HUGE: Frontier Airlines Will Status Match Almost All Airline OR Hotel Elite Members – Up To Top Tier

Do you have elite status with an airline – or even a hotel chain? You might even have this just from having a credit card. Frontier Airlines wants to match your status and depending on your current elite level will even give you top tier in their program.

Frontier offers super cheap airfare with a lot of add-on fees. But Frontier’s top level waives all fees and even makes tickets refundable. Basically their incredible 2020 offer is back but they’re willing to match against a lot more programs this time.

Base-level status comes with a free carry on bag and seat assignment, and extra legroom seats if available at check-in as some of its benefits. Mid-tier status adds bonus miles. And top tier status offers checked bags and makes all tickets refundable, for everyone on the member’s booking.

They’ll match against 15 different airlines and 15 different hotel programs. GHA Black status via status match is good for top tier elite status. Wyndham Diamond is good for top tier status. Have a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass, mostly from a credit card signup bonus, that’s good for Frontier’s 100K status.

Key things to know:

  • The offer runs through December 31, 2021
  • Matched status lasts through December 31, 2022
  • It costs $49 to apply for the match. This is a fee-based airline after all! They’re giving you status, you may never use it, and they’re outsourcing processing of the match request so there are costs.
  • If you did the 2020 status match offer you are not eligible to do it again “however, select customers may be contacted with targetted with an offer.”

You do have to enroll in the Early Returns program if you aren’t already a member. Requests are processed within 72 hours.


Copyright: zhukovsky / 123RF Stock Photo

I really like Frontier’s credit card, if you like the status you match to at Frontier it’s easy to keep because you earn 1 qualifying mile per dollar spent on their card. So you can earn 100,000 mile top tier status and make all tickets refundable through credit card spend alone. (Of course redeeming my miles on Frontier isn’t as aspirational as I might prefer.)

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. The only problem is that you have to actually fly Frontier Airlines in order to take advantage of the benefit

  2. $49 fee, genius marketing. I’d do it if I could figure out a way to leverage their status back to someone else. Or I’d do it “if” I was going to fly Frontier.

  3. Um, why did I just read this? I haven’t flown Frontier in the past 15 years and would never consider it today. And now I should pay for status on something I’ll never use? Good one!

  4. I clicked on this article just to see if Gary was joking or serious, and I am honestly still not sure if this is satire. $50 to get a status match to Frontier would be $50 more than I have ever spent with Frontier previously but good for those who fly it I guess.

  5. I have a flight to Vegas where Frontier is cheaper per ticket by like $200 each way. Havent flown them in 10 years. This match will save $75 a person in seat selection and bag fees. Giving it a whirl, thanks Gary

  6. If you have top tier hotel status and have mainly been booking away from Frontier because of the fees, then this can easily be a great way to stretch your travel dollar. And Stretch seating is comparable to the extra legroom seating of other airlines. As someone Denver based, this is a compelling offer this year.

  7. I know many of you laugh about this but I got the Frontier credit card a little over a year ago mainly as a way to keep points alive (they expire w 6 month of no activity). I don’t fly them much but do take advantage of cheap short flights once in a while.

    Anyway the credit card came w 50,000 miles. Their awards are actually really good since usually 10,000 one way regardless of distance. I did the status match from my AA Platinum card. Yeah was $49 but got 50K status which includes free seat selection (included extra leg room seats at front) and free carry on. I used the miles for two free round trips from CLT to DEN as well as a one way to LAS.

    Their product is fine and compares pretty well to Big 3 coach.

    Agree w Gary this is not a trendy card but has value.

    BTW lifetime AA Platinum w around a million miles still and lifetime DL gold w 100,000 in my account so don’t HAVE to fly them. Just a sucker for free tickets

  8. Have same question as others — would this status upgrade and the benefit of baggage for example apply to tickets already purchased for flights in coming months? While I may not fly Frontier often, adding this benefit to an existing flight plus perhaps 1 more and for $49 it “pays for itself.”

    As to the comments of “bah, I can’t be bothered to fly Frontier” — congrats in joining the 1% — no grudges, but some of us flying college kids to and from university from small market towns do appreciate hard seats and minuscule tray tables. LOL

  9. You just couldn’t help yourself, could you, Gary? Had to throw in a credit card pitch for arguably one of the lowest class airlines out there, sans Spirit!

  10. @Garyst16 – I get nothing from the credit card, I think it’s one of the most innovative products and a good deal for people that fly frontier

  11. frontier is not the best Airline, but hey when you can fly to Vegas for $30 RT and free luggage and front seat for all of your party. that is a killer deal. Don’t make fun of them and sign up if you are eligible. You will save a ton of money. Sometimes they have kids fly free deals.

  12. wonder if the $49 fee would be coded as frontier that would get reimbursed with the amex plat card, or a CC that issues an annual travel credit?

  13. To all who keep asking TC’s
    \\
    I have an existing flight reservation with Frontier, once approved for a status match, can I get fees refunded?

    No. Discounts and pre-paid services made before your status match has been reflected on your frontier account are not refundable. Your elite status only applies to new bookings made after your elite status is approved and reflects on your Frontier account.

  14. Can someone help me with a doubt… for my itinerary I am finding Frontier flights on CheapOAir much cheaper than what they are Frontier website. If I do the status match to 50k level, but then buy the tickets on CheapOAir, then will I get free carry on and seat assignment?

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