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 priceless companions, getting a soar begin on elite standing or leveraging free evening certificates, I get hundreds of {dollars} of worth from these playing cards each single yr.
However just lately, I utilized for a brand new bank card that I by no means actually thought of, and it is already punching effectively above its weight class.
Here is why the Frontier Airways World Mastercard® turned 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
The welcome bonus
I am a sucker for a stable 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 is not going to get me a business-class flight to Europe, however based mostly on TPG’s October 2024 valuations, it is nonetheless price $550. It is also among the many best welcome bonuses to earn due to the affordable 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 may’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 price noting that this redemption is for Frontier’s fundamental fare, which incorporates simply the flight and no extras. Fortunately, I can keep away from lots of these added prices with one other a part of the cardboard’s present supply.
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Associated: Final information to Frontier Miles
The moment elite standing
Past the bonus miles, the Frontier Airways Mastercard is presently providing prompt Elite Gold standing after the primary buy along with your card within the first 90 days after account opening. This standing will likely be legitimate for simply 90 days after your account opening date, however you possibly can lengthen 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 fundamental fare right into a extra versatile ticket with many extra inclusions. Here is a snapshot of what I’ll get on each Frontier flight I take by August 2025:
- No change and cancellation charges (seven or extra days forward of departure)
- A complimentary seat task at reserving
- A free carry-on bag
To provide you an concept of how priceless this may be, my one-way flight from New Orleans to Orlando has the Financial system Bundle accessible for an additional $59 — which incorporates seat choice, a carry-on and related flight flexibility. And that is simply on a single flight.
This may also be tremendous priceless in case you e book a flight and the worth drops nearer to departure.
For instance, I had a ticket booked to Indianapolis Worldwide Airport (IND) in mid-October that I finally wanted to cancel attributable to Hurricane Milton. Nonetheless, the ticket dropped in value 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 cheaper price by way of 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: Easy methods to change or cancel a Frontier Airways flight
The perks
Even when my Gold standing expires — assuming I do not lengthen it with spending or flying — the cardboard nonetheless gives some actually stable perks. As a cardholder, my miles by no means expire so long as I make at the very least one buy a yr.
I additionally take pleasure in a redemption price waiver at any time when I e book 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 may also 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 turned much more priceless when it started providing two free checked luggage to cardholders.
Whereas these are restricted to 40 kilos apiece, it successfully implies 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 accessible 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.
Nonetheless, Frontier has in depth service from Orlando, one among my major airports, and the array of advantages on the cardboard (together with the present supply for Gold standing) permits me to e book cheap flights and keep away from most of the additional charges that vacationers hate about low-cost carriers.
I’ve already earned the 50,000-mile welcome bonus, and I am wanting ahead to reserving a number of extra flights to make the most of these advantages over the approaching yr. And when the cardboard comes up for renewal, I simply could maintain it open as the latest priceless addition to my pockets.
Be taught extra: Frontier Airways World Mastercard
Associated: Frontier Airways World Mastercard vs. Free Spirit Journey Extra World Elite Mastercard