A Frontier Airlines plane lands at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on February 27, 2020.
Elizabeth Page Brumley | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
Frontier Airlines said it will no longer charge customers a fee to change their flights, siding with larger competitors as the Biden administration imposes stricter rules on so-called “junk fees.”
The change is part of an overhaul announced Friday of the budget airline’s long-standing pricing model, which lures customers in the door with conspicuously low base fares but charges a fee for everything else, such as seat assignments and carry-on luggage. This model is shared by other discounters Spirit Airlines.
Frontier said it will begin offering packages that include some of these add-ons, including early boarding, among others. While some fares still allow travelers to add a la carte options, “we expect this option will be limited to a minority of customers,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle told CNBC.
A new “economy” package with carry-on baggage and seat assignment starts at $30 more than the base fare, while a “premium” package that offers those perks plus early boarding costs $50 more than the base fare. For at least $100 more than a base fare, travelers on the “Business” package can also check two bags and get a seat at the front of the plane with more space.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule requiring airlines to notify customers in advance of fees, including checked baggage or carry-on baggage fees. This change would save travelers more than half a billion dollars per year, according to the DOT.
According to the airline’s website, Frontier currently charges up to $99 for flight changes if the change occurs within a week of travel. Bigger competitors delta, American And United Elimination of change fees during the Covid-19 pandemic for travelers booked in standard economy class and above. Southwest Airlines does not charge customers any fees for rebooking their tickets.
“The truth is the big four [U.S. airlines] “All of them don’t charge change fees for most of their products, so we weren’t as desirable,” Biffle said. He said change fees are a “most common complaint” from travelers. Travelers who purchase the cheapest option on Frontier will still have to pay to change their flights.
Frontier also said that flight credits will be valid for 12 months (up from three months), starting with tickets issued Friday, and that it will resume live credit for travelers flying within 24 hours or elite members of its frequent flyer program. I will introduce telephone support.
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2024-05-17 17:18:08
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