Frontier Airlines launches $399 'all-you-can-fly' summer pass... but there's a catch! Domestic flights can only be booked a day before travel - and it doesn't include checked luggage

  • Similar to its $1,299 year-round pass, the GoWild! summer certificate will allow travelers unlimited flights to more than 100 airports across the globe
  • The certification will only cost travelers $399 - a fact celebrated by the Denver-based carrier's senior vice president Tuesday in an official statement 
  • The pass, however, does not include any add-on products, like bags or seats, and will renew automatically at a price of $999 unless you cancel

Budget airline Frontier has released an all-you-can-fly summer pass that allows travelers unlimited flights over the warmer months - months after it was slapped with a $2million fine for how it treated its customers.

Similar to its year-round pass - previously $1,299 but now $999 - the GoWild! summer certificate will allow travelers unlimited flights to more than 100 airports across the globe. The certification will only cost travelers $399 - a fact celebrated by the Denver-based carrier's senior vice president Tuesday in an official statement. 

The pass, however, does not include any add-on products such as seats or checked bags, which will run travelers an additional charge of up to $95 - and will renew automatically at a price of $999 unless you cancel.

In another caveat, those who purchase the pass will only be allowed to book domestic flights the day before takeoff, and international flights starting 10 days before the desired travel date. 

Those fortunate enough to book a flight, meanwhile will also be subject to taxes and additional fees of up to $75 and can be booted from the flight in favor of a non-pass-holding passenger.

Budget airline Frontier has