Why the Frontier Airlines Mastercard became the newest credit card in my wallet

I've had more than 20 credit cards for several years now, and I take great care to maximize each one. Whether I'm transferring rewards to valuable partners, getting a jump start on elite status or leveraging free night certificates, I get thousands of dollars of value from these cards every single year.

But recently, I applied for a new credit card that I never really considered, and it's already punching well above its weight class.

Here's why the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® became the newest credit card in my wallet — and why it may stay there for a long time.

The information for the Frontier Airlines Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The welcome bonus

I'm a sucker for a solid welcome bonus on a travel credit card, and the Frontier Airlines Mastercard definitely has one. New cardholders can earn 50,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full within 90 days of account opening.

No, it's not going to get me a business-class flight to Europe, but based on TPG's October 2024 valuations, it's still worth $550. It's also among the easiest welcome bonuses to earn thanks to the reasonable spending requirement.

I earned these 50,000 miles in the first month of card membership, and I promptly put them to good use.

I'm traveling to New Orleans in February for Mardi Gras, and there was a perfectly timed return flight on Frontier from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to Orlando International Airport (MCO). This would've been $133.98 per person, but the award flight was just 10,000 miles (plus the $5.60 U.S. passenger security fee). That gave me a value of 1.34 cents per mile.

Now, it's worth noting that this redemption is for Frontier's basic fare, which includes just the flight and no extras. Thankfully, I can avoid many of those added costs with another part of the card's current offer.

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Related: Ultimate guide to Frontier Miles

The instant elite status

Beyond the bonus miles, the Frontier Airlines Mastercard is currently offering instant Elite Gold status after the first purchase with your card in the first 90 days after account opening. This status will be valid for just 90 days after your account opening date, but you can extend it for a full 12 months by spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.

So naturally, that's exactly what I did.

Gold status on Frontier can effectively turn your basic fare into a more flexible ticket with many additional inclusions. Here's a snapshot of what I will get on every Frontier flight I take through August 2025:

• No change and cancellation fees (seven or more days ahead of departure)
• A complimentary seat assignment at booking
• A free carry-on bag

To give you an idea of how valuable this can be, my one-way flight from New Orleans to Orlando has the Economy Bundle available for an extra $59 — which includes seat selection, a carry-on and similar flight flexibility. And that's just on a single flight.

This can also be super valuable if you book a flight and the price drops closer to departure.

For example, I had a ticket booked to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in mid-October that I ultimately needed to cancel due to Hurricane Milton. However, the ticket dropped in price two separate times prior to that.

The original itinerary for me, my wife and my daughter was $450.94 (including seat selection for them, since the above perks only apply to those with elite status). The first time I got a notification of a lower price via Google Flights, I canceled and rebooked for $289.94 — giving me a voucher of $161.

Then, just a week and a half later, it dropped again, so I canceled and rebooked a second time for $241.94. That's another $48 in future flight credit.

Related: How to change or cancel a Frontier Airlines flight

The perks

Even when my Gold status expires — assuming I don't extend it with spending or flying — the card still offers some really solid perks. As a cardholder, my miles never expire as long as I make at least one purchase a year.

I also enjoy a redemption fee waiver whenever I book an award ticket; this fee starts at $5.60 per passenger for a one-way fare. With my award ticket from New Orleans to Orlando, I saved $45 just by holding the credit card.

I can also get a $100 flight voucher after my account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more on purchases with my card in an account year. Since I needed to spend $3,000 to extend my Gold status, I've already hit that threshold, so when my card renews, I'll have $100 to use for a future Frontier flight.

Finally, shortly after I applied, the card became even more valuable when it began offering two free checked bags to cardholders.

While these are limited to 40 pounds apiece, it effectively means that I can travel with my wife and daughter for the next year without paying any bag fees, as we can easily pack into a carry-on and medium-size checked bag for just about all of our trips.

The best part? All of this is available for just a $99 annual fee.

Bottom line

As someone who typically aims for aspirational travel opportunities with my points and miles, the Frontier Airlines Mastercard was never really on my radar.

However, Frontier has extensive service from Orlando, one of my primary airports, and the array of benefits on the card (including the current offer for Gold status) allows me to book inexpensive flights and avoid many of the extra fees that travelers hate about low-cost carriers.

I've already earned the 50,000-mile welcome bonus, and I'm looking forward to booking multiple additional flights to utilize these benefits over the coming year. And when the card comes up for renewal, I just may keep it open as the newest valuable addition to my wallet.

Learn more: Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

Related: Frontier Airlines World Mastercard vs. Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard