You have probably seen the ads from Frontier Airlines and other budget airlines for super low fares like this one, $19 to the islands. But once you click on that fare, then the airline asks if you want to take a bag and ching, ching, that costs extra, sometimes a lot extra. Then the airline asks if you want to choose your seat and ching, ching, that costs extra too, sometimes a lot extra. Suddenly, your $19 fare is not such a bargain anymore.
How I Got Around The Frontier Luggage Restriction
So this past weekend, I decided to try just flying on the Frontier Airlines bargain fare. No baggage, no assigned seat. Total cost $154 round trip from San Diego to Denver, Colorado. I did check to see how much it would cost to add a carryon. Frontier said it would cost $69 each way. Uh, no. I had never flown Frontier Airlines before so I was not familiar with their policies, but I decided to go for it.
I bought a travel backpack and compression packing cubes off Amazon, packed minimally and headed to the airport. I did have to make a difficult decision whether to take my french press and coffee or my protein shaker bottle since both would not fit in the pack. I went with the shaker bottle since I was attending a conference. It was probably the right choice, but I did end up hitting Starbucks several times which cost me about $20.
How I Got Around The Frontier Luggage Restriction
When I got to the Frontier gate, these signs were everywhere!
I got a bit worried that the gate agent would stop me and charge me for my bag. While waiting for the flight, the gate agent would periodically warn passengers on the overhead that they should pay for baggage through the app before they try to get on the plane so they get a "better deal." But I resisted and hoped that my bag would qualify for a personal item.
How I Got Around The Frontier Luggage Restriction
According to the signage, a personal item is a purse or laptop and a backpack is actually a carry on. But so many people had backpacks, I resisted the urge to pay more. And along with dozens of other passengers, we walked onto the plane without a word from the gate agent. On board, my backpack fit perfectly under the seat just like it was advertised on Amazon. Huge win!
I was assigned a middle seat at check in and the flight was sold out. But it was a short flight so not so bad. On the return flight, there were empty seats and the flight attendant allowed me to move to a window seat. Hooray.
The actual airplane was budget all the way. The seats were not very padded, the armrests were narrow and I don't think the seats reclined.
There was no drink service or snacks and no entertainment system.
But did I get from here to there and back again, yes! Was it cheap, yes!
Would I do it again, maybe.
