems before they ruin your vacation.

To compile this guide, we turned largely to firsthand accounts of Frontier flights across Facebook, Reddit, and Tripadvisor. We also used details from high-authority sites and blogs like NerdWallet and Live and Let's Fly, as well as official Frontier Airlines policies in some cases.

Frontier's eye-popping fares, which are advertised as being as low as $19 one-way during select promotions, are among the airline's biggest selling points, but the base fare cost is rarely what people end up paying. A basic ticket includes a seat that is randomly assigned to you and a single personal item like a purse or small messenger bag. One person on the Cruise Critic forums wrote, "If you think nickel and dime is just on cruise ships, wait till you fly Frontier. Checked bag – fee. Carryon bag – fee. Seat selection – fee. Drinks, including water – fee."

One Redditor even noted that by the time they finish paying for all of their add-ons, flying with Frontier is generally "not significantly cheaper than basic economy on a major carrier." This is due, in part, to the fact that the airline tends to charge more than major airlines for the same things, further negating the cost savings of very affordable base fares. For example, it's usually around $70 to add a carry-on suitcase online when booking a Frontier itinerary, or even more at the airport reservation desk. By contrast, United charges just $35 for a carry-on added online.

The best way to handle Frontier's à la carte pricing structure is to know your "must-haves" ahead of time, then budget accordingly. If, for example, you know you need a carry-on or a checked bag, use the airline's bag pricing tool to see exactly what you'll have to pay for your route. Another way to save money is to take advantage of Frontier's bundle options, which include things like seat selection and baggage for a flat rate. However, since you might be able to take a major carrier for a similar price, research first!

Frontier allows each ticketed passenger to travel with one personal item at no extra charge, but the airline's size limit is notoriously strict. Per the airline's official baggage policy, the item must be no larger than 14 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 8 inches deep, inclusive of any straps, wheels, or other features. Enforcement seems to vary, but many travelers report having to pay carry-on fees for their personal items due to issues like backpack straps protruding from the bag-sizing-check bin. On a Tripadvisor thread about this exact issue, one person said they were charged $100 for their personal item "because my strap was sticking out."

Another Tripadvisor user in the same discussion called Frontier's bag fees "out of control," saying their gate agent was "pretty arbitrary" about charging people for their personal items or letting them through to board without issue. On Reddit, a frequent Frontier flyer confirmed that "some crews are a little more flexible, others will be ready to charge you." In short, counting on a lenient gate agent is not a smart way to go about packing for a Frontier Airlines flight!

Fortunately, there are some things you can do at home to make sure you're as prepared as possible for the dreaded metal sizing bin at Frontier gates. Measure your fully packed bag or backpack at home to make sure it is within the airline's stated size limits. It's also important not to overstuff your personal item, as this can make it harder to fit into the bin. And if you are going on a longer vacation and simply can't limit yourself to a personal item, learn how to pack for a seven-day trip in just one carry-on rather than paying fees for multiple bags!

Mainstream domestic carriers like Delta, United, and American all have a 50-pound limit on checked baggage before oversize bag fees kick in. This also holds true on Southwest, America's best domestic airline for customer satisfaction, which bridges the gap between traditional airlines and ultra-low-cost brands. If you're used to flying any of these major airlines, it's reasonable that you would assume Frontier has the same weight limit — and they did, until early 2022. That year, Frontier changed the rules, limiting checked bags to 40 pounds before tacking on oversized luggage fees.

While a 10-pound difference may not sound huge at first, it is actually quite substantial. When you think about the average weight of a piece of clothing or a child's stuffed animal, for example, 10 pounds equates to a significant number of items. Travelers are often taken aback by this Frontier policy, with one Redditor who traveled over the dates the 40-pound limit took effect writing that on their flight out, their suitcase "was 42 lbs. flew back today and she wanted to charge me $50 for being 2 lbs. over!" Frontier's current oversized baggage fees are even higher, with an additional $75 charge assessed for checked bags between 41 and 50 pounds, and a $100 fee for any baggage weighing 51 to 99.99 pounds. Luggage 100 pounds or more is not permissible.

