#34 Among Airlines
Point Value
1.2 ¢
Program Score
3
Frontier Miles is best for those who travel light and on a budget:
There are only three primary ways to earn Frontier Miles. You can open and spend on their one co-branded credit card, earn Frontier Miles by flying on the airline, or book travel with one of Frontier’s travel partners.
Frontier Miles are earned based on how much you spend, your elite status level, the type of fare you purchase, and whether you have the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard. Members without the Frontier card earn significantly fewer miles on Basic fares than on Economy, Premium, or Business bundles:
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard cardholders receive higher earning rates:
This earning structure makes buying a bundle much more rewarding, particularly if you also carry the Frontier credit card.
If you open the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard, you can earn more miles to redeem for Frontier flights. This is the only co-branded card available, and with no credit card transfer partners, it’s the best way to earn Frontier Miles outside of flying.
The card also plays a big role in Frontier's earning structure, rewarding those who hold it. In addition to receiving the higher program earning rates listed above, cardholders earn 5 miles per dollar spent on eligible Frontier purchases with the card. You'll also earn 1 Elite Status Point per dollar on eligible Frontier purchases, helping you qualify for elite status more quickly.
Frontier Family Pooling lets you combine miles with up to eight other members, with no family or household requirement. The pool head must have Frontier elite status or the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard and controls redemption of the pooled miles.
Once someone joins, all miles in their Frontier account become available to the pool head. Members can leave at any time, but must wait 90 days before joining or creating another pool.
Frontier Airlines World Mastercard
Special Offers Related to Frontier Miles. Click the arrow to see more.
Frontier announced major changes to its elite status qualifications and benefits, along with significant cuts to earning rates and a greater emphasis on purchasing bundles. Despite a few improvements, most of the changes are negative. Following the lead of other airlines, those who don't carry a Frontier credit card will be hit the hardest. Starting September 1, 2026, everyone will earn fewer miles and elite status points on flights. General members will go from earning 10X on eligible Frontier spending to just 1X on Basic fares and 6X on Economy, Premium, or Business bundles. Elite members will also earn fewer miles and status points, although Frontier cardholders will receive higher earning rates when purchasing bundles. Elite status is also changing for 2027: Silver will require 15,000 points instead of 10,000, Gold increases from 20,000 to 25,000, Platinum remains at 50,000, and Diamond drops from 100,000 to 75,000. Starting in 2027, elites will lose complimentary seat-selection benefits and change/cancellation-fee waivers on Basic fares, while complimentary UpFront Plus and upcoming first-class upgrades will require purchasing an eligible bundle. Platinum members will lose unlimited companion travel and instead receive two companion certificates, while Diamond members will receive unlimited companion travel. There are some positives, including improved upgrade windows and the lower Diamond threshold, but overall Frontier is making status harder to earn for many members while requiring bundled fares to receive benefits that elite status previously provided.
Rove has added Frontier Airlines as a new transfer partner and is celebrating the launch with a 25% transfer bonus through July 31, 2026. The standard transfer ratio is 1:1, so you'll receive 1,250 Frontier miles for every 1,000 Rove Miles transferred during the promotion. Frontier is a nice addition for anyone who regularly flies the airline, and there can be good redemption opportunities on certain routes. As always, we wouldn't recommend transferring speculatively. Only move points if you have a specific redemption in mind.
The only way to redeem Frontier Miles is for airfare on Frontier. The airline uses an award chart with starting rates across three tiers — Value, Standard, and Last Seat — with prices increasing at each level. You can view the chart here.
To search for award flights, log into your account, enter your trip details, and select “search by miles.” After results appear, you can also use the low fare calendar to see pricing by month.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Switch to Frontier’s calendar view to compare award prices across an entire month. This is one of the easiest ways to find the lowest-priced dates if your schedule is flexible.
Frontier’s lowest fares include very little beyond the ticket itself. Compare the cost of moving up to an Economy bundle, which can include extras such as bags, seat selection, and more flexible change or cancellation terms.
Frontier offers monthly, seasonal, and annualGoWild! all-you-can-fly passes. These can make sense for frequent or highly flexible travelers, but check the current rules and eligible travel dates before buying.
Discount Den offers access to lower fares, exclusive deals, and Kids Fly Free on eligible flights and dates. Families traveling with children under 15 may be able to offset the annual membership cost quickly.
Frontier Miles is best for budget travelers who fly Frontier regularly. It’s a niche airline that makes it possible to travel cheaply within the U.S., the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. If you pack light, understand the extra fees for bags and seats, and are willing to compare Basic fares with bundled options, Frontier can offer excellent value.
The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard is the airline’s only co-branded card. While it’s not a top pick overall, it has become more important within the Frontier Miles program because cardholders receive higher earning rates on Frontier purchases and can earn Status Points through card spending. The card also includes Gold status for the first 90 days, which can be extended through the first year by spending $3,000 during that window. As long as you hold the card and your account is in good standing, your miles will not expire, which is a significant perk given that Frontier miles normally expire after 12 months of inactivity.
Because Frontier has no credit card transfer partners, the primary ways to build miles are by flying the airline or using its co-branded card. Frontier Miles ranks low on our overall loyalty program list, but it can still serve frequent Frontier flyers and budget-minded travelers well. Beginning in 2027, however, elite members will need to pay closer attention to fare type because several seat and upgrade benefits will require purchasing a bundle.
Frontier Miles has four elite status tiers. You earn status by collecting Status Points, which can be earned by flying Frontier or spending on the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard. The number of Status Points you earn on Frontier purchases depends on your elite status and the type of fare you purchase.
Starting in 2027, Frontier is increasing the number of Status Points required for Silver and Gold status, keeping Platinum unchanged, and reducing the requirement for Diamond:
Higher tiers unlock additional perks, including free bags, seat benefits, and complimentary upgrades. Beginning in 2027, many seat and upgrade benefits require purchasing an Economy, Premium, or Business bundle rather than a Basic fare.
Here are the four levels, requirements you’ll need to get to each level, and the benefits of each
If you cancel your Frontier Airlines World Mastercard, your miles will once again be subject to expiring after 12 months of inactivity. The only way to keep them alive without the card is by earning additional miles from a Frontier flight. If you’re comfortable with that limitation, canceling the card isn’t a major issue.
Frontier’s award chart lists redemptions starting at 5000 miles one-way during promos, but actual searches often show flights as low as 2500 miles one-way. Pricing varies by route and demand, so always check the low fare calendar for the best deals.
Frontier lets you create a Family Pool with up to eight other people, and they don’t need to share an address. All members can contribute miles, and the pool head can redeem them. The pool head must have Frontier elite status or hold the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard.
You cannot transfer Frontier miles directly to another person. The main way to share miles is through a Family Pool, which can include up to eight other members. The pool head must have Frontier elite status or the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard and controls redemption of the pooled miles.
Frontier’s Basic Fare includes only a personal item. Economy and Premium bundles include a carry-on, while Business bundles also include a checked bag. Elite status can provide additional free baggage benefits, with the most generous allowances available to Platinum and Diamond members.
Tracking Points & Transfer Options
