Frontier Airlines change fees scrapped in pricing overhaul

A Frontier Airlines plane lands at the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Feb. 27, 2020.

Elizabeth Page Brumley | Tribune News Service | Getty Images

Frontier Airlines said it will stop charging customers a fee to change their flights, taking a page from larger competitors as the Biden administration issues stricter rules targeting so-called “junk fees.”

The change is part of an overhaul announced on Friday of the budget airline’s longtime pricing model, which brings customers in the door with eye-catching low base fares but charges a fee for everything else such as seating assignments and carry-on baggage. That model is shared by fellow discounter Spirit Airlines.

Frontier said it will start offering packages that include some of those add-ons, among others, such as early boarding. While some fares will still allow travelers to add on options a la carte, “we expect that option to be a minority of customers,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle told CNBC.

A new “economy” bundle that comes with a carry-on and a seat assignment will start at $30 more than a basic fare, while a “premium” bundle that offers those perks plus earlier boarding will be $50 more than the basic fare. For at least $100 more than a basic fare, “business” bundle travelers will also be able to check two bags and get a seat at the front of the plane with more room.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule that requires airlines to tell customers about fees, including those for checked or carry-on baggage, up front, a change the DOT said would save travelers more than half a billion dollars a year.

Frontier currently charges up to $99 to change flights if the change is made within a week of the trip, according to the airline’s website. Larger rivals Delta, American and United scrapped change fees during the Covid-19 pandemic for travelers who were booked in standard economy class and above. Southwest Airlines does not charge customers to change their tickets.

“The truth is the big four [U.S. airlines] all have no change fees on the majority of their products, so we were not as desirable,” Biffle said. He said change fees were a “top complaint” of travelers. Travelers who buy the cheapest option on Frontier will still have to pay to change their flights.

Frontier also said flight credits would be valid for 12 months, up from three months, starting with tickets issued on Friday, and that it will reintroduce live phone support for travelers flying within 24 hours or to elite members of its frequent flyer program.

Don’t miss these exclusives from CNBC PRO

Source link

Related Posts

US imposes restrictions on Thai officials for deporting Uyghurs to China

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world The US has imposed visa restrictions on current…

Read more

How the US economy lost its aura of invincibility

Donald Trump told a room full of executives on Tuesday that he senses a “renewed spirit” coursing through the US corporate world, as businesses unleash hundreds of billions of dollars…

Read more

Crispin Odey makes courtroom visit to Staley case over Epstein ties

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Financier Crispin Odey made an unexpected visit to the court…

Read more

G7 warns Russia of expanded sanctions unless it backs ceasefire

The US and its G7 partners have warned Moscow they could expand sanctions and use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, as Donald Trump seeks to win over Vladimir Putin…

Read more

US stocks rebound as government shutdown fears recede

Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the US equities myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. Wall Street stocks rallied on Friday at the end of…

Read more

Rachel Reeves: turning a weak economy into a strong hand

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was this week hit by a growing Labour party backlash over her plans to cut state spending and news that the economy shrank in January. After seven…

Read more

Leave a Reply