Frontier Airlines is one of the most popular ultra low cost carriers (ULCCs) but with its low prices can come some very high and sometimes unexpected baggage fees. Compared to all of the US airlines I have flown and researched, Frontier has some of the most “gotcha” baggage fees.
This comprehensive article will give you the details for all of the Frontier Airlines baggage fees for carry-ons and checked bags and will show you how you can avoid those fees or at least minimize them. I’ll also go into detail about baggage fees for activity military members and other unique situations.
Table of Contents
What are the Frontier Airlines baggage fees?
Frontier Airlines allows one free personal item but charges different baggage fees for carry-on luggage and checked luggage based on when you pay for your luggage and how many bags you check.
Assuming you pay your baggage fees online during booking, a carry-on will be about $59 and your first checked bag will also be about $59. Keep reading below to see some real world prices.
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How can I avoid the baggage fees?
There are a few different ways that you can avoid baggage fees with Frontier.
myFRONTIER Elite members
Frontier has an elite loyalty program that’s broken down into the following tiers:
- Elite Silver Status: Earn 10,000 Qualifying Miles
- Elite Gold Status (previously Elite 20k): Earn 20,000 Qualifying Miles
- Elite Platinum Status (previously Elite 50k): Earn 50,000 Qualifying Miles
- Elite Diamond Status (previously Elite 100k): Earn 100,000 Qualifying Miles
myFRONTIER Elite members at the Elite Gold Status (previously Elite 20k) level will receive a free carry-on and myFRONTIER Elite members at the Elite Diamond Status (previously 100k) level will receive their first two checked bags for free.
Bundles: The WORKS & The PERKS
The WORKS is a special bundle that comes with a free carry-on and a free checked bag as well as the benefits below:
- Seat Selection
- Priority Boarding
- Flight Flexibility
- 100% Refundability
The PERKS is another bundle that comes with a free carry-on and a free checked bag as well as the benefit below:
- Seat Selection (Stretch not included)
Upgrading to these packages adds to the cost of your airfare and depending on what fees you were going to incur, it could end up saving you money.
Credit cards
You can utilize certain credit cards to reduce or eliminate your baggage fees on Frontier Airlines. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the hottest travel rewards credit cards. It earns 3X the points on dining and travel and comes with a host of valuable benefits. One of these perks is a $300 travel credit that can be used on anything that codes as travel, including your baggage fees.
You do not get free checked baggage with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.
Frontier Airlines personal item
Frontier allows all passengers one free personal item.
The personal item must comply with the following measurements:
- 8” Depth
- 18” Width
- 14” Height
Can you bring a backpack as a personal item?
As long as your backpack can fit under the seat and complies with the dimensions above, you should be allowed to bring it in as a personal item just as you would with a purse, laptop bag, or other bag.
Related: Is Frontier Airlines Safe?
Frontier Airlines carry-on fees
Unlike most US carriers like United, Delta, and American, Frontier Airlines will charge you for your carry-on luggage.
The prices for your carry-on baggage fees will depend on your specific flight/route and go up the closer you are to the time of your departure. I will use a sample booking from Houston to Cleveland to illustrate the prices for carry-on fees.
One last thing, keep in mind that these fees are non-refundable. So don’t think you can pay for a carry-on as a precaution and then get refunded — not gonna happen!
Here are all of the prices.
During Booking on Web / Mobile App
- $59
Flyfrontier.com, after booking and up to 24 hours before departure
- $74
Web Check-in
- $74
Airport ticket counter or self-service kiosk
- $79
Departure Gate
- $99
Call Center
- $79
So the cheapest price for a carry-on for this particular flight is $59. That sounds like a lot and it really is considering that so many airlines allow you to bring a free carry-on. However, if you wait until you arrive at the departure gate to pay for your carry-on it could cost you $99!
But that is just one flight so here are some prices for some additional flights that I also checked. I was primarily concerned with the price at booking so I only compared those.
- Atlanta to Dallas — $59
- Baltimore to Austin — $60
- Cancun to Phoenix — $70
- Chicago to New Orleans — $59
- Denver to San Diego — $59
- Fort Myers to Minneapolis — $60
So once again, the price for your carry-on will vary depending on your route but you generally will probably be paying around $60 for your carry-on, assuming you purchase the carry-on at booking.
Frontier Airlines checked baggage fees
The prices for your checked baggage fees will depend on your specific flight/route. I will use a sample booking from Houston to Cleveland to illustrate the prices for checked baggage fees.
