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.
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
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| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.