Frontier Airlines is a whole different kind of animal. Or so claimed their marketing campaign way back in 2003. That was back when they were sort of a quirky regional airline that managed to attract a loyal following among the anti-corporate crowd common to the mountain west. They went head-to-head with United in Denver for years, becoming equally famous for the lovable animals on the tails of their planes and the chocolate chip cookies baked in their onboard ovens.
Nowadays, Frontier is still an animal. But instead of that cuddly koala, they are now more like a raccoon or opossum that skitters around the edges of civilization, tipping over trash cans in search of a meal made from someone else’s leftovers. That’s because Frontier’s current strategy is to dart in and out of juicy markets that were once dominated by the legacies. If a route works after a few months, they keep it. If not, they pack up shop and head elsewhere. For sure, they offer some incredible fares, but then try to sell you everything and the kitchen sink along the way.
I’ve flown Frontier a few times, but certainly not much. As a United Premier 1K, I’m willing to pay a little more for my ticket since it will come with an Economy Plus seat, the chance at an upgrade, more valuable miles, and better protection in the case of travel snafus.
But even I have my price.
And for a recent work trip to the east coast, Frontier was offering a fare that was several hundred dollars less than United, even when I included the $30 fee I’d have to pay to check a bag. Sure the schedule sucked — a redeye leaving after midnight — but for that kind of savings, I figured I could survive.
Seat assignments on Frontier
For my flight, Frontier wanted an extra $12 to select a seat in the back of the plane. Or I could pay $24 to select a regular seat towards the front. Or $40 for an extra legroom seat in the first couple of rows or the exit. It’s possible that Frontier offers a few middle seats in the back for free, but I didn’t see any on my flight.
As much as the extra space seemed nice, my thinking was that if you’re gonna go cheap — and I was most assuredly going cheap on this trip — you gotta go all-in. Plus, I was leaving my wife and three young kids at home for once, meaning that even the middle seat next to the lav was going to seem like a spa compared to constantly adjusting someone’s tablet or opening endless packages of string cheese.
At the time I bought my ticket — about a month in advance — the seat map showed the plane was mostly empty. I mistakenly took this to mean that the flight was lightly booked, which seemed to make sense considering this was a miserable redeye leaving at 1:20 AM on a Sunday morning. I wish I had taken a screen shot of the seat map at the time, but basically there were just a smattering of occupied seats in the $12 section, with almost no one in the premium seats.
Here’s what the seat map looks like for an upcoming flight on this route:
Frontier seat map for a future flight on this route
Anyway, I decided to save the $12 and take my chances.
Frontier’s online check-in opened 24 hours prior to departure
As the day of the departure approached, I periodically checked the seat map to see if my gambit was going to pay off. The back of the plane definitely had a few more seats occupied than before, but still not that many.
But then when check-in rolled around, the back started to fill rapidly. That’s because Frontier automatically assigns seats to those who haven’t paid for a seat assignment — and apparently that includes just about everyone. I’m not sure what the seat allocation algorithm looks like, but I imagine they more or less go front to back handing out the $12 seats, all the while hoping they can entice a few folks to buy-up to the premium seats.
By perhaps midday on Saturday — 12 hours from departure — all of the cheap seats were taken. But the $24 seats were mostly available. I started to realize that this flight was not nearly as empty as I had hoped. A quick check on the Frontier website indicated that they weren’t even selling tickets for it anyone. Ruh roh.
But I still didn’t see much benefit to completing check-in. I mean, if I’m just going to end up in a middle seat, it might as well be in the front of the plane.
So I stuck to the strategy of monitoring the seat map, but not actually checking in.
Coming down to the wire
As I left for the airport, nearly all of the $12 and $24 seats were occupied. Two $12 seats momentarily became available as you’ll see below, but they soon filled as well.
Seat map for my Frontier flight a few hours prior to departure
By the time I got to the airport, the only seat on the entire flight that was open was an exit row aisle. I was sure hoping it had my name on it.
I decided it couldn’t get any better, so I decided to finally take my shot and completed check-in, now barely an hour before departure. I held my breath as the app displayed my boarding pass — I had been assigned seat number “0.” Did that mean I got to sit in the cockpit?
Actually, I figured that meant I still had a chance at assigned that awesome exit row seat. Or it might mean I’d be the first passenger to get involuntarily denied boarding (since I didn’t have a seat assignment and was flying on a rock-bottom fare). It would be feast or famine.
