Frontier Airlines (NASDAQ: ULCC) has unveiled its “GoWild!” All-You-Can-Fly pass. Considering only its name and the price of $599 for the first year, it may sound appealing. But as the old adage goes, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
THE SPECIFICS
There are also about 60 days during the year that are blacked out, including the end-of-year holidays and much of the spring break season.
Oh, and that initial $599 price? That’s for the first year only. After that, it will auto-renew for $1,999 per year until the flyer cancels it.
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THE SPECIFICS
Starting May 2, 2023, flyers who score one of the limited number of passes that will be issued can use it to fly to any of the airline’s U.S. destinations, including Puerto Rico.
The pass will probably prove to be a boon for the airline – filling empty seats and bringing in more revenue – but its value to the customer? There are so many “terms and conditions” that I find its value questionable at best.
First and foremost, GoWild! Pass flights become available to book and confirm the day before flight departure. That’s great if you’re in it for the adventure, don’t really care when you go, and are flexible enough that you can stay at your destination for a few extra days if there are no seats home when you’re ready to return. But for other types of travel, be they business, leisure, family events, etc., it just doesn’t seem that useful.
Fares will be $0.01 per flight, but taxes and fees that start at about $14.60 per person, per flight will be additional.
Frequent flyers will not earn miles for any of the flights, though the flights will count as activity, extending the life of accrued miles.
Then there are the typical “ancillary charges” which are not included with this pass. Things like baggage charges (and Frontier charges for both checked and many carry-on items), seat assignments and extended legroom will still be tacked on.
The pass will probably prove to be a boon for the airline – filling empty seats and bringing in more revenue – but its value to the customer? There are so many “terms and conditions” that I find its value questionable at best.
First and foremost, GoWild! Pass flights become available to book and confirm the day before flight departure. That’s great if you’re in it for the adventure, don’t really care when you go, and are flexible enough that you can stay at your destination for a few extra days if there are no seats home when you’re ready to return. But for other types of travel, be they business, leisure, family events, etc., it just doesn’t seem that useful.
Fares will be $0.01 per flight, but taxes and fees that start at about $14.60 per person, per flight will be additional.
Frequent flyers will not earn miles for any of the flights, though the flights will count as activity, extending the life of accrued miles.
Then there are the typical “ancillary charges” which are not included with this pass. Things like baggage charges (and Frontier charges for both checked and many carry-on items), seat assignments and extended legroom will still be tacked on.
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| Frontier's seats with short 28-inch pitch |
There are also about 60 days during the year that are blacked out, including the end-of-year holidays and much of the spring break season.
Oh, and that initial $599 price? That’s for the first year only. After that, it will auto-renew for $1,999 per year until the flyer cancels it.
MY TAKE
Finally, it’s Frontier; one of the worst airlines in America. And that’s not just my opinion.
Frontier didn’t even make a showing in the 2022 SkyTrax awards of the world’s top 100 airlines. Frontier is infamous for offering low fares, then boosting the actual price with ancillary charges. In 2021, Frontier derived nearly 55 percent of its total revenue from these nickel-and-dime charges. That’s higher than any other airline in the world except the ultra-low-cost Hungarian airline Wizz Air. Seat pitch is among the shortest in the industry: as little as 28 inches for standard seats, and many don’t recline.
Given all the restrictions on its use and Frontier’s irritating business practices, I’d pass on this so-called opportunity.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos provided by Frontier Airlines
Click on photo to view larger image
Finally, it’s Frontier; one of the worst airlines in America. And that’s not just my opinion.
Frontier didn’t even make a showing in the 2022 SkyTrax awards of the world’s top 100 airlines. Frontier is infamous for offering low fares, then boosting the actual price with ancillary charges. In 2021, Frontier derived nearly 55 percent of its total revenue from these nickel-and-dime charges. That’s higher than any other airline in the world except the ultra-low-cost Hungarian airline Wizz Air. Seat pitch is among the shortest in the industry: as little as 28 inches for standard seats, and many don’t recline.
Given all the restrictions on its use and Frontier’s irritating business practices, I’d pass on this so-called opportunity.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos provided by Frontier Airlines
Click on photo to view larger image
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