I’ve had greater than 20 bank cards for a number of years now, and I take nice care to maximise each. Whether or not I am transferring rewards to beneficial companions, getting a soar begin on elite standing or leveraging free evening certificates, I get 1000’s of {dollars} of worth from these playing cards each single yr.
However not too long ago, I utilized for a brand new bank card that I by no means actually thought of, and it is already punching nicely above its weight class.
This is why the Frontier Airways World Mastercard® grew to become the latest bank card in my pockets — and why it could keep there for a very long time.
The data for the Frontier Airways Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
The welcome bonus
I am a sucker for a strong welcome bonus on a journey bank card, and the Frontier Airways Mastercard undoubtedly has one. New cardholders can earn 50,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual price in full inside 90 days of account opening.
No, it isn’t going to get me a business-class flight to Europe, however based mostly on TPG’s October 2024 valuations, it is nonetheless value $550. It is also among the many best welcome bonuses to earn because of the cheap spending requirement.
I earned these 50,000 miles within the first month of card membership, and I promptly put them to good use.
I am touring to New Orleans in February for Mardi Gras, and there was a wonderfully timed return flight on Frontier from Louis Armstrong New Orleans Worldwide Airport (MSY) to Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO). This could’ve been $133.98 per particular person, however the award flight was simply 10,000 miles (plus the $5.60 U.S. passenger safety price). That gave me a worth of 1.34 cents per mile.
Now, it is value noting that this redemption is for Frontier’s primary fare, which incorporates simply the flight and no extras. Fortunately, I can keep away from a lot of these added prices with one other a part of the cardboard’s present provide.
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Associated: Final information to Frontier Miles
The moment elite standing
Past the bonus miles, the Frontier Airways Mastercard is at present providing on the spot Elite Gold standing after the primary buy along with your card within the first 90 days after account opening. This standing will probably be legitimate for simply 90 days after your account opening date, however you may prolong it for a full 12 months by spending $3,000 within the first 90 days.
So naturally, that is precisely what I did.
Gold standing on Frontier can successfully flip your primary fare right into a extra versatile ticket with many further inclusions. This is a snapshot of what I’ll get on each Frontier flight I take by means of August 2025:
- No change and cancellation charges (seven or extra days forward of departure)
- A complimentary seat project at reserving
- A free carry-on bag
To present you an concept of how beneficial this may be, my one-way flight from New Orleans to Orlando has the Economic system Bundle out there for an additional $59 — which incorporates seat choice, a carry-on and related flight flexibility. And that is simply on a single flight.
This will also be tremendous beneficial in the event you guide a flight and the value drops nearer to departure.
For instance, I had a ticket booked to Indianapolis Worldwide Airport (IND) in mid-October that I in the end wanted to cancel as a result of Hurricane Milton. Nevertheless, the ticket dropped in worth two separate occasions previous to that.
The unique itinerary for me, my spouse and my daughter was $450.94 (together with seat choice for them, because the above perks solely apply to these with elite standing). The primary time I bought a notification of a lower cost through Google Flights, I canceled and rebooked for $289.94 — giving me a voucher of $161.
Then, only a week and a half later, it dropped once more, so I canceled and rebooked a second time for $241.94. That is one other $48 in future flight credit score.
Associated: How you can change or cancel a Frontier Airways flight
The perks
Even when my Gold standing expires — assuming I do not prolong it with spending or flying — the cardboard nonetheless presents some actually strong perks. As a cardholder, my miles by no means expire so long as I make no less than one buy a yr.
I additionally get pleasure from a redemption price waiver every time I guide an award ticket; this price begins at $5.60 per passenger for a one-way fare. With my award ticket from New Orleans to Orlando, I saved $45 simply by holding the bank card.
I can even get a $100 flight voucher after my account anniversary after spending $2,500 or extra on purchases with my card in an account yr. Since I wanted to spend $3,000 to increase my Gold standing, I’ve already hit that threshold, so when my card renews, I am going to have $100 to make use of for a future Frontier flight.
Lastly, shortly after I utilized, the cardboard grew to become much more beneficial when it started providing two free checked baggage to cardholders.
Whereas these are restricted to 40 kilos apiece, it successfully signifies that I can journey with my spouse and daughter for the following yr with out paying any bag charges, as we are able to simply pack right into a carry-on and medium-size checked bag for nearly all of our journeys.
The perfect half? All of that is out there for only a $99 annual price.
Backside line
As somebody who usually goals for aspirational journey alternatives with my factors and miles, the Frontier Airways Mastercard was by no means actually on my radar.
Nevertheless, Frontier has intensive service from Orlando, certainly one of my major airports, and the array of advantages on the cardboard (together with the present provide for Gold standing) permits me to guide cheap flights and keep away from most of the further charges that vacationers hate about low-cost carriers.
I’ve already earned the 50,000-mile welcome bonus, and I am trying ahead to reserving a number of further flights to make the most of these advantages over the approaching yr. And when the cardboard comes up for renewal, I simply might preserve it open as the latest beneficial addition to my pockets.
Study extra: Frontier Airways World Mastercard
Associated: Frontier Airways World Mastercard vs. Free Spirit Journey Extra World Elite Mastercard