A few minutes later I arrived at the counter, ready to check my bag. The friendly agent chatted a bit, typed, and then asked if I could lift 35 pounds. I hadn’t been to the gym that week, but assured him I could. He then handed me boarding pass for seat 13 D, the exit row aisle. Arguably the best seat on the plane.
But now I was curious. How close had I come to getting IDB’ed? The agent said the flight was overbooked by two. And he had just assigned me the last seat. He said he hoped the two guys behind me weren’t going to Philly. (I think they were.)
In the end, I presume everyone got on since the exit row aisle across from me remained empty. In fact, I think that was the only empty seat on the plane.
Bottom Line
By waiting until all of the regular seats had been assigned, I was able to game the Frontier seat allocation algorithm to score a $40 exit row seat for free.
This strategy isn’t without risk, however, as I imagine that I might have been one of the first passengers to be denied boarding should the flight have ended up oversold since I didn’t have a seat assignment. But given that I didn’t need to be in Philadelphia until the following day anyway, I figured it was worth the risk.
Have you ever tried to game the seat allocation algorithm on a low-cost carrier? How did it turn out?
Just got to the gate I checked in at 2 this morning and got seat 11f I'm told they are overbooked by 10 people though; looks like a full flight for sure. Nov 21 2023
It's better to check in as soon as possible. That way I never got middle seats and once got 30A with no seat in front, which was the best!
I just did on-line checkin for myself, my wife, and adult son about 17.5 hours before departure. Our assigned seats weren't as bad as I expected. We got seats 19a, 19b, and 19 E. So my wife got a window and my son was in the middle, across the aisle but still in the same row. I suppose if we waited much closer to flight departure we might have got a seat way up front,...
I just did on-line checkin for myself, my wife, and adult son about 17.5 hours before departure. Our assigned seats weren't as bad as I expected. We got seats 19a, 19b, and 19 E. So my wife got a window and my son was in the middle, across the aisle but still in the same row. I suppose if we waited much closer to flight departure we might have got a seat way up front, or maybe bumped. I don't know if our flight is overbooked or not. But we paid $0 for each seat assignment. I wasnt going to pay for an exact seat since I already bought the airline tickets.
Dang! I never heard about this trick. I was thinking that they would fill seats front to back. I checkd in last night fora flight later today and - yup - I got a toilet seat way in the back. And a middle seat. Ugh. I'll definitely wait to check in on my return flight. Thanks for the great tip. Wish I saw this article 5min sooner! :D
I just checked in about 7 1/2 ish hours early for my frontier flight philly to fl we got assigned seats 2b and 2f. One is a middle but i have never sat this close to the front of a plane. I'm excited, but nervous hopefully they honor the seats they gave us!
Here's a question for you. Say I check in and get my assigned seat. Is there any way to switch to another seat without paying a fee on Frontier? Most airlines typically allow you to switch once the 24 hour window is open, but I'm not sure about Frontier.
I just got off my flt from Orlando to swf. Didn’t get seat assignment until the gate.
13f perfect ! Free! Total fare 97$
If you're gunning for one of the top seats on the plane, if you're traveling solo (or don't care if you and others on your booking are split up), and if you can tolerate the risk of pushing it too far and being denied boarding on an oversold plane, the strategy detailed here seems like a good one.
But if you're just trying to get away from the back of the plane, my limited experience...
If you're gunning for one of the top seats on the plane, if you're traveling solo (or don't care if you and others on your booking are split up), and if you can tolerate the risk of pushing it too far and being denied boarding on an oversold plane, the strategy detailed here seems like a good one.
But if you're just trying to get away from the back of the plane, my limited experience indicates this approach isn't necessary and may in fact be counterproductive at this point in time. For my flight tomorrow, I checked in sometime within say ½ an hour of check-in window opening and was assigned a seat in the middle of the plane (row 15 of 30) with dozens and dozens of empty seats behind me--and crucially, priced less than my seat would have been: my seat is directly in front of several rows where they are charging $21 for aisle and window seats, indicating this is at least how much my aisle seat would have been sold for, yet there are about a dozen rows farther back on the plane where the aisle and window seats are priced at $17. So not only did they not place me nearly as far back as they could have, they didn't even place me into a seat for which they would otherwise charge the lowest possible price. Now, I didn't get an exit row seat, but my point is that I'm nowhere near the back of the plane. As to my earlier mention that delaying check in may be counterproductive: the vast majority of the seats available on this plane are behind mine and if this flight is anywhere near full, that means that people checking in after me are the ones who are going to be sitting there, meaning delaying check in here results not in sitting farther forward in the plane but in sitting farther back in the plane.