Flyfrontier.com, at booking
- 1st checked bag: $59
- 2nd checked bag: $79
- 3rd+ checked bag: $99
Flyfrontier.com, after booking and up to 24 hours before departure
- 1st checked bag: $74
- 2nd checked bag: $89
- 3rd+ checked bag: $109
Web Check-in
- 1st checked bag: $74
- 2nd checked bag: $89
- 3rd+ checked bag: $109
Airport ticket counter or self-service kiosk
- 1st checked bag: $79
- 2nd checked bag: $94
- 3rd+ checked bag: $100
Departure Gate
- 1st checked bag: $99
- 2nd checked bag: N/A
- 3rd+ checked bag: N/A
Call Center
- 1st checked bag: $79
- 2nd checked bag: $94
- 3rd+ checked bag: $100
Here are some prices for some additional flights that I also checked. Again, I was primarily concerned with the price at booking so I only compared those.
- Atlanta to Dallas — $60
- Baltimore to Austin — $60
- Cancun to Phoenix — $70
- Chicago to New Orleans — $59
- Denver to San Diego — $59
- Fort Myers to Minneapolis — $60
As you can tell, the price for one checked bag at the time of booking is pretty high. For example, compare it to the prices for United Airlines. United charges the following rates:
- $40 for the first checked bag
- $50 for the second checked bag
- $150 to $200 for the third checked bag ($200 for some international flights)
$40 versus $60 is a pretty big difference.
The kicker is that for Frontier, you’ll need to know for sure that you’re going to check a bag at the time of booking. If you pay to check a bag but don’t actually use it, you lose that money. And if you fail to pay for a bag that you will need checked, you could end up paying over $70 just to check one bag.
But if you know for sure you’ll be needing a checked bag, that means you can pay roughly the same price that you’d pay with legacy carriers for your first check bag. Of course, don’t forget that airlines like Southwest allow you to check two bags for free.
Frontier Airlines carry-on restrictions
- Carry-on bags can be no larger than 24″H, 16″W, 10″D (including handles, wheels, and straps)
- Carry-on bags must be no heavier than 35 pounds.
- Carry-on bags must also fit in the overhead bin.
Liquids
The standard TSA standards apply to Frontier flights and you can review a list provided by the TSA of permitted and prohibited items which may be included in carry-on baggage including the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule.
Free carry-on items
There are certain items that you will be able to bring on to the plane for free.
These include:
- Coats
- Diaper bags when traveling with an infant
- Canes
- Crutches
- Portable Oxygen Concentrators
- Respiratory devices or any other assistive devices
- Foot rugs for use during prayer
Remember, myFRONTIER Elite members and passengers who purchased THE WORKS always receive a free carry-on bag in addition to their personal item.
Frontier Airlines checked bag restrictions
- Checked bags must be within 62 linear inches (that’s length + width + depth) and
- Checked bags must be no heavier than 40 pounds.
- Baggage that goes over these limits will be charged $50 – $100 for exceeding weight and $75 for exceeding linear inch limits.
- Bags will NOT be accepted if they are over 100 pounds and/or over 110 linear inches
- myFRONTIER Award Redemption Tickets have the same baggage allowance.
When can you check-in bags for Frontier Airlines?
You can check your bags up to two hours prior to your departure.
Note: For domestic flights you and your baggage must be checked no later than 45 minutes before your departure and 60 minutes before departure for international flights.
Of course, most experienced travelers will tell you that you should try to arrive to the airport about two hours prior to a domestic flight and three hours prior to an international flight.
Frontier Airlines military baggage fees
Frontier Airlines provides the following baggage waivers when presenting a Common Access Card (CAC) with a uniformed services affiliation at check-in:
- One free personal item
- One free carry-on bag
- Two free checked bags
These baggage waivers apply to the individual with active duty status and does not extend to family members or traveling companions. US military passengers also must comply with the standard baggage acceptance policy for size and weight limits. However, oversize and overweight baggage fees are waived for the first two free checked bags.
U.S. military passengers are defined as active duty armed forces, reserves, and national guard.
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Frontier International Baggage Fees
For the most part, Frontier’s international rules for checked and carry-on baggage are the same for domestic travel as far as baggage allowance, size, and weight restrictions.
However, baggage checked to or from Canada is subject to a maximum 70lbs weight limit.