The best way to determine if your baggage is within Frontier's weight limit is to invest in a portable luggage scale. The Amazon Bagail digital scale is a small option that costs under $10. If you are over the limit, redistributing the weight or removing items is significantly less stressful at home than in an airport lobby. Remember to allot extra space and weight for any souvenirs you might be bringing back from your journey so you don't get slammed with fees on the way home!

There is no airline on Earth that is completely immune to delays and cancellations, but Frontier's limitations can make disruptions more difficult to deal with than they would be on a mainstream carrier. Frontier sometimes only flies in and out of a given city once or twice a week, whereas Delta, for example, might operate multiple flights on that route each day. On a Reddit thread about Frontier's reliability, someone experienced exactly this issue.

In their post, the traveler explained that on a Wednesday, they missed a connecting flight in Denver to Knoxville due to winter weather. However, because Frontier didn't operate any Thursday flights into Knoxville, they ended up having to pay for two nights in a hotel until they could finally depart on Friday. Another person on Facebook experienced a 17-hour delay on a San Diego to Las Vegas flight without even a meal voucher from the airline. In addition to not guaranteeing lodging or food for stranded travelers, Frontier does not offer free rebooking on other airlines, per the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In effect, this means you are stuck until another Frontier Airlines flight is available unless you want to pay out of pocket to get to your destination via another carrier. Perhaps the best piece of advice here is not to book a Frontier flight if you have a specific event, like a wedding or convention, that you need to be present for. One Redditor learned this the hard way when the airline left them "stranded in Atlanta for the better part of two days," while trying to get to a conference in the New York metro area.

On paper, it doesn't seem like it should be particularly hard to get ahold of Frontier. According to the airline's customer support page, they offer a variety of service options, including a toll-free phone number, live chat, and even texting via WhatsApp. In practice, though, travelers frequently experience myriad problems, including chats that randomly disconnect multiple times, no answer on the phones, and a lack of helpfulness even when they are able to reach an agent. In some cases, agents are not able to assist because they simply don't understand the nuances of the situation.

One Redditor commented, "Frontier Airlines and good Customer service are mutually exclusive."  In an account published at Live and Let's Fly, both chat and telephone representatives were unable to assist someone with rebooking after his wife and child missed a connection, forcing her to wait alone with a toddler in a long line at the airport desk. He referred to the brand's customer relations department as "absurdly incompetent."

If you find yourself in circumstances in which you must contact Frontier, the best course of action is to be as prepared as possible. Have your confirmation number, flight details, and any other pertinent information at your fingertips. It's also a good idea to have a specific solution to your problem in mind. If you ask for a particular resolution that would make things right for you, you aren't just leaving the situation open-ended for the agent to potentially never resolve it.

A big part of how Frontier Airlines keeps its base fares low is its stripped-back onboard experience. Passengers won't find fun little extras like pillows and toiletry kits here. Instead, the main thing people notice is that the seats are extremely uncomfortable. They lack padding, do not lean back, and the cushions are very thin, even compared to the economy seats on mainstream carriers. One Redditor lamented that "nobody should have to sit on those," while a Facebook user complained that even in the exit row with additional legroom, their "back and butt got absolutely wrecked."

Still, some passengers decide that the discomfort is worth it, especially if they're on a tight budget or are taking a very short flight. Someone on Reddit quipped that they would "sit on a cinder block for 17.00 airfare." There are also some things you can do to alleviate any pain you might experience in a Frontier seat. First, invest in a good neck pillow that will help you stay comfortable on any airline. Another great tip is to research seated yoga poses you can do in-flight. Getting in the habit of doing asanas while you fly can help keep you limber.

If you really can't bring yourself to sit in one of Frontier's standard seats, there are options that come with additional legroom. The UpFront Plus ticket tier, which comes with the Business Bundle, offers an empty middle seat along with more legroom. In addition, as of the time of publication, Frontier is updating its fleet with larger two-seat rows in place of the existing UpFront Plus seating. It is, however, worth noting that, as with many Frontier add-ons, the cost savings may be neglibible by the time you pay for upgraded seating and it might cost around the same to fly another airline.

While Frontier does not offer seat selection with its Base Fare tickets, if you decline to pay extra to choose a seat assignment at booking, you run the risk of being separated from your travel party for the duration of your flight. Frontier specifically notes this on their official seating page, so it is a clearly disclosed policy. Nonetheless, people still sometimes find themselves frustrated.

