Oh boy! It seems not less than one funds airline smells blood within the water as Southwest simply put the kibosh on their long-standing coverage of “bags fly free”.
One would possibly assume when that surprising domino fell, it will kickstart a trickle-down fee-economics impact, however to date, so good for vacationers’ wallets.
Time will inform if Southwest loyalists will stick round, however one competitor has determined to fill the hole by placing their well-documented strict (and controversial) baggage insurance policies behind them, permitting vacationers to test luggage without spending a dime…not less than for the summer season.
Frontier Airlines, who had been not too long ago below public scrutiny for admitting to Senate they had been compensating gate brokers to focus on passengers’ bag sizes, leading to further charges or denied boarding, have now turned a nook.
According to a press launch, not solely will Frontier offer free checked luggage, however an entire bunch of different freebies that simply would possibly lure vacationers again in to belief their airline.
“At the end of the day, travelers just want to be valued”. “We’re bringing back the things people love about flying – free bags, free seat selection, and flexibility – without the extra fees. No games, just great value.”- Barry Biffle, CEO, Frontier Airlines
Frontier’s Summer Of Freebies
Who may’ve seen this coming? The most notoriously stringent funds airline within the States is displaying some grace.
Of course, one has the proper to query if it is in good religion or just a advertising ploy, given how stunning Southwest’s sudden shift in insurance policies was final week.
Regardless, each Frontier traveler flying from at this time by August 18 has the possibility to attain some main freebies.
So, let’s break this down.
Free Economy Bundle:
Any avid funds traveler is aware of most airways on this class have tiers to select from, and that is the place most make the error of not studying the wonderful print.
For the time being, you will not should as all vacationers will obtain the perks of Frontier’s Economy Bundle:
Free carry-on bag (along with ‘Personal Item’)
Free seat choice
Free flight adjustments
One Very Important Detail: Don’t Miss The Deadline
Again, each time you e-book a visit with a funds airline, studying the wonderful print is without doubt one of the most essential issues you are able to do to make sure your funds flight certainly stays a funds flight.
I’m not speaking about going line by line by the endless Terms of Service, moderately studying the small print of the itemized expenses earlier than testing and making you perceive your baggage allowance.
In this case, with the brand new promotion, all vacationers might want to e-book their summer season journey by March 24 or else you will miss out on the deal.
How To Score A Free Checked Bag
Scoring a free checked bag is barely extra sophisticated than different aforementioned freebies. Those can be found from at this time by August 18, however the free checked bag promotion has a shorter window.
Unfortunately, spring breakers will not be capable to pack their beer bongs, novelty hats, and inflatable flamingos with out paying a really complicated checked bag price (see right here).
The free checked bag requires a promo code: FREEBAG. Easy sufficient, proper?
This code is legitimate for all bookings between May 28, 2025 and August 18, 2025 and the identical March 24 reserving deadline applies.
In the phrases of the promotion, Frontier states: “To obtain promotional pricing, buyer should enter promo code FREEBAG throughout new flight buy made by 11:59pm Eastern time on March 24, 2025 for journey from May 28, 2025 by August 18, 2025. Limit one free Checked Bag per particular person, per course, weight restrict applies“.
It does not seem Frontier is limiting vacationers’ free luggage to solely home routes, and so they truly fly to some actually cool worldwide locations, similar to Punta Cana, Puerto Vallarta, and most not too long ago, Aruba and Honduras.
My Experience Flying Frontier
I’ve flown Frontier too many occasions to rely, but additionally too many occasions I care to recollect — and it is not simply the bag-policing.
I’m not right here to trash the airline, however when their CEO releases quotes like “We’ve always had heart” after paying gate brokers to focus on their very own clients and “If travelers show us the love, we’ll make these perks permanent”, I do not learn about you, but it surely rubs me the flawed method as a passionate traveler and journalist.
Especially, once I simply tried to fly Frontier March 16 from San Francisco to San Diego with what ought to’ve been a seamless hour-and-a-half lengthy flight solely to be delayed for about 3 hours and in the end cancelled ‘attributable to climate’, but one way or the other Frontier’s San Francisco – Los Angeles flight nonetheless managed to take off that very same night.
Funny how that works.
Frontier left us with no choice for a direct route again to San Diego within the coming days. The solely different choice was to take a 15-hour journey with an extended layover for what ought to have been an hour-and-a-half flight.
My girlfriend and I reluctantly determined to chew the bullet by overpaying for a rental automobile and drove in a single day again dwelling to San Diego that there is lower than a zero p.c likelihood Frontier will reimburse.
These are the kind of conditions you could find your self in by flying not simply Frontier, however funds airways normally.
Free checked bag or not, in case your airline leaves you stranded, you will be forking over much more than the quantity you saved.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.