Want to come out ahead flying Frontier Airlines? Then you need to understand the airline's tricky fees, especially when it comes to carry-on and checked bags.
An ultra-low-cost carrier known for its dirt-cheap fares and additional fees for everything from seat assignments to baggage, Frontier has been shaking things up lately. Instead of pure a la carte pricing where passengers pick and choose what extras they want like bags, the airline now sells fare bundles – most of which include free carry-on bags. And now, Frontier even offers free checked bags if you hold a co-branded Frontier credit card – a popular perk you’ll find on many other airlines’ credit cards.
But despite that change of heart, bringing bags will still cost you more with Frontier – whether you add luggage separately or pay more upfront for a fare that includes baggage.
As with every airline, every traveler gets one personal item for free on Frontier Airlines … at least so long as it fits underneath the seat in front of you. But if you purchase the airline's cheapest “Basic” ticket, that's all you'll get – any additional bags will cost you.
Here's everything you need to know when it comes to Frontier's baggage fees.
Thrifty Tip: Match your airline (or hotel) status to Frontier to get free carry-on or checked bags!
Personal Items
No matter what fare you purchase, there's one Frontier bag that is always free: A personal item.
Personal items on Frontier Airlines are anything that can fit underneath the seat in front of you.
According to Frontier, personal item bags can only be 14 inches tall, 18 inches wide, and 8 inches deep. Make sure your bag is the correct size before heading to the airport, because paying upon arrival at the airport could cost you nearly $80.
Frontier's Carry-On Baggage Policy
Need something more than a backpack or purse? If your carry-on bag fits Frontier's size parameters, you can bring it on board the plane with you and put it in the overhead bin. But you'll have to pay for it.
Carry-on bags must be 35 pounds or less to qualify, and must be smaller than 24 inches tall, 16 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. In our experience, Frontier rarely weighs carry-on bags … but gate agents can be vigilant about fitting them into bag sizers before boarding.
As with all baggage fees on Frontier, the earlier in the process you book your bags, the cheaper they'll be.
Carry-on Baggage Fees
Carry-on bags booked at check-in will cost flyers up between $54 and $60 each way in most cases … but are slightly more expensive after that. You'll pay the lowest baggage fees by adding your bag at purchase – or simply booking a bundle that includes a carry-on bag.
For instance, for a flight between Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and Denver (DEN), Frontier is currently charging $54 when you add a carry-on bag during checkout, $69 to add it anytime before or during check in, $79 to add one at the airport or by calling customer service, and $99 if you need to tack it on at the gate.
It's worth noting that on Frontier, the fees are often the same for carry-on bags as they are for checked bags.
If you're booking Frontier's cheapest fare and want to add a carry-on bag, you'll pay the lowest price by purchasing it online while booking your flight.
Better yet, just book at least an economy bundle that includes a carry-on bag. Because while adding a carry-on bag separately to the cheapest basic fare will cost you $54 on this flight from Minneapolis to Denver, booking the economy bundle that includes a carry-on bag (plus seat selection and free change or cancellation) only costs an extra $49.
Traveling with Pets
Pets are allowed to travel on Frontier flights for a fee in the cabin, but cannot be checked as baggage. Pets currently cost travelers $99 each way. Travelers can still bring a personal item on board free of charge when traveling with a pet.
Pets must be “domesticated” according to Frontier, and all cats and dogs must be at least eight weeks old. Frontier accepts dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, or small household birds on its flights. Large birds, rodents, beavers, ferrets, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, and insects are not allowed on any Frontier flight.
Pets must remain in their carriers the entire duration of the flight, according to Frontier's rules. Oh, and travelers with pets cannot sit in an exit row on Frontier flights – nor in the first row of the plane.
The container itself can be a maximum of 18 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 8 inches tall. It's recommended that the case be soft-sided and the carrier must be large enough for the pet to stand, turn around, and lie down in a natural position.
If you're planning to travel abroad with your pet, make sure you go over the U.S. Department of Agriculture's guidelines about pet transport before you begin planning your journey. For instance, pet health certificates and vaccination proof are required in many countries where Frontier flies.
Checking a Bag on Frontier
Frontier also charges for checked bags, but adding a checked bag to your Frontier ticket is typically the same price (or cheaper) than carrying it on.
First, make sure your checked bags meet the size criteria. The size of your bag cannot exceed 62 inches when you add the length, width, and depth of the bag together.
