Frontier Airlines is a budget-friendly airline operating in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. However, it’s known for its additional fees, charging travelers for many services that are often complimentary on other airlines. For instance, a carry-on bag can cost you up to $60 each way.
Fortunately, those with Frontier Miles elite status can have some of these fees waived, translating to significant savings for frequent flyers. This year, Frontier is rolling out exciting changes to its program and fleet, which might encourage more travelers to consider the airline.
In this article, we’ll explore Frontier’s elite status for 2025 to determine if pursuing it aligns with your travel preferences.
Related: Your comprehensive guide to Frontier Miles: How to earn and redeem miles, achieve elite status, and more
Understanding Frontier Miles Elite Status
Previously, only the most dedicated Frontier travelers received elite status, but in 2024 the airline made changes to simplify the process for obtaining lower-tier statuses.
Read more: Discover how to get Frontier Airlines’ all-you-can-fly summer pass for $399
Frontier Miles offers four tiers of elite status: Elite Silver, Elite Gold, Elite Platinum, and Elite Diamond. Joining Frontier Miles is free and can be done online.
When you fly with Frontier, you earn two types of rewards:
- Elite status points: These contribute to qualifying for elite status.
- Miles: These can be redeemed for future flights.
Once you accumulate enough elite status points, your account is upgraded immediately. You retain your highest status for the rest of the current year and the following calendar year. For instance, achieving Frontier Elite Gold status in May 2025 means your status is valid until December 31, 2026, granting you over 18 months of elite benefits.
Qualifying for Frontier Elite Status
Here’s how to qualify for each elite status tier based on your activity throughout the calendar year:
- Elite Silver: Accumulate 10,000 elite status points
- Elite Gold: Accumulate 20,000 elite status points
- Elite Platinum: Accumulate 50,000 elite status points
- Elite Diamond: Accumulate 100,000 elite status points
You can earn elite status points in two primary ways, along with potential shortcuts to gain perks without reaching these thresholds.
One way to earn points is by spending on Frontier flights. You earn points based on the base fare and any extras purchased (checked bags, discounts, or seat assignments). Depending on your Frontier status, you earn between 10 and 20 elite status points per dollar spent, along with the same amount of redeemable Frontier miles.
You can also earn elite status points through the airline’s co-branded credit card. Specifically, the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® allows you to earn 1 elite status point for every dollar spent, which we will discuss in more detail later.
The information regarding the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard has been independently collected by The Points Guy and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Additionally, Frontier sometimes offers status matching for frequent flyers of other airlines and may provide fast-track opportunities for elite status, such as unlocking Elite Platinum status after earning 20,000 elite status points by April 30, 2025.
Benefits of Frontier Elite Status
All members of Frontier’s loyalty program will earn 10 miles and 10 elite status points for every dollar spent with the airline in 2025.
Additionally, there will be notable enhancements to elite status benefits for 2025, including a multi-use Companion Pass for higher-tier members and new seat classes for upgrades:
- UpFront Plus (currently available): These seats are located near the front of the aircraft, providing extra legroom with a blocked middle seat.
- First class (coming late 2025): Offering even more space and comfort, similar to typical domestic first-class offerings from major airlines.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect at each status tier — and note that most benefits pertain to the elite member only, unless specified otherwise.
