Airlines today seem to be one of the most expensive travel methods to take, but lately, there has been a war among cheaper flights involving companies such as Frontier Airlines.
Is this savings simply a ruse to get you to buy their tickets, or is it genuinely inexpensive to fly with them? If it is, why is Frontier so cheap?
Why Is Frontier So Cheap?
1. Basic Tickets Are Rock Bottom Cheap
Basic tickets you purchase online are as cheap as they can offer you because it is just that, a boarding ticket to get you past the gate and onto the plane.
That means just you and nothing else. Anything optional will be charged accordingly. If you pay for the options online early, you will save money on the fees, or if you pay at the gate, it will cost you.
You can easily keep your costs down to a minimum. All you need to do is plan your trip ahead of time, use a credit card on their site to pay for everything, and travel light.
2. Checked-In Baggage Is Extra
Unless you are jet-setting around the world, you will have at least one piece of luggage that you will need when you get to your destination.
These checked-in bags will cost you extra, just like other airlines. This is one way that Frontier can keep costs down, though. Options are just that, options. You are not required to carry luggage.
This fee is easily avoided by not needing any checked-in luggage. If you need to have some things shipped, pay for them online with a bundle package.
3. Carry-On Baggage Is Extra
You will place electronics and personal items you do not want to be broken into a small carry-on bag or large purse to allow them to stay with you.
You do not get freebies on the flight, but it is an option, so it is up to you if you bring one on board. If you do, the airlines will charge you accordingly.
If you opt to have what you need for the trip in a small carry-on bag, you will save money overall, especially if you pay ahead when you first book the tickets online.
4. Assigned Seats Will Cost You
One aspect of the other airlines you have gotten used to is that you are assigned a seat number and a row number when you purchase a ticket. Not when you fly with Frontier Airlines.
It may seem a little strange to be able to sit in any open spot. It is one way that Frontier keeps its prices down because the attendants do not have to spend time checking seat assignments.
5. Priority Boarding On Frontier Is Optional
Another option that is unnecessary but makes your traveling experience better is priority boarding. This means you do not have to wait in the basic line because you have priority over the other passengers.
Plus, the best part of being on this statue is that since there are no assigned seats, you will have the pick of the litter. Where you want to sit is where you can sit (if someone did not upgrade to reserve it.)
6. Refundable Tickets Cost Extra Money
If you want to ensure that you can refund the ticket cost if something happens, you will need to pay extra. This is nothing new, though, because all the major airlines will charge you this fee.
If you have traveler’s insurance, you will be protected from this anyway. So there really is no point in having the option to refund or change the tickets in more than one place, both of which cost money.
It has been claimed by many people that they have not received their refunds within a decent amount of time. You should use your travel insurance claim if you need the money back soon.
7. Frontier Does Not Offer Entertainment
You can expect to have to bring something on board to keep yourself occupied because there will be no magazines for you to read, and there will not be a TV.
This is not because they are an airline that does not care about keeping you happy. In fact, price is the number one aspect of the flight, so it should be expected.
8. Seats Are Not Built For Comfort
You would hope the seats would be comfortable to sit in since you will be stuck in them for a while, but they are not built for comfort.
Benefits of this are the room that the seats offer. Since they do not need extensive padding and neck rest, the sitting area of the chair is much roomier than most airlines provide.
You will also be unable to recline your seat in the standard chairs because they are not built for it. This is good news for some while terrible for others.
If you like to lie back and sleep, you will not be happy. On the other hand, if you are behind a person who cannot lay in your lap, it is a great thing. It all depends upon your perspective.
9. Working Wages Are Not High
One of the most significant ways for any company to cut costs is by keeping the payroll costs down. The less you pay the people that work for you, the cheaper your ticket costs can be.
This may not be the best thing for the people that work for Frontier, but it is excellent news for you. When payroll costs go up, profits go done, which passes on increased prices to those using their service.
Low wages given to the flight crew do not seem to affect the service that you get, either. The airline has a very high satisfaction rate regarding customer service on the flight.
10. Lower Restrictions For Flight Captains
Big airlines require their pilots to be the best. They have stringent stipulations that they must meet. The FFA Has limits set into place, but they go above and beyond them.
Frontier, on the other hand, does not require their pilots to have as much flight time logged in, which means that they will not ask for as much money on their paychecks.
That is not to say that the pilots are not safe. Safety is first for Frontier, as you can see from the statistics related to fatal accidents. Frontier, to date, has none on file.
11. Free Snack and Drinks Are Not Free
One of the best parts of flying across the nation is the bag of free salted peanuts you get, along with water to wash them down.
You can get food and drinks on a Frontier Airlines flight, but you will be charged for what you want. Not a bad thing when you think about it because it cuts costs for the airline.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why Spirit Airlines is so cheap, why Alaska Airlines is so cheap, and why Southwest is so expensive.
Conclusion
Whenever costs are cut to save money on expenses, it leaves a company open to decreasing the prices it passes on to you, as the consumer.
You would not think that an airline that cuts costs could be safe, but that is far from the truth. Frontier has state-of-the-art planes and technology that keeps pace with the industry. You are safe.