Frontier Airlines raised eyebrows three years ago when they said they didn’t want to use jet bridges anymore at their home base in Denver. Now they say they want to move “as close to 100% ground loading as possible” across all of their airports over the next few years, calling jet bridges “the kiss of death” for fast turns.
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Denver opened a new A-East facility with 14 aircraft positions purpose-built with Frontier that fully opened a year ago. They were already operating out of Austin’s South Terminal, which doesn’t have jetbridges. Denver is cold in the winter, Austin hot in the summer. Neither is ideal for passenger comfort, but Frontier itself is not designed for passenger comfort.
- Using air stairs instead of jet bridges lets you do Dual-door boarding and deplaning – two sets of stairs, one each at the front and rear of the aircraft. That means faster boarding and deplaning, which means less time between flights. Planes only make money when they’re in the air.
- And air stairs are cheaper, since many airports charge extra for jet bridge use.
- You can also run more flights per gate. You need more aircraft positions, usually not more gates, to increase capacity.
- And jet bridges fail and block a departure, while stairs and ramps are modular.
An ultra-low cost airline operates in ways that make it more efficient, with passenger experience and behavior conforming to the airline’s convenience in exchange for low fares rather than the airline conforming to passenger comfort to attract business. So snow, wind, rain, and summer heat are all now part of the boarding experience for Frontier.
Boarding from an apron position (often involving a bus) and boarding via stairs is much more common in Europe and in Asia than the United States, although several airports have this for regional jet operations. Much of the time it’s fine, but in bad weather not as much.
And in places like Denver it is simultaneously a reason I prefer not to fly Frontier (along with their not offering wifi) given that they eschew jet bridges even where other airlines use them and it is a reason why they are successful: they know who they are and keep a tight lid on costs, a contrast to Spirit which inaugurated a new corporate campus last year a mere couple of months before entering their first bankruptcy.
My favorite US airport for boarding and deplaning is BUR exactly because Southwest uses both doors- it makes it so much faster. And I feel like there’s nothing cooler than boarding through the back as you get to walk along the whole plane on your way there.
No problem. I flew in July on Frontier from Cleveland to Fort Myers, FL. That flight was a complete disaster from beginning to end. Delayed departure with no notice nor explanation at any time. No Frontier Agent at the gate until literally minutes before departure. I paid extra for a seat described as a more comfortable seat only to find it a horrendous experience from which I have not yet fully recovered. The seat cushion did not fit and was not secure, with a metal object attacking my tailbone for the entire experience. AC cranked to the MAX and no possible way to escape the deep freeze.
Frontier Airlines no longer exists in my world and it is hoped they will no longer exist period. One of the Flight Attendants actually screamed at a Passenger who was attempting to get up to use the Lavatory. Sad excuse for an Airline.
You do not know what “air stairs” are. Frontier does not have a single aeroplane equipped with such. You are thinking of “boarding stairs.”
Do your research properly before you start cutting and pasting on your word processor.
We have used those front ramps a bunch and they are way better than the simple stairs used in Europe. Only thing is Frontier hasn’t actually started boarding in the back yet. Assume not enough stairs. Either way it’s not as bad as its made out and if they keep fares low and stay in biz that’s all that matters.
I have used stairs and ramps in central and northern Europe during winter and its not apocalyptic. As you pointed out, it’s not just Ryanair, Wizz and EasyJet….Lufty, SAS and AF do it. Ramp is extra vigilant about keeping surfaces treated.
Where its going to get interesting is the nature of wx on the front range. Micro storms blow up in seconds with winds, lightning and hail while it’s severe clear 6 gates down. I was boarding a UA plane years ago when a gust knocked the jet way several feet (with people in it) and smashed the door causing a cancelation. Now what would happen in that scenario with scores of pax on the ramp unprotected.
I’ve deplaned on stairs with snow falling. Not a big deal.
Nice! I love walking straight across the tarmac. It’s s rare treat.