Frontier Airlines vs Spirit Airlines

When it comes to cheap airlines in the United States, two names frequently appear in heated debates: Frontier Airlines vs Spirit Airlines. Both are famous for their cheap fares, but the difference comes in routes, loyalty programs, and fees, all of these contribute to a unique value and experience. So, which airlines do you have to take for your next flight? Let’s find out.

Introduction

Frontier Airlines, a subsidiary of Frontier Group Holdings, is committed to offering “low fares done right.” The airline is situated in Denver, Colorado, and it runs the largest A320neo family fleet in the United States. The usage of the A320Family aircraft, along with its high-density seating design and weight-saving measures, has helped it preserve its position as the most fuel-efficient major U.S. airline in terms of available seat miles (ASMs) per fuel gallon consumed.

Spirit Airlines is ultra low-cost carrier that prioritizes an economical and flexible travel experience. Established in 1992, with headquartered in Miramar, Florida. The Spirit operates one of the youngest fleets in the US that flies to multiple destinations around the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Primary Hubs and Secondary Hubs for Each Airline

Frontier’s primary hub is Denver International Airport with Las Vegas, Orlando, and Philadelphia International Airports as secondary hubs. While the Spirit primary hub is in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport along with Detroit Metropolitan Wayne, Dallas/Fort, and Chicago O’Hare International Airports as secondary hubs.

Fleet Comparision

As of 31 Dec 2024, Frontier operates a fleet of 159 A320 family single-aisle aircraft. All of these aircraft are financed by operating leases expiring between 2025 and 2036. Frontier will continue to grow to accomplish its goal of providing inexpensive travel throughout America, with 187 new Airbus planes on order.

Spirit Airlines currently operates 291 aircraft, with an average fleet age of 6.1 years.

Flight Options and Destinations

Frontier Airlines

• As of February 2025, Frontier Airlines operates 84 domestic and 19 international destinations in 13 countries.
• 16 additional routes for 2025, including Antigua-San Juan, Puerto Rico; Las Vegas-Reno, Nevada; Atlanta-Indianapolis, Indiana; and Nashville-Orlando.
• Route Cuts: Frontier will cut approximately half of the routes stated in early 2024 and will not return in 2025.
• Frontier has also been expanding operations in other cities, such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Tampa, Chicago, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Spirit Airlines

As of February 2025, Spirit Airlines operates 57 domestic and 26 international destinations in 17 countries. Some of the key domestic and international destinations are:

Check-In Process

The Frontier charges $20 for in-person check-in, and their kiosks are only useful for checked bags—not for printing boarding passes or boarding cards unless you pre-print them or use their app.

Spirit’s online check-in process was smooth and even included an offer to take a different flight for compensation—something Frontier didn’t provide. However, like its competitor, Spirit bombarded passengers with add-ons during check-in.

Baggage Fee Policies

Spirit Airline allows one free carry-on baggage which must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (including handles and wheels) and should fit under the seat in front of you. For larger carry-on bags free ranging from $26 to $55 is applied. The maximum size for a carry-on bag must be 22 x 18 x 10 inches

• First Checked Bag: Costs between $21 and $50, with a maximum weight of 40 lbs and dimensions not exceeding 62 inches (L+W+H).
• Second Checked Bag: Fees range from $31 to $60.
• Third to Fifth Checked Bags: These incur higher fees, typically between $76 and $100 each.
• Overweight Baggage Fees: Bags weighing more than 40 lbs will incur an additional fee of $75 for weights between 51- 99 lbs. Bags over 100 lbs are not allowed.
• Oversized Baggage Fees: Bags exceeding 62 inches will incur additional charges; specifically, an extra $100 for sizes between 63-80 inches, and $150 for sizes over 80 inches

Frontier also allows one free carry-on baggage which must not exceed 14 x 18 x 8 inches (including handles and wheels) and should fit under the seat in front of you. Carry-on bags, including handles, wheels, and straps, must not be larger than 24 x 16 x 10 inches. The maximum weight for carry-on bags is 35 lbs. Fees for carry-on bags vary depending on when you pay the fee. Paying during booking is the cheapest option. Carry-on baggage fees range from $54 to $99

• Standard checked bags must not exceed 62 linear inches (length + width + depth), including handles, wheels, and straps.
• The maximum weight for checked bags is 40 lbs. Bags weighing 41-50 lbs will incur a $50 fee, and bags weighing 51-100 lbs will incur a $100 fee.
• Checked baggage fees also vary. The fees range from $54 to $99.
• Frontier may not accept bags exceeding 100 linear inches or weighing more than 99 lbs.
• Excess baggage (three or more bags per passenger) will cost $85-$95 per bag.

Seating and Comfort

Spirit Airlines

• Big Front Seat: Spirit Airlines offers the Big Front Seat, which is intended to give a more pleasant experience similar to first-class accommodation. These chairs are organized in a 2-2 layout, removing the middle seats and creating additional room. They are known for being large and comfy, making them ideal for longer flights.
• Economy: Spirit’s regular economy seats are notable for their snug layout, with a 28-inch seat pitch. These seats have limited cushioning, which can cause discomfort on extended flights. The tray tables are likewise tiny, with limited reclining possibilities.