Most major airlines allow bags up to 50 pounds, but not Frontier: Frontier has a slightly stricter, 40-pound weight threshold. Your baggage allowance on Frontier hinges on the size and weight of these bags, so double-check before leaving for the airport.
Checked Baggage Fees
The best and easiest way see what you'll pay for checked bags is to use Frontier's “Bag Price Checker.”
Just plug in your booked flights or your potential flights and the airline will give you a breakdown of what you can expect to pay. But keep in mind: All of these charges apply each way. If you're flying roundtrip, double the price.
As always with Frontier Airlines, you'll save by paying for your bag while you purchase your flight.
For most flights, your first checked bag costs around $55 each way if you purchase it at booking. Compare that to what it would cost if you try to check your bag at the airport – $79 each way – and you're saving more than $20 each way by getting it done earlier.
Paid Special Items
Of course, there are always special items that travelers want to fly with, from guns, to hockey sticks, to trombones, and more. Baggage fees for these items vary, too.
Firearms
Any Frontier traveler over the age of 18 may travel with a checked firearm on Frontier Airlines flights. Firearms must be stored in locked, hard-sided containers with up to 11 pounds of ammunition.
Musical Instruments
Musical instruments, large and small, are all allowed on Frontier Airlines flights as long as they are less than 100 pounds. Carry-on instruments may exceed normal carry-on sizes so long as they fit into the overhead bins on the airplane. Larger musical instruments that are too big for the overhead bin and are carried on the plane are only allowed if you purchase a seat for the instrument.
Sports Equipment
Frontier allows all kinds of sports equipment onboard its aircraft including golf equipment, hockey equipment, kayaks, scuba gear, skates, ski and snowboard equipment and more. As with most airlines, ski boot bags can be checked together with the ski bag and only count as one item, so long as the boot bag is less than 25 pounds. Allow an 30 extra minutes at check in for ski equipment.
For a detailed look at the rules for every sports item, visit Frontier's website.
Bicycles
Both bicycles and antlers are allowed on Frontier Airlines flights.
Non-motorized, single-seat bicycles can be checked on Frontier Airlines flights so long as the handlebars are fixed sideways, the pedals are removed, and the bike is stored in a protective case. Bicycles need an extra 30 minutes for check-in. Bicycles are $75 each way on Frontier flights, no matter what fare you purchased.
Baggage Exceptions
As with most airlines, some baggage types for traveling families are exempt, including diaper bags, strollers, and car seats, each of which can be carried on in addition to your carry-on luggage on all Frontier flights, free of charge.
Strollers can also be either checked or carried on and car seats can be checked free of charge on all Frontier flights when traveling with a child.
Overweight Baggage Fees
Checked bags can be up to 40 pounds on Frontier Airlines flights, and everything heavier than that is subject to additional fees.
Bags between 41 and 50 pounds will get hit with an extra $75 fee each way and bags over 50 pounds are another $100 per bag each way.
How to Reduce Baggage Fees
It's hard to avoid paying any baggage fees when flying Frontier. But there are a few ways to save.
Pay for Baggage Upfront
The best and easiest way to save on Frontier Airlines baggage fees is by booking your bags at checkout when you buying your airfare.
The airline is very clear on its website that booking bags right away will save you money.
Purchase a Bundled Fare
Now that Frontier has ditched its pure a la carte pricing model, you can buy bundles from the outset that come with more.
Let's say you're flying from Denver (DEN) to New Orleans (MSY) and want to bring a carry-on bag and ensure you don't get stuck in a middle seat between two strangers. You could purchase a $54 “basic” fare, but adding a carry-on bag would be another $54. Oh, and add at least $16 for a seat assignment.
That's an extra $70, bringing your total on this flight to New Orleans to $124 each way. So why not book an economy bundle from the outset that includes both for an extra $49: A total of $103 each way.
How to Get Free Bags on Frontier
Most travelers might overlook the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® from Barclays, but there's a new reason to pick it up now: Free checked bags.
As of August 2024, the Frontier co-branded credit card comes with two free checked bags on every Frontier flight for cardholders. Critically, you have to pay for your flight with your Frontier card to get this perk.
The Frontier card has a $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $99 a year after that. But if you take more than one roundtrip Frontier flight a year, you can easily recoup that cost in bag fees.
Learn more about the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® from Barclays (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link)
Get Frontier Status
“Low-cost carriers” and “elite status” might not exactly go hand in hand, but status with Frontier can pay off big time when it comes to bag fees.