Elite Silver
The entry-level status of Elite Silver is easily attainable, offering practical benefits that can save you money on planned purchases:
- No change or cancellation fees (for changes made seven days or more before departure) for all travelers in your itinerary
- Standard seat selection at the time of booking
- Preferred seat selection at check-in (when available)
- Priority boarding (Zone 2) for you and your travel companions
- Priority customer service
- Family pooling of miles
- Earn 12 miles and 12 elite status points per dollar spent with Frontier
Elite Gold
Elite Gold is where regular Frontier travelers can begin to enjoy substantial savings. This tier includes all Elite Silver benefits with added enhancements:
- Priority boarding (Zone 1)
- Priority boarding (Zone 2) for travel companions
- Free carry-on bag
- Preferred seat selection at booking
- Premium seat selection at check-in (when available)
- Four-hour pre-departure UpFront Plus seat upgrades
- Earn 14 miles and 14 elite status points per dollar spent with Frontier
Elite Platinum
As the Elite Platinum status, you will enjoy an even more extensive array of benefits, building upon both Elite Silver and Gold privileges:
- Ability to bring a companion for free on any Frontier flight (subject to taxes and fees, beginning mid-2025)
- Priority boarding (Zone 1) for yourself and your companions
- Free carry-on for everyone in your reservation
- Standard or preferred seat selection for all travelers in your booking
- Premium seat upgrades for you at booking and for others at check-in (when available)
- UpFront Plus upgrades available 12 hours prior to departure (when available)
- Free first checked bag (including up to two bags like skis or golf bags) for you and your companions
- Pet-in-cabin fee waiver (when available)
- 50% discount on Discount Den membership
- The ability to gift Elite Silver status to another member
- Earn 16 miles and 16 elite status points per dollar spent with Frontier
Elite Diamond
The pinnacle of Frontier’s elite status is Elite Diamond, which offers many valuable perks on top of the other tiers:
- Premium seat selection at booking (when available) for all travelers in your reservation
- UpFront Plus upgrades available 24 hours before departure
- Free Discount Den membership
- The ability to gift Elite Gold status to another member
- First boarding for you and all travel companions
- Refundable tickets (more than one day before departure) for you and your reservation
- Two free checked bags (up to 40 pounds each) for all in your itinerary
- Earn 20 miles and 20 elite status points per dollar spent with Frontier
Can a Credit Card Help You Earn Frontier Elite Status?
You can achieve Frontier elite status—up to Elite Diamond—by using the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard, which has a $99 annual fee.
With this card, you earn 1 elite status point for each dollar spent, without annual earning limitations. While this means you can start gaining elite perks before flying with Frontier, reaching top-tier status will require significant spending; for example, you would need to spend $100,000 in a year to earn Elite Diamond status.
Bear in mind, pursuing Frontier status solely through credit card spending may not be the fastest route; it’s an indicator that you might not fly Frontier frequently enough to capitalize on the benefits. Many other airline credit cards provide better rewards for similar or less spending. Nevertheless, the Frontier card offers an interesting option.
Currently, Frontier has a promotional offer that grants new cardholders instant Elite Gold status upon approval, provided they make a purchase within the first 90 days. If you spend $3,000 within the first 90 days, your Elite Gold status will be valid for one year from your account’s opening date.
Cardholders also enjoy two free checked bags (up to 40 pounds) on every Frontier flight.
Related: Why the Frontier Airlines Mastercard is my latest credit card addition
Is Frontier Elite Status Worth It?
Whether or not Frontier elite status is right for you largely depends on your flying habits. If you’re a regular Frontier traveler, reaching at least Elite Gold can help you avoid many of the fees that typically accumulate, allowing you to book more affordable flights without worrying about additional costs.
Here are some critical questions to consider before committing to Frontier elite status:
- Will you utilize these benefits? Elite status perks only hold value if you plan to take advantage of them. A free checked bag, for example, is pointless if you typically fly with only a carry-on.
- Does Frontier serve your travel destinations? Frontier lacks the extensive reach of major airlines like United or Delta, particularly with destinations beyond North America. If their routes fit your travel needs, elite status might be worth pursuing.
- How important are price and convenience to you? Would you opt for a one-stop Frontier flight over a more convenient nonstop option from Southwest or Spirit Airlines? If not, it may not be worth the effort to attain Frontier elite status or any elite status at all.
Since Elite Silver status is relatively straightforward to earn, if you travel with Frontier often, it may be beneficial to pursue this status for its perks. However, reaching the top tier requires a significant commitment in terms of travel or spending.
If you already plan to fly frequently with Frontier, aiming for higher status could be advantageous—yet keep in mind that elite perks in other airline programs, like upgrades and lounge access, may offer greater value than those offered by Frontier.
Additionally, consider whether the benefits of holding the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard alone suffice for you to forgo the pursuit of elite status. The card offers several perks linked to various status tiers without the need to achieve any of them—like priority boarding, family pooling, and waiver of redemption fees for award tickets.
Conclusion
If you are based in a city like Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, or Philadelphia, you might find yourself with various nonstop options when flying with Frontier Airlines. Regular travelers can earn elite status in the Frontier Miles program with relatively little effort, translating to substantial savings in both time and expenses when traveling.
With the accessible Elite Silver tier, you may begin enjoying benefits after just spending $1,000 with Frontier in a year, significantly reducing the burden of extra fees for frequent customers.
