FRONTIER Airlines World Review: High Rewards and a Flight Voucher

If you're a frequent Frontier Airlines flier, the FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard® could be a good choice. It offers generous rewards on Frontier purchases, a substantial sign-up bonus and travel perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and an annual flight voucher.

However, the card does come with a $99 annual fee after the first year, and your miles will expire if you don't use your card for six months. Plus, your redemption options are limited to Frontier flights, which might not appeal to those seeking more flexibility. This card could work for dedicated Frontier fans but less so if you prefer broader redemption options.

Frontier Airlines is a low-cost U.S. carrier known for its budget-friendly fares, serving destinations across North America and the Caribbean. The FRONTIER Airlines World (issued by Barclays) is its sole, co-branded credit card, and it’s tailored for regular Frontier flyers. The card offers 5X miles on eligible purchases at flyfrontier.com, 3X miles on dining and 1X miles on everything else.

Cardholders enjoy additional perks, including two free checked bags and priority boarding, which can help keep travel costs down. You can also earn a $100 flight voucher on your account anniversary by spending at least $2,500 the previous year. While this voucher is limited to flights booked online and can’t be used for seat upgrades, it’s a valuable perk that can offset the card’s $99 annual fee.

If you’re not sure you’ll be able to take advantage of the yearly flight voucher, a more flexible airline card might offer better value. The miles you earn are best redeemed with Frontier Airlines, which can be a limitation due to Frontier’s relatively small network. Plus, your miles will expire if there's no card activity for six months.

All your purchases with the FRONTIER Airlines World Card earn Frontier Miles. Here are the miles you earn for various spending categories:

• 5X Frontier Miles on eligible purchases at flyfrontier.com
• 3X Frontier Miles on eligible restaurant purchases
• 1X Frontier Miles on all other purchases

The best value for redeeming your miles is in award tickets, starting at 10,000 miles for a one-way domestic flight. Redeeming for Frontier flights typically gives you a value of 1 cent per mile. While you can also redeem miles for rental cars and gift cards, these options generally offer less value. Remember that your miles will expire if there’s no account activity for six months.

The FRONTIER Airlines World Card helps you earn toward Frontier’s Elite Status. New cardholders receive instant Gold Status after making their first purchase within 90 days of account opening. To maintain Gold Status for 12 months, you need to spend $3,000 within those 90 days.

Elite status is determined by the number of miles earned in a calendar year and, once achieved, is valid for the remainder of that year and the following year. Frontier's four elite tiers — Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond — offer benefits like free checked and carry-on bags, priority boarding, access to stretch seating, waived fees, priority customer care and bonus miles.

The FRONTIER Airlines World Card offers several valuable benefits for frequent Frontier flyers. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect:

Generous Introductory Offer: Spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account, and you’ll earn 50,000 miles. This substantial bonus can significantly boost your miles balance, valued at $500 when redeemed for flights. That’s effectively a 50% return on your spending, which is quite competitive compared to other cards.

$100 Flight Voucher: Each year, by spending $2,500 or more in net purchases, you can earn a $100 Frontier Airlines flight voucher. This can help offset the card’s $99 annual fee. However, the voucher can only be used for Frontier airfare booked on their website and doesn’t cover extras like seat assignments or reservation changes. The remaining balance is forfeited if your ticket costs less than $100. Also, the voucher expires in six months, so you’ll need to plan your travel ahead of time.

Travel Benefits: Starting in August 2024, you can enjoy two free checked bags when you use your card to purchase your ticket on Frontier’s website or app — a valuable perk, considering checked bags usually start at $48 each. You’ll also receive priority boarding, allowing you to board earlier and secure overhead bin space. Additionally, the card offers no foreign transaction fees and waives redemption fees.

Consider the factors below first before you decide on the FRONTIER Airlines World Card:

Annual Fee: After the first year, this card comes with a $99 annual fee. While you can offset this cost by earning the flight voucher, keep in mind that the voucher has some limitations and may even expire. Additionally, using the voucher requires you to fly Frontier at least once a year. If you're unsure about flying Frontier annually, you might want to consider a card with a broader network, like the United Explorer Card.

Inflexible Rewards: The miles you earn with this card can only be redeemed on Frontier Airlines, limiting your options. If you’re looking to book flights to international destinations like Tokyo, this card won’t be much help. Instead, consider cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which allows you to transfer points to multiple airline and hotel partners.

Limited Bonus Categories: This card offers bonus miles only on Frontier flights and dining. For all other purchases, you earn just 1X miles. Many airline cards at this price point offer at least three bonus categories, making accumulating miles through everyday spending easier.

To help you assess how the FRONTIER Airlines World performs, we compare it with similar airline cards below:

Since the FRONTIER Airlines World Card only earns high rewards on flights and dining, it can be a good idea to pair it with other cash back cards. We found the best pick to maximize your earnings:

We evaluated the FRONTIER Airlines World among 20 airline cards, focusing on key features with the following weights:

• Expected Value to Travelers (40%): Measures the expected monetary value of rewards and perks, adjusted for annual fees, based on a person who travels two to three times per year. This reflects the card’s overall value proposition for frequent travelers.
• Airline Scope (20%): Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which is crucial for understanding the card's value for travelers who frequently visit various locations.
• Offer ROI (15%): Assesses the return on investment of the card's introductory offers and ongoing rewards, measuring how effectively these offers enhance the card’s overall value.
• Effective Rewards Rate (10%): Rates how rewarding the rewards are, using different rewards multipliers to calculate an effective rate.
• Foreign Transaction Fees (5%): Evaluates the card’s foreign transaction fees, if any, which is important for travelers who frequently make purchases abroad.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Considers customer satisfaction with the card issuer, including factors like customer service, ease of account management, and overall user experience.
• Recommended Credit (5%): Assesses the recommended credit score range for applying for the card, helping users gauge if they are likely to be approved based on their credit profile.