Sports equipment and special items
Frontier Airlines provides a Sporting Equipment & Special/Fragile Items PDF for a breakdown of how you can travel with different items.That PDF will show you the regulations and prices for many random objects that you might be traveling with such as:
- Air Pumps
- Alcoholic Beverages, Liquor
- Ammunition
- Antlers
- Archery (Bows and Arrows)
- Artwork
- Baby items
- Batteries
- Bicycles
- Blood, Biological Substances, Organs, Tissues
- Boogie Boards, Wake Boards
- Bowling Equipment
- Camping Equipment
- Ceramics, Chinaware, Glass
- Child Restraint Systems
- Compressed Air Cylinders
- Coolers
- Crematory Remains
- Disabling Devices
- Dry Ice (Carbon Dioxide Solid)
- Electronics, Photographic, Mechanical Items
- Electronic Cigarettes; Vape Pens
- Fencing Equipment
- Firearms
- Fireworks
- Fishing Equipment
- Food Items
- Golf Equipment
- Hang Gliding Equipment
- Hockey Equipment
- Human Remains
- Kayak & Canoe
- Lighters and Matches
- Media Equipment
- Medical Devices
- Musical Instruments
- Scuba Gear
- Ski Equipment – Snow and Water
- Snowboard
- Stroller
- And many more items
Frontier Airlines pet policy
The Frontier Airlines pet policy fee is $99 per one-way and may be paid in advance during booking. If you do not pay in advance, you’ll need to pay when you check-in your pet.
In addition to the travel container for your pet, you are allowed either a personal item (8”H x 14”W x 18”L) or a carry-on bag (10”H x 16”W x 24”L). An additional fee will apply for the carry-on bag.
Only certain animals will be allowed, such as domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, or small household birds. Only domesticated dogs and cats may be carried to or from international destinations.
Frontier does not allow pets to be shipped as checked baggage.
Read more about their pet policy here.
Frontier Airlines coupons
You can always search for coupons to help cover the costs of your tickets and other expenses. I recommend searching here for the latest Frontier Airlines coupons.
Frontier seat selection fees
In case you were also interested in seat selection fees, below is the chart published by Frontier. There is standard seating and then stretch seating that offers a little bit more legroom and recline and is thus a little bit more expensive.
You’ll notice that just like the baggage fees, the fees for choosing your seat also go up the closer to the date of departure you get. So it cannot be stressed enough — try to take care of all of your baggage and seat selection needs at the time of booking.
Also be very careful about trying to select a stretch seating from the call center or when you arrive at the airport because the prices will be exorbitant.
| Seat Options | Pricing |
| Standard Seating | $17 – $55 |
| Stretch Seating | $35 – $90 |
Frontier Airlines baggage fees FAQ
The baggage fees can vary based on when you pay for your baggage fees but if you pay for your checked baggage during booking, your baggage fee may be around $60.
You can check your bag for free by using a travel rewards card like the Amex Platinum Card that comes with a $200 airline credit.
Another way to get free checked baggage is to purchase special bundles known as The WORKS & The PERKS.
You can also check a bag for free if you have myFRONTIER Elite status.
No, Frontier Airlines unfortunately does not allow a free carry-on.
The price will depend on your route but you could be paying roughly $59-$99 depending on when you pay for your carry-on.
Your carry-on bag must be no larger than 24″H, 16″W, 10″D (including handles, wheels, and straps).
In addition, it must be no heavier than 35 pounds.
Yes, Frontier Airlines allows you to bring a free personal item. The personal item must be no larger than the following measurements:
8” Depth
18” Width
14” Height
Your checked bag must be no heavier than 40 pounds or you will have to pay a $50 – $100 overweight fee. Bags over 100 pounds will not be accepted.
Yes, military members presenting a Common Access Card (CAC) with a uniformed services affiliation can get two free checked bags along with one free carry-on bag.
If your bags are lost or damaged make sure that you report it before you ever leave the airport.
Frontier states that all claims for damaged or lost baggage must be made within 12 hours of your flight’s arrival with an agent at the arrival destination or through the Central Baggage Office.
The Central Baggage Office may be reached at (801)401-9000 (say “baggage”).
If you left something on the plane then you can fill out their lost and found form.
You are allowed to travel with smart bags on Frontier Airlines but you must have the lithium battery removed from the bag and the battery carried in cabin.
The bag (without the battery) can be transported as a carry-on or checked bag.
Final word
Frontier makes a lot of money from baggage fees but if you know exactly how many bags you’ll need to check, you can add your luggage to your itinerary early on and avoid paying higher fees for your bags.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
Do you know if the seat and/or bag fees (chosen separately, not through The Works) will be credited to a travel voucher along with the ticket price if I need to change/cancel a booked flight due to COVID? I can’t seem to find this spelled out on their site.
Thanks.
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