Features

• Spirit charges to reserve seats per one-way segment.
• Seat fees vary depending on trip duration and seat location.
• If you don’t specify a seat preference, you’ll be randomly assigned.
• Seat fees are non-refundable and can’t be changed after you’ve received your boarding pass.
• Some seats have inflatable seat belts
• Guests who need a seat belt extension can’t sit in seats with inflatable seat belts

Frontier Airlines

• Stretch seating: Frontier offers Stretch Seating, which gives up to 6 inches more legroom than typical economy seats. However, these seats remain in a 3-3 arrangement, which means they lack the breadth and spaciousness of Spirit’s Big Front Seats.
• UpFront Plus Seating: UpFront Plus seating, which was just launched, ensures an empty middle seat as well as additional legroom, providing customers with more personal space. This option is available for an extra charge and is located in the first two rows of the aircraft.
• Economy Seating: Frontier’s basic economy seats, like Spirit’s, are noted as having limited cushioning and restricted legroom. Both airlines’ basic economy customers have a low overall comfort rating.

In-Flight Experience

Spirit Airlines

• A rigid pocket on the back of the seat holds the food and drink menu and safety card.
• Food and drink are ancillary services, so you need to purchase them.
• Spirit offers inflight Wi-Fi for purchase.
• The tray tables are comparatively small.

Frontier Airlines

• Frontier serves wine, beer, and spirits for purchase.
• They offer a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
• They also offer snacks.
• Frontier doesn’t offer Wi-Fi or TV.
• They don’t offer complimentary food and drinks.
• You can purchase in-flight food and drinks using Discover, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards.

Loyalty Programs and Credit Cards

Frontier Airlines

Miles

• Earn points for spending on flights.
• Redeem points for benefits like priority boarding, checked baggage, and UpFront Plus seat assignments.
• Elite status holders earn points for spending on flights.

Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

• Offers perks like a yearly flight discount, account pooling, and a path to elite status.
• Issued by Barclays Bank Delaware.
• Cardholders can accrue additional points by making purchases with their card.

Elite status

• Frontier elite status has four levels: Elite Silver, Elite Gold, Elite Platinum, and Elite Diamond.
• Benefits of elite status include:
  • Priority boarding 
  • Carry-on baggage for the member and up to eight other members traveling on the same reservation 
  • Pet fee waiver 
  • Free DISCOUNT DEN® Membership 
  • Free Gold Status Pass 
  • 100% Mileage Multiplier Earned through eligible purchases on Flyfrontier.com

Spirit Airlines

Free Spirit loyalty program

• Members earn Status Qualifying Points (SQPs) for every dollar spent on fares and fare add-ons.
• Members can earn additional SQPs by using Spirit credit cards.
• There are three status levels: Free Spirit, Free Spirit Silver, and Free Spirit Gold.
• Perks include earning more points per flight, no redemption fees, and points pooling.

Free Spirit credit cards

• The Free Spirit Travel Mastercard offers 2X points on eligible Spirit purchases and 1X points on all other spending.
• The Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard offers 3X points on eligible Spirit purchases, 2X points on eligible dining and grocery store purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.
• New cardholders receive a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year on the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard.

Reliability and Punctuality

Spirit Airlines

• Spirit Airlines had an overall on-time performance of 76.05% in 2024, placing it above Frontier but below major carriers like Delta or United.
• For specific flights, performance varies. For instance, Spirit Flight NK 978 had an on-time rate of only 57% during a recent evaluation period, with an average delay of about 22 minutes. This suggests that punctuality can be inconsistent depending on the route.

Frontier Airlines

• Frontier Airlines had a lower on-time performance compared to Spirit, with only 66% of its flights departing on time in 2023, ranking it 8th out of 10 U.S. airlines.
• However, some specific flights performed better. For example, Frontier flight F9 687 achieved an impressive on-time rate of 82%, with an average delay of just over 26 minutes. On the other hand, other flights like F9 2025 had poor performance, with only 59% on-time arrivals and an average delay exceeding 72 minutes.

Reliability

• Spirit Airlines has shown moderate reliability but struggles with delays on certain routes. Its delay severity is generally better than average, as seen in the FlightStats rating for NK 978, which scored well for delay performance despite its low punctuality rating.
• Frontier Airlines has faced criticism for “chronically delayed flights,” leading to a $650,000 fine by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in January 202558. This highlights systemic scheduling issues that affect its reliability.

Growth Strategies and Merger Plans

In recent developments regarding the potential merger between Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, the two budget carriers have faced significant challenges and scrutiny. The proposed merger, announced in early 2022, was intended to create the fifth-largest airline in the United States, combining their resources to better compete with major carriers like Delta, American, and United. However, the deal fell apart later that year after a drawn-out bidding war with JetBlue Airways.

JetBlue ultimately outbid Frontier and secured a deal to acquire Spirit for $3.8 billion. This acquisition aimed to expand JetBlue’s market share and provide a stronger foothold in the low-cost carrier segment. However, the merger has been met with regulatory hurdles. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit in March 2023 to block the JetBlue-Spirit merger, citing antitrust concerns. The DOJ argued that the merger would reduce competition in the airline industry, potentially leading to higher fares and fewer choices for consumers.

As of February 2025, the legal battle over the JetBlue-Spirit merger continues, with both airlines defending their position that the deal would benefit travelers by creating a stronger competitor against the “Big Four” airlines. Meanwhile, Frontier Airlines remains independent and focused on its ultra-low-cost business model.

Which Airline Offers Better Value?

Flying budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier can save you money if you’re willing to sacrifice comfort and convenience. However, be prepared for hidden fees (baggage costs add up quickly), cramped seating, and potential delays. If you’re traveling short distances or on a tight budget, these airlines might work—but don’t expect luxury or even basic amenities.