If we are going to talk about Southwest and why we are no longer fans, it only makes sense to give an honest review of Frontier Airlines. As I mentioned in my Southwest review, Southwest was my go-to airline for domestic flights. They handled the majority of my travel needs, and for years, that relationship worked because it was simple, predictable, and mostly hassle-free. That trust is gone now, and once an airline breaks that bond, price alone is not enough to win it back.
With Southwest no longer a viable option, I had to step back and reassess what actually matters when I fly. Not marketing slogans. Not loyalty programs that only reward people who live at the airport. Real-world costs, real-world convenience, and whether an airline respects my time and my money. That search forced me to look at carriers I had previously ignored, compare fee structures line by line, and confront just how expensive “budget” travel has quietly become. Spirit Airlines was ruled out immediately, and not for emotional reasons, but because the math simply did not work.
Frontier Airlines entered the picture not because of brand loyalty, but because the numbers demanded a closer look. On paper, it looked almost too cheap, and that raised a bigger question worth answering: Is Frontier actually a smart alternative, or just another airline that lures you in and nickel-and-dimes you into regret? That is where this story really starts.
Why I Looked at Frontier Airlines
So how did I end up with Frontier Airlines after Southwest? The honest answer is Google Flights. Frontier showed up as cheap, not just affordable, but genuinely cheap. That alone was enough to get me on their website to see what the real cost would be to fly from Dallas-Fort Worth to McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. Yes, I will always call it McCarran. It is not Harry Reid International Airport to me, and it never will be. We really need to stop renaming everything for the sake of honoring politicians and let legacy names exist for places people actually use every day.
When I Book Flights to Las Vegas
Every year, I start looking for Las Vegas flights around October or November for my convention. That timing has consistently worked well. I have tried booking earlier, but the prices were rarely better. In many cases, booking too early actually costs more since airlines are still gauging demand. As the date gets closer, prices tend to drop.
Understanding Frontier Airlines Fare Options
Initially, Frontier’s Basic Fare caught my attention with a round-trip price around $100. Once I started digging into the actual costs with fees, the picture changed. Frontier offers four tiers:
• Basic Fare
• Economy Bundle
• Premium Bundle
• Business Bundle
Comfort on the trip matters to me, so checked bags make that easy. I do not want to stress about packing enough clothes or making room for convention swag. I also travel with camera gear, so a carry-on is non-negotiable. The goal was simple: checked bags and a carry-on without the baggage fees costing more than the flight itself.
The Economy Bundle gave me a carry-on, standard seat selection, and no change or cancel fees. Boarding order did not matter to me. I just want a seat. The Premium Bundle added priority boarding and extra legroom, but for someone not particularly tall, the additional cost was not worth it.
The Business Bundle finally checked every box:
• Personal item and carry-on
• Seat selection up front
• Empty middle seat PLUS extra legroom
• Priority boarding
• No change fees
• Two checked bags up to 50 pounds each
That was the deciding factor.
Booking and Cost Reality
I did not take screenshots of the original price breakdown since I was not planning to review Frontier at the time. Looking at comparable dates now, the Business Bundle runs about $358 round trip without discounts, roughly $100 more than what I paid previously.
Departure From DFW
I booked my flight, selected my upfront seat with extra legroom, and had my baggage sorted. This meant peace of mind. On January 18, I flew out of DFW instead of my preferred Dallas Love Field. While Love Field is still my favorite for domestic flights, DFW is a well-oiled machine and impressive for its size.
When booking, I opted to tag my own bags instead of paying someone to do what they were already doing for free. The process at DFW was less intuitive than expected, and the Frontier baggage agent was clearly annoyed when I tried to follow the posted instructions. I skipped printing my ticket since Frontier charges $25 for that, and I already had it on my phone. While I generally prefer printed tickets, I have not needed one in years. If you are flying internationally, always carry a printed ticket. Not every country operates like a modern airport.
TSA and Boarding Experience
Security line or TSA at DFW took about six minutes from ID check to security clearance, far faster than my usual experience at Love Field. TSA times vary, but you can always check current wait times online by searching DFW TSA times.
At the gate, we grabbed drinks for the flight since nothing is free on Frontier. I brought gummy bears and grabbed a Mr Pibb because Dr Pepper was nowhere to be found. Thanks to Coca-Cola’s exclusivity at DFW.
I asked the gate agent if my camera woman could board with me since I was Group 1 and she was Group 4. The Texas staff had no issue with that, and the flight to Las Vegas was quiet and uneventful.
The Return Flight and Minor Friction
On the way home, a Frontier baggage agent took issue with the half-pound difference between two bags. With no scale available until bag drop, we had to reshuffle items. It was annoying but manageable.
TSA at McCarran Terminal 3 was smooth, and I even picked up a challenge coin from Metro Police. At the gate, I again asked if my camerawoman could board with me. This time, the gate agent refused. The excuse felt like it involved an incoming Arctic storm in Texas, but it felt more like unnecessary rigidity.
Once onboard, someone was sitting in her seat and initially insisted he was correct. He eventually realized he was in row 13, not row 1. After that, the flight home was smooth. We even landed 30 minutes early, which I appreciated. I also crossed the Airbus A321neo off my list of aircraft I had never flown.
Final Thoughts – Frontier Airlines
Once we landed, the baggage claim was painless. No damage, no delays, and no surprises waiting at the carousel, which honestly says a lot for a modern budget airline. At the end of the day, that is the baseline expectation, and Frontier met it without drama.
Based purely on cost and overall experience, if Frontier continues offering two checked bags at a price that makes sense, I will keep flying them. As long as they avoid the kind of operational chaos and policy whiplash we have seen from Southwest, I do not see a reason to keep shopping around. Consistency matters more than branding, and right now, Frontier is at least predictable.
Would I recommend Frontier Airlines? Yes, with clear expectations. If your goal is getting from point A to point B on a budget, especially on flights under four hours, Frontier does exactly what it claims to do. This is not about luxury or being pampered. I am not chasing warm cookies, free drinks, or forced smiles. I want to land, grab my bags, and get on with the reason I traveled in the first place.
If you are a frequent flyer who practically lives in airports, this likely is not your airline. The major carriers still win when it comes to rewards programs, lounge access, and long-term loyalty perks. For someone like me who flies a handful of times a year and wants predictable costs instead of chasing points, Frontier fits the mission.
Could Frontier improve? Absolutely. Better business bundle perks would go a long way, and a little more consistency from ground staff would not hurt. That said, one bad attitude is not enough to derail a trip or ruin my mood. These short-haul flights are a tool, not an experience I need curated.
If you want more honest, no-nonsense breakdowns like this, from airlines to gear to decisions companies make that quietly impact everyday people, that is exactly what I cover here. The goal is not hype, it is clarity. Stick around, because this is far from the last time I will be pulling the curtain back on things most reviews gloss over.