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Frontier recently announced a revamp of its business model for 2025, shifting from the classic ultra-low-cost concept to add a first-class cabin, elite upgrades, and more. In December 2024, we wrote what we knew about the changes coming to Frontier. Now we have some specifics. Let's dive into exactly how elite upgrades work in Frontier's frequent flyer program starting in 2025.
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Earning Frontier Elite Status
Frontier Airlines employs a revenue-based earning model, which means you earn frequent flyer miles and elite status-qualifying points based on how much you spend with the airline and its partners. This is a similar approach that American Airlines has taken with Loyalty Points. For instance, you can earn your way to status from credit card spend alone with the FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard®, earning one qualifying point per dollar spent on the card.
As a refresher, here are Frontier's status tiers and respective qualifying points needed to earn each level:
- Silver: 10,000 qualifying points
- Gold: 20,000 qualifying points
- Platinum: 50,000 qualifying points
- Diamond: 100,000 qualifying points
Types of Frontier Premium Seats: Premium, UpFront Plus, First Class
Before we get into how Frontier upgrades will work, let's cover the basics of what Frontier is — and will — offer. For years, Frontier's only premium seating was its “Premium” seats, which provide extra legroom and nothing else.
Now, as of January 2025, Frontier is adding “UpFront Plus” as a cabin offering. Essentially, Frontier is taking existing Premium seats and blocking the middle seats in the first two rows of the aircraft.
Then, in late 2025, Frontier plans to install a traditional first-class seat in the first two rows, akin to Spirit Airlines' Big Front Seat. While extra legroom and blocked middle seats are nice, these are the upgrades Frontier fliers will really want.
How Frontier Elite Upgrades Work
Between four tiers of elite status and four non-standard seat types, Frontier elite status upgrades can get complicated quickly. So, let's break it down by elite status tier.
- Elite Silver:
- Free Standard seats at the time of booking
- Select Preferred seats at check-in
- Elite Gold:
- Free Standard or Preferred seats at booking
- Select Premium seats at check-in
- Upgrade to UpFront Plus starting 4 hours before departure
- Elite Platinum:
- Free Standard, Preferred, or Premium seats at booking
- Upgrade to UpFront Plus starting 12 hours before departure
- Elite Diamond:
- Free Preferred or Premium seats at booking
- Upgrade to UpFront Plus starting 24 hours before departure
Complicated, right? Thankfully, Frontier breaks all of this down in a handy chart:
Frontier Elite UpFront Plus Upgrade Timeline
Your Frontier Elite status tier determines when you can request an upgrade to UpFront Plus seats. Here's the earliest time that Frontier elites can request an upgrade:
- Elite Gold: 4 hours before departure
- Elite Platinum: 12 hours before departure
- Elite Diamond: 24 hours before departure
How to Request a Frontier Elite Upgrade
Frontier UpFront Plus and Premium seat upgrades aren't automatic. Instead, Frontier elite members need to request the upgrade within the upgrade window. Here are the steps to do so:
- First, make sure you've checked into your flight.
- Go to the “My Trips” tab of the Frontier app and select “Manage” for your reservation.
- In the Manage My Booking tab, select “Add seats, bags, or services.”
- Tap the pencil icon under the “Upgrade Your Seat Now” section.
- Choose your desired UpFront Plus or Premium seat from the available seats.
- Tap “Continue” to confirm your selection.
Do Frontier Elite Status Members Get Free Companion Upgrades?
Sadly, travel companions of Frontier Elite members aren't eligible for upgrades into UpFront Plus or First Class. We'll see if this changes when Frontier launches a true first-class cabin in 2025.
However, Frontier Platinum and Diamond elites can move their whole group into Preferred or Premium seats, with the timing depending on the type of upgrade and the elite's respective status level. Note that all travelers must be on the same reservation to be eligible. Frontier allows you to have up to nine passengers on a single reservation, making this quite beneficial for large parties.
Here's how elite seating for companions work for each status level, for everyone on an elite member's booking:
- Elite Diamond: Premium and Preferred and Standard seating at booking
- Elite Platinum: Premium seating at check-in; Preferred and Standard seating at booking
Additionally, starting in mid-2025, Frontier is introducing a companion ticket, which will allow one companion to fly with you for just taxes and fees as often as you'd like. This perk will be available exclusively to Platinum and Diamond elite members, so you have time to level up your status before it launches.
Final Thoughts
It's great to see Frontier putting thought and effort into a more premium product for its elite flyers. Time will tell if management's gamble on a different business model will pay off. In the meantime, loyal customers of the airline will see more upgrades than in years past and a more comfortable seat on the horizon.
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