In a Reddit thread in which people were discussing Frontier splitting groups throughout the cabin, someone noted that their parents "were separated and they each sat next to a person from another couple." In that particular case, the groups were able to move around to each sit with their spouses, but that is far from a guarantee. It is worth noting that Frontier does offer an exception to its seating policy for families traveling with young children.

Under the airline's family seating rules, children aged 13 or under are guaranteed to be seated with an adult traveler on the same reservation. There are some caveats, however, like the layout of the specific seat you're flying in. In general, though, by the time your party boards, young children should be automatically seated with a parent or guardian.

Frontier has quite stringent check-in and checked bag drop-off timing, which many travelers have come to loathe. The airline instructs travelers to get to the airport two hours prior to take-off, which is fairly standard guidance for domestic flights. Passengers' issues with Frontier have to do with the airline's timing policies within that two-hour window. Staff leave the bag drop and check-in counter, for example, an hour ahead of departure, leaving people with just 60 minutes to take care of tasks.

Frontier also advises travelers to be at their gates no later than 45 minutes before their scheduled flight time. When you do the math, this leaves people at the end of the bag drop line just about 15 minutes to clear security and get to their gate, per the airline's timeframe guidance. A passenger arriving 55 minutes ahead of departure, therefore, may think they still have time to quickly check a bag and clear security, but agents might not even be present at the desk. On Reddit, someone described a situation in which there was "no way" for the high volume of travelers in line to check their bags within the allotted hour.

Live and Let Fly weighed in on the 60-minute cutoff policy, saying it could be that the brand "wants more people to miss their flights so they have to buy expensive new walk-up tickets." To avoid complications with any Frontier flight, try to adhere to the suggested timeline as much as you possibly can. If you don't have a bag to check, you can also avoid the check-in desk entirely by checking in online and heading straight to your airport's security checkpoint.

As we've previously discussed, Frontier Airlines is a true ultra-low-cost carrier. Although most passengers grasp what this means in concept, actually experiencing it can still be a bit jarring. One of the biggest differences from mainstream carriers is that all snacks and beverages cost money. As one person on Reddit warned other travelers, there are "No free snack No free soda Tray tables are tiny." They went on to share that all of the features they "always assumed was a part of the ticket is a frill."

In addition to no small snacks, complimentary beverages, or even comfortable seats, Frontier also does not offer Wi-Fi, streaming movies and television series, or electrical outlets for charging devices. Beginning in 2027, there are plans to start equipping the fleet with Starlink internet, which will be a welcome change. Bookish Wayfarer conceded that Frontier can be an acceptable option for budget-conscious travelers taking short flights. However, the writer noted that she would not "choose Frontier for a long-distance flight. As much as I enjoy saving money, I have my limits."

If you decide to book a Frontier itinerary, a little preparation can go a long way toward making your in-flight experience more pleasant. Download movies, series, and podcasts to your devices and make sure they are fully charged before boarding. A great pair of noise-cancelling headphones can also be a lifesaver on the fleet's cramped planes! It's also smart to pack your own snacks and take an empty water bottle through security so you can fill it prior to boarding.

While you're certainly not guaranteed to witness things that could get you banned from an airline while flying with a low-cost carrier, there is sometimes a perception that passengers on these airlines lack etiquette compared to those who select mainstream carriers. Frontier, specifically, was labeled the "Walmart of the Skies" by the podcast "Open Tabs." This tongue-in-cheek reference takes its cue from the stereotypes propagated on the now-defunct People of Walmart website.

A person on Reddit specifically called out Frontier, writing they've flown with "budget and non budget airlines and it's crazy seeing the difference in etiquette. On frontier everyone pushes forward." Another person on the same thread acknowledged, "It seems Frontier attracts a lot of inexperienced/first time fliers." That said, keep in mind that it is important to note that various types of people choose every airline, so you cannot lump every traveler into one bucket.

At the end of the day, no matter which airline you choose, you cannot control others' behavior. All you can do is make sure you comport yourself in a polite, thoughtful fashion at all times. Frontier's Contract of Carriage is free to download. It outlines expected passenger conduct and what will not be tolerated from a behavioral standpoint.