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BYO Seatmate: Frontier Airlines Friends Fly Free Offer Bookable This Week

July 19, 2019
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4 min read
Frontier Airlines with aircraft at gate, while characterized as a low cost carrier, Frontier continues to expand with new routes in the United States.
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If you spend much time in the travel deals realm, you've likely heard of the Southwest Companion Pass (and ways to earn it without flying a ton). However, there's another budget airline that decided to make it potentially easier to bring along a child or friend on select flights for free. Frontier Airlines formally launched "Kids Fly Free" earlier in 2019, but after a soft launch in April, the airline then made "Friends Fly Free" a regularly occurring promotion with no attached age limits. Not surprisingly, there are some caveats and the deal isn't always available for booking. However, if you can navigate the rules and purchase by July 24, a friend can fly with you for free on eligible Frontier flights from August 12 to Feb. 12, 2020.

Frontier Friends Fly Free Rules

Frontier Airlines' "Kids Fly Free" and "Friends Fly Free" promotions each require an annual $59.99 Frontier Discount Den membership (here's the math behind why I bought one). While there are similarities in the two offers, there are differences. The kid-specific offer that allows you to fly a child aged 14 years and younger for free with each paid adult on Frontier is valid on set dates published months in advance (often Tuesdays and Wednesdays), but is consistently available for booking.

However, since "Friends Fly Free" is just a periodic feature for Discount Den members, you have to book when the deal is available. To book a friend to fly free with you on an eligible Frontier flight, use the code FRIENDS on Frontier's site.

Seats on an airplane
Stretch out in Frontier's emergency-exit row. (Katie Genter / The Points Guy)

You can view the full list of terms here. The current list of eligible routes and dates is here. Be aware that round-trip travel is required with the FRIENDS promo code.

Related: The Best Airline Credit Cards for Family Travel

How to Book Frontier Friends Fly Free Flights

  • Go to FlyFrontier.com.
  • Book flights during an eligible sale on an eligible nonstop domestic route.
  • Use the code FRIENDS on the flight search screen as shown above.
  • Have a $59.99 annual Frontier Discount Den Membership (or purchase one during the booking process).
  • The discount will be reflected on the final checkout screen as shown below as a Discount Den savings.
  • Add-on fees, such as seat assignments or bag fees, will be charged per person at a non-discounted rate.
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Note that one Discount Den membership can result in multiple friends flying free in a buy one, get one free manner. In the example above, two round-trip tickets from Houston to Las Vegas cost $86 total with Friends Fly Free, but as shown below, four can be booked with one Discount Den membership for just $172.

Bottom Line

Frontier Airlines is an ultra low-cost carrier that charges extra for everything (other than bringing a friend), but actually has one of the best frequent flyer programs in the US for families. Its program allows family pooling of miles for elites and cardholders, has a credit card that you can use to spend your way to elite status, offers cheap fares starting at $15–$30 each way and has a growing route network with more than 100 destinations.

This won't be the perfect airline or promotion for everyone (be sure and purchase your tickets using a credit card that has good built-in travel protections), but if you just want to fly for as little cash as possible, Frontier can be worth a look -- especially with the Friends Fly Free offer.

If this is your first time to consider Frontier Airlines, here’s everything you need to know.

Featured image by Getty Images

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    $325

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.