Also, it's worth noting that they gave my wife and I seats together. As they say, your mileage may vary, but if you're booked together with others and wish to sit together, I recommend an earlier, not a later check in because my experience (again, limited experience) indicates that if the seats together are available they may give them to you. But clearly, if you wait so long to check in that seats together aren't even available then they obviously can't give them to you.
My wife is flying on Frontier from Philadelphia tonight and we, also, decided to take our chances on seat assignment since she is traveling alone. Somehow, she snagged 13C. We’re not sure how but, better lucky than smart, I suppose!
Waiting to board now and snagged seat 2B... an $83 seat. Woop woop.
Didn’t they change the rules in 2019 where kiosk check in cost extra?
Also, can you view the seat map without actually checking in? App/kiosk/online
Thanks
Kiosk check-in does cost extra.
In the app/on their site, I can view the seat map by acting like I want to pay to reserve a seat.
Read this post and tried this. Was a little stressed because I was worried that the flight would be overbooked, resulting in me not getting a seat period. I kept refreshing the seat chart in the last 10 min before online check-in ended, and to my pleasure, I could see all the seats being filled back to front while leaving all the stretch seats for last. Checked in the last few minutes and scored a stretch-window seat that would’ve cost me an extra $60 otherwise :)
I think waiting until the end works if your traveling alone. However, if you are traveling as a family (with kids) it's best to check in as early as possible if you have purchased your seats in advance.
Last year was the first time my family of 5 flew on Frontier, because I was nervous about us not sitting together I purchased our seats in advance. This year we attempted Frontier again (you can't...
I think waiting until the end works if your traveling alone. However, if you are traveling as a family (with kids) it's best to check in as early as possible if you have purchased your seats in advance.
Last year was the first time my family of 5 flew on Frontier, because I was nervous about us not sitting together I purchased our seats in advance. This year we attempted Frontier again (you can't beat the prices for a family of 5), I was trying to keep my trip budget down as much as possible and I did not purchase the seats. I checked in right at the 24 hour mark and was able to get 5 seats together, same row. They are in the back of the plane but sitting together is more important to me, not to mention having the restroom close is sure to be a winner. Glad I didn't fall for the upcharge this year.
This worked for me. I checked in an hour before departure time and scored a $45 seat in Row #1.
Flew Frontier from Orlando to New Orleans back in August, there were 5 of us, 3 adults, 2 children. I checked us in right at 24 hours prior to departure and got 5 seats togehter in the same row both ways. We even got TSA Pre both ways.
PS. Red eye flight to boot
Getting ready to travel on Frontier with hubby and child (10 yrs old). Feeling a little nervous about seating arrangement as I have read everywhere that there is no guarantee sitting together. I am not concerned about sitting next to hubby as much as I am concerned that my child may have to sit alone possibly in between two strangers. Any suggestions, strategies, etc. to calm my nervous mind? Please know we are totally inexperienced...
Getting ready to travel on Frontier with hubby and child (10 yrs old). Feeling a little nervous about seating arrangement as I have read everywhere that there is no guarantee sitting together. I am not concerned about sitting next to hubby as much as I am concerned that my child may have to sit alone possibly in between two strangers. Any suggestions, strategies, etc. to calm my nervous mind? Please know we are totally inexperienced in the skill of air travel and this will be my child's first flight. Thank you.
Hi Travis
I was curious. If "Frontier automatically assigns seats to those who haven’t paid for a seat assignment — and apparently that includes just about everyone", then you should have a seat number rather than 0.
Unless you are that one of the two pax who are overbooked and they cannot assign you a seat number.
Anyone has any experience to share on this?
Prior to the 24hr before departure, the non-preferred seat selections were $12 and $13. Within the 24hr before departure, the price increases... $13->$17, $45->$50 for exit aisle. The carry on baggage changed: $38->$40. I wouldn't be surprised if it bumps up more as the departure time gets closer.
K R -- Thanks for sharing. Made my day to hear your success!
Months after reading this, I booked a flight with my fiance. He's not usually like this, but when he saw me the day before asked if I'd checked in and - I'm going to admit it - I was annoyed by the reminder about something that I didn't think mattered. So I said "I like to check in late because you can get better seats that way." Thanks Travis for the conversational ammo :-|
It...
Months after reading this, I booked a flight with my fiance. He's not usually like this, but when he saw me the day before asked if I'd checked in and - I'm going to admit it - I was annoyed by the reminder about something that I didn't think mattered. So I said "I like to check in late because you can get better seats that way." Thanks Travis for the conversational ammo :-|
It was a connecting flight and we did get better than expected seats on the first leg. Whatever they call the seats they try to up-sell to you, we sat in those. On the second leg we didn't have seat assignments so had to go to the gate; it looked like we wouldn't sit together. I was almost contrite. Then the gate agent said "oh are you together?" and re-issued seats that were fine.
I guess it makes sense that they assign the up-sell seats last to regular-price customers. I'm surprised though that this airline gave us nice seats together instead of shitty middle-seats-not-next to each other. I'm fairly sure that United would have done the latter.
This is the way to get seats together on Spirit or at least guarantee an aisle seat (or window, whatever your preference). I'm optimistic that regular Spirit flyers are not reading this blog, so I won't complain too much. I only fly them MCI-LAS; hard to beat RT's in the range of $48-72.
Nice one Travis. Good hustle. Especially On a red eye that extra leg room is huge.
Frontier review please
A little trick I've done on Spirit many times is to check in and get your seat assignment but wait to be the very very last person to board the plane. When you step on the plane quickly scan to the exit rows to see if there are seats open and head right to them and sit down. They don't know the wiser and I've scored an amazing seat.
Ive done this strategy before. JetBlue didnt have any decent seats and I didnt choose a seat. I asked at the gate for a seat and got the window exit row seat.
This also works with legacy carriers really well. All the elites get the best seats on the flight to start bc they can select for free. A few of these elites are likely to get upgraded and then their seats will be open. Ill ask for exit row when I get to airport and its usually available at the gate.
I've tried this with United in an attempt to score a free Economy Plus seat, but at some point they just assigned me a seat even though I hadn't checked in.
I often travel alone with Wow Air and I never pay for seat assignments so it is always a gamble what seat I will get when I check in. I would try this strategy with them but a) they don't have kiosks and b) their online check in closes two hours before departure and c) i'd rather have a window or aisle on the last row of the aircraft than have a middle seat anywhere...
I often travel alone with Wow Air and I never pay for seat assignments so it is always a gamble what seat I will get when I check in. I would try this strategy with them but a) they don't have kiosks and b) their online check in closes two hours before departure and c) i'd rather have a window or aisle on the last row of the aircraft than have a middle seat anywhere on the plane. So in balance i prefer my strategy of being as close to SEQ001 as possible so that I get assigned a window or aisle seat.
Recently I flew AA. From booking the ticket until check in, there were no free seats that I'd want to sit in. At check in, I was assigned one of their "preferred" seats (main cabin, closer to the front of the plane but not main cabin extra) with priority boarding.
I had some similar methods over the years. Nice to see a post about this topic.
Similar experience with Ryanair. If you check in at exactly T-24hr they fill in back to front. I got Row 33 many times which is by far the best row (last row) because Ryanair boards back to front and often times opens both doors for disembark. First one on, first one off. Perfect. The only catch is you have to know your airports because at major airports like my home base Madrid, they use gates to board so getting off might be a problem.
Jon -- You haven't heard the half of it yet! I think the review will be titled, "This is why friends don't let friends fly Frontier...."
@Travis. I do it with spirit all the time. I dont check in online but at the kiosk. If u check in 2 hours or 2.5 hours. Before the flight at the aipprt it assigns you seat from the front i always get the first row or regular seats. In spirit i have also gotten the big front seat with your method half the time. Win win. I tell everyone to check in at the aiport 2 hiurs and garunteed first or 2nd row seats
I was recently on an Easyjet flight.Checked in about 36 hours before the flight and was assigned an extra legroom exit row seat. As there were 3 of us in that row, I was requested to go to the other side which was empty. So I ended up with a full row of extra legroom exit row.....
Still overpriced. My sympathies