- Flyers with Frontier Gold Elite status can get a free carry-on bag on every flight.
- Flyers with Frontier Platinum Elite status and higher can get a free carry-on bag and a first checked bag free – for everyone on their reservation!
Read up on how to get Frontier Status easily through a status match!
For veterans, military bags fly free, too. Military members with military identification get two free carry-on bags and two free checked bags on every Frontier Airlines flight. The program only applies to active duty military, and not military families or travel companions.
Bottom Line
Understanding Frontier's baggage fees is the best way to understand the value of Frontier flights.
Frontier offers dirt-cheap fares … but charges very high baggage fees. Knowing how to book Frontier checked bags for less and understanding your baggage allowance on Frontier can help you save on your next trip.
I just want to say, Frontier claims the personal item can be 14 inches tall, 18 inches wide, and 8 inches deep, but that is not the case. Their “sizer” is not the stated size. I have personally measured, and it is much smaller. Spirit has the exact same size requirements. I have pictures of the same bag, on the same day, at the same airport, and there is at least 2 inches off the width of Frontier. This leads to those vigilant gate agents racking in their $10 commissions for the $100 gate baggage fee. It’s truly a deceptive practice.
I’m not finding any rules concerning CPAP machines. On other airlines it is not considered a personal item and they don’t charge you for it. I’m checking to see if frontier charges you for a CPAP or considers it your personal item???
CPAP is considered a medical device, so it is not counted as a personal or carry on item. There is no charge for this. Always keep it in it’ separate carry case. This is not an airline rule it is a (US) FAA rule. I have taken my CPAP on frontier and have never been questioned.
The staff is just plain unprofessional.
That comment from various travellers says it all. This airline makes it a mission to fleece it’s customers when they are the most vulnerable – at the gate. They hire agents who don’t identify themselves and use scare tactics to make you pay.
You don’t need the aggravation , just skip this airline that dangles a low fare as bait.
This is the worst airline I have ever flown on and I have been flying around the Country for 30 plus years. They say in writing, we will refund your money if you cancel your flight within 7 days of your previous booked flight. That’s untrue, I had to cancel my first flight and book another one the very next day, because I found another flight of there that arrived sooner. I was going to see my friend of 60 years that was dying of Cancer. They kept my previous fare and wouldn’t refund it. They basically STOLE my money ! I will never fly this ” Airline ” again !
Frontier is indeed a scam. And Priceline abets their thuggery. Buy a Frontier ticket thru Priceline and only after it is too late you learn that the ticket is a third of the fare. For good reasons, airlines are regulated. Write the FAA; write your Congressional Rep. this is bald thievery.
I will never fly Frontier again. It was a nightmare!! Cheap flights equals horrible customer service, cancelations without notice and the representatives that work for this horrible airline are rude and very unprofessional! I will be sure to let those i know who fly frequently to NEVER fly Frontier !!
Frontier bag fees are a scam! We purchased tickets with them and paid a bag fee in advance, since it’s “cheaper” like that. They cancelled our flight and never refunded our bag fee! They kept our money for a service that was not even provided. The staff was very rude and unhelpful. We will not be flying with them anymore.
If you add up the bag fee to the ticket price you can find much better options out there.
I recently flew from Detroit to las Vegas on Frontier Airlines. The flight there and back was good, but that’s all I can say about this airline. I was charged $67 and $64 for my carry on which I paid for before flight. I had a C-Pap machine which I had to cram into my small suitcase. At the Vegas Airport they pulled me aside and patted me down and took my shoes and suitcase to look at my C-Pap machine. I’m 70 years old, they couldn’t see the machine clear enough on the xray. My friend and I got to the airport 2 hours before the flight. By the time we got to the gate we were one of the last ones to board. I tried to call before we left Detroit to talk to someone about my machine. The number I called on the website was just a call center and very rude. The number I was given was just a recording, I never was able to talk to anyone. I don’t recommend this airline.
I never pay for a small suit case that Carrie’s my cpap machine. That is medical equipment and does is excluded from charges.
Frontier Airlines is a terrible airlines. Even when someone takes the time to understand the fees and bag charges the staff is just plain unprofessional. My flight was cancelled and no refund was given. They don’t give any refunds based on the type of ticket I bought. They denied service and a refund. The staff is just rude and don’t deserve to operate an airlines.
Is a purse counted as your free carry on?
Yes, a purse counts as a personal item.