Frontier baggage fees and how to avoid paying them

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Frontier Airlines has positioned itself as an a la carte airline, so you’ll pay an upcharge for everything — including bags.

Although you might find some incredibly low fares, Frontier baggage fees will significantly increase your trip’s cost. So, despite the airline's low fares, the overall cost may not always be affordable.

Before purchasing your ticket, try your best to understand the Frontier baggage policy, including carry-on guidelines and luggage size restrictions. Specifically, determine how much your baggage fees — including carry-on bags — will cost.

Frontier carry-on guidelines

The Frontier carry-on guidelines allow all passengers to bring one personal item on board for free. The bag must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you and should be no larger than 14 inches in height by 18 inches in width by 8 inches in depth.

If you can travel using only a small backpack, you can get away with flying on a Frontier flight with zero excess baggage fees. However, you'll need to pay a fee if you want to bring something larger on board, like a carry-on suitcase.

Frontier’s carry-on size policy requires that all bags be no larger than 24 inches by 16 inches by 10 inches (including the wheels and handle) and less than 35 pounds. The fee you’ll pay to bring a carry-on bag depends on whether you purchase a package, the route you’re flying, your Frontier elite status and how/when you paid the carry-on baggage fee.

During the booking process, you can see the carry-on baggage fee. You can also check the cost for an existing flight or a flight not yet booked on Frontier’s website.

We found the following price ranges per direction based on when you pay the fee:

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• During booking on web/mobile app: $53 to $62
• Before check-in on web/mobile app: $69 to $74
• At check-in on web/mobile app: $69 to $74
• At airport kiosk or ticket counter: $79
• At airport boarding gate: $99
• Call customer service: $79

Related: Carry-on vs. checked bags: Which is the better choice?

Adding a carry-on bag during booking is always your least expensive option. However, for only a few dollars more, you can pay for your luggage when checking in for your flight. The benefit of waiting is that you’ll have a better sense of the baggage you are bringing with you at check-in. This is important since the fee is nonrefundable.

If you purchase any bundled pricing packages — a pricing option you'll see after you select your flight and enter your personal information — many bundles include a carry-on item. These bundles include baggage, seat selection and more. So, you’ll have to do the math to see if a bundled package is worth it for your situation or if you’re better off paying a la carte.

Related: Everything you should know before flying Frontier Airlines

Frontier baggage policy

Similar to carry-on baggage fees, checked baggage fees also vary. The checked Frontier baggage fees are fairly comparable to bringing your bag with you on board.

You can examine the cost of checking a bag on Frontier’s website, with most baggage fees costing the following:

Here is an example of the Frontier baggage policy for a flight this summer from Orlando to Boston:

Frontier has a strict 40-pound weight limit on checked bags. Many other airlines allow bags up to 50 pounds, so this is a big difference in the amount you can pack in your checked luggage. The dimensions of your checked bag must also be 62 linear inches or less (length plus width plus depth), including handles, wheels and straps.

Similar to Frontier’s carry-on baggage policy, bundled options include a checked bag option. Again, you'll need to do the math to see if a bundled fare will save you money.

Overweight and oversize baggage fees

If your checked bag weighs more than 40 pounds, you’ll need to pay an additional overweight fee between $75 and $100 per bag per direction. If your bag weighs between 41 and 50 pounds, you’ll need to pay a $50 fee. But, if your bag weighs between 51 and 100 pounds, you’ll face a $100 fee. Frontier won’t accept bags weighing more than 100 pounds.

Additionally, if your bag is between 63 and 110 linear inches, you’ll incur an additional oversize baggage fee of $75 per bag per direction. Frontier won’t accept bags larger than 110 linear inches.

Frontier also allows select special items to be checked, such as sporting equipment, artwork, camping equipment, strollers and more. This PDF on Frontier’s website will keep you up to date on what is and is not allowed, along with the associated fee. For example, you can check a snowboard for the same cost as your checked bag fees and only overweight fees — not oversize charges — will apply, if applicable. However, a bicycle will incur an extra fee of $75.

Related: How to change or cancel a Frontier Airlines flight

How to avoid Frontier baggage fees

Although Frontier has incredibly high fees for bags, there are some ways to avoid baggage fees.

Elite status allowances

Frontier passengers with Elite Gold, Elite Platinum or Elite Diamond receive one free carry-on bag. (When it comes to Platinum and Diamond members, everyone on their reservation also reaps the benefit.)

To get your first checked bag fee waived, you must have Elite Platinum or Elite Diamond status. Those with Elite Diamond status will also receive a free second checked bag.

If you cannot earn any of these three status levels the hard way, know that Frontier periodically offers status matches. Keep an eye out to see if a status match opportunity pops up; a successful match could allow you to carry on a bag and potentially check a bag for free.

Related: What is Frontier elite status worth?

Credit cards

Unlike many other airline credit cards, simply having the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® will not allow you to check a bag for free. However, cardmembers can earn one elite status point for every dollar spent on purchases. This can help cardmembers earn elite status quicker, which may allow them to bring a carry-on or even checked bag on their next Frontier flight for free.

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

Related: These credit cards can get you free checked bags

Military personal

U.S. military passengers with active duty status, who can present a common access card with a uniformed services affiliation at check-in, can bring the following for free:

• One personal item
• One carry-on bag
• Two checked bags

This waiver doesn’t extend to family members or traveling companions. Baggage accepted from U.S. military passengers must comply with baggage acceptance policies regarding size and weight limits. However, Frontier waives the oversize and overweight baggage fees for the first two checked bags.

Use card travel credits to cover fees

Finally, many travel rewards cards offer annual statement credits, which you can use toward various travel purchases, including baggage fees.

One of the best is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, since you’ll receive up to $300 in annual travel credits. Several American Express cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, offer up to $200 in airline fee statement credits that can cover incidentals such as baggage fees on one airline of your choice. As long as you enroll in this credit and select Frontier as your airline of choice, you could use this credit to cover Frontier baggage fees.

Related: Frontier Airlines wants to ditch jet bridges in Denver and board by stairs

Bottom line

Frontier’s baggage fees are some of the highest in the industry, but it has incredibly low fares. So, if you can pack light — or only bring one piece of luggage — you still might get a great deal.

Ultimately, you’ll have to do the math to see whether the extra baggage fees are worth the low airfare cost and if one of the bundle packages can save you money. If you’re lucky enough to have Frontier elite status, that could save you a boatload of money on your next flight.