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Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking. However, if you’re using The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll need to book directly with the airline or through the Amex Travel portal to get 5x MR points. Remember: Fares may disappear quickly, so book right away and take advantage of Orbitz or Expedia’s courtesy cancellation if you’re unable to line-up the time away.
Ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines is advertising its "best sale of the season," with one-way base fares starting at just a penny. With taxes, the price you pay is closer to $15 per one-way booking than just a penny, but that's still a very attractive entry-level price to fly with your family at 36,000 feet. To jump on this Frontier sale, you must book by August 1, 2018, and fly on select dates from August 14 to October 3, 2018. The cheapest dates to fly can quickly be spotted by using Frontier's monthly calendar view when you search for flights on its site.
When pricing out flights for your family on Frontier Airlines, you'll need to factor in the additional fees you may incur, including charges for full-size carry-on bags, checked bags and seat assignments. While these expenses can increase your overall total beyond $15 per one-way ticket, with prices as low as $120 round-trip for a family of four, you may still come out way ahead even when factoring in some fees.
When flying on ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs), which charge extra for everything, my family of four typically spends the extra money for advance seat assignments and purchases the ability to bring on board a couple of full-sized carry-on bags, supplemented by everyone packing in their own free standard-sized backpacks. If factoring in those fees plus the base fares still represents a substantial savings over traditional air carriers, we will pull the trigger and pack light. That said, in the case of extreme delays or cancellations, we have our miles on other airlines to serve as a back-up plan, as well as knowing we have some built-in protections from paying for our airfare with a card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Note that depending on when the school year starts for your area, a few of the dates included as part of this sale may work for a later summer getaway — a perfect opportunity to book a last-minute summer vacation while taking advantage of cheap airfare.
You'll want to check out Frontier's Best Deals Sale page to view all eligible $15 routes, but we will highlight a few examples below. Remember to act quickly if you see something you like, as this sale ends on August 1, and rates can change at anytime.
Airline: Frontier
Routes: Various domestic routes
Cost: $15+ one-way
Dates: August 14 to October 3, 2018
Booking Link: Orbitz, Expedia or directly with the airline
Pay With: The Platinum Card from American Express (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Prestige (3x on airfare plus excellent trip delay insurance) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel)
Here are some examples of what you can book:
Austin (AUS) to Albuquerque (ABQ) for $15 one-way:
Long Island Islip (ISP) to Chicago (ORD) for $15 one-way:
New Orleans (MSY) to Austin (AUS) for $15 one-way:San Jose (SJC) to Las Vegas (LAS) for $15 one-way:
Tulsa (TUL) to Orlando (MCO) for $15 one-way:
Maximize Your Purchase
Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns additional points on airfare purchases, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel), Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Citi Prestige (3x on airfare) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on all travel purchases). Check out this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.
If Frontier Airlines is a regular part of your family's budget travel strategy, you may want to brush-up on some of its latest family friendly developments, including the ability for some Frontier Miles members to pool miles together and complimentary family seat assignments for certain Frontier elite members.
