Frontier Airlines and StatusMatch.com have teamed up to offer an intriguing paid status match promotion, for anyone who has elite status with an airline program, hotel program, or cruise line program. While there’s a fee to enroll, you can easily recoup that after just one trip, given the savings on fees that Frontier Airlines’ elite member receive.
This offer has been around for a couple of months, but I wanted to post a reminder of it, as the clock is ticking. Furthermore, with Frontier overhauling its frequent flyer program in 2024, there’s even more value to having status with the airline.
In this post:
Pay a fee and receive Frontier Airlines elite status
Frontier Airlines’ status match promotion is valid for applications through December 31, 2023, and matched status is then valid through December 31, 2024. You can potentially match to any of Frontier’s three status levels, depending on your current status with another program:
- A Frontier Elite 20K status match costs $99
- A Frontier Elite 50K status match costs $99
- A Frontier Elite 100K status match costs $149
- You’re eligible for a status match if you requested one in the past, but that’ll cost an extra $50 (lol) if you’ve requested a match since November 1, 2020
You can match from 15 airlines, 15 hotel brands, and 15 cruise lines, and you can find the full list of eligible matches here. That chart also shows you how status maps over. As you can see, only select airline status qualifies for Elite 100K, and not hotel or cruise status. Your status should be updated within 72 hours of making an eligible match.
What’s awesome is that this isn’t a status challenge, but rather it’s an outright status match, as there’s no activity required. If you’re approved, you automatically receive status through the end of 2024.
What are the benefits of Frontier Airlines elite status?
Frontier is an ultra low cost carrier, so the airline ordinarily charges extra for just about everything beyond your seat and using the lavatory. Frontier Airlines has three elite tiers, and below you can find the perks associated with each tier.
Frontier Elite 20K members receive four most valuable perks, as I see it:
- A complimentary carry-on bag
- A free seat assignment at the time of booking
- Priority boarding
- Free Stretch seating at the time of check-in, subject to availability
Frontier Elite 50K members incrementally receive:
- Stretch seating at the time of booking, rather than at check-in
- 50% off a Discount Den membership
- A 1.25x mileage multiplier
Then Frontier Elite 100K members incrementally receive:
- A free Discount Den membership
- A free checked bag
- The WORKS Bundle for your family, offering similar perks for your family members
- A 1.5x mileage multiplier
If you fly Frontier with any frequency, the value of these perks can add up quickly. In particular, if you’re a Frontier Elite 100K member, you can fly Frontier in relative comfort while paying virtually no fees. The enrollment fee will potentially pay for itself after one flight.
Frontier will be changing elite perks as of 2024, and most of the changes are positive. So if you’re in a position where you might fly Frontier before the end of 2024, it’s definitely worth considering applying.
Bottom line
Frontier Airlines has a paid status match promotion, allowing you to earn any of Frontier’s elite tiers. The status match costs $99-149 (and an extra $50 if you’ve done a status match before), but for that you receive status through the end of 2024.
Given the huge amount that you can save on fees by having Frontier Airlines elite status, I’d say this has the potential to be a pretty lucrative offer. It’s just a question of whether you have plans to fly Frontier…
Anyone plan on taking advantage of Frontier’s status match promotion?
If you buy a status match from F9 will any of the other airlines allow you to match to them? Schedule is the biggest problem I have with these guys and if anything goes wrong forget about it.
Does it include any benefits for traveling with a pet?
I did the elite status and it paid for itself so fast.
Free checked bags upgraded (relatively speaking) seats.
No change fees etc.
The one trick is when you fly that airline your taking away from points on your primary airline.
Their website had a problem. Delta/United Platinum should be matched to 100K but was only yielding 50K. They have fixed the problem now.
Not sure, how the match upgrade works for existing Frontier elite. For an existing 20K or 50K elite, if holder has higher status (say, Platinum/1K on United), the FAQ says it will be matched and upgraded but how does it work and at what price?
I tried and it's quoting...
Their website had a problem. Delta/United Platinum should be matched to 100K but was only yielding 50K. They have fixed the problem now.
Not sure, how the match upgrade works for existing Frontier elite. For an existing 20K or 50K elite, if holder has higher status (say, Platinum/1K on United), the FAQ says it will be matched and upgraded but how does it work and at what price?
I tried and it's quoting the same $149 as for someone who's not a Frontier Elite. So what does this FAQ mean?
Proud non-Frontier since 2001
I have a booking with Frontier but I haven't added any baggage and selected a seat. After I upgrade to 100K, will I get the baggage and seat for free? Do I need to update the booking?
In the FAQ, it mentions that there will be no refund if you purchased the baggage or seat, but doesn't say anything about adding these after upgrade.
I checked on existing frontier bookings I had (before status), and I still need to pay for bags and seats.
Yes you need to book the flight once you have the status. After the fact you won't get the benefits.
Update: you need to remove, then re-add, your Frontier number to the reservation. Then, you should see free seat selection and carry-on. That’s what happened for me.
Might need to use their online chat to request an agent to do that for you though.
I am Delta platinum medallion, and its only offering me 50K status match. Not sure why because the website still says I'm eligible for 100K status match.
See above post. Looks like this was fixed.
I’m new to status matching. What else can I status match to my Hilton Gold and/or Frontier 50k?
I took the spirit status match earlier this year, having never flown spirit before, and it's actually been awesome. Matched from my Hilton status, and all summer I've been taking $20-40 trips booked day of, and enjoying my exit row and Oreos. The spirit deal seemed like a better deal than this though.
No frequent flyer flies frontier
Patently untrue.
I think his point is you’re not a frequent flyer if the airline you frequently fly is frontier. It’s a fair point.
I'm tempted to status match to Frontier 100k since Delta apparently hates me now.
Seems like the 100k is now not available for Hotel Elite Statuses. Seems like very hard to match to 100k at this point.
I have AA Platinum so did a match to the 50K elite. Once I entered all the info, I was given option to upgrade to 100K status for $399 more. That's a chunk for sure, but worth it for me with full family benefits.
I took advantage of the status match last time and found Frontier perfectly pleasant for flying and not paying the fees helped greatly. While I would still be subject to checked bag fees, this is still a steal even with the additional $50 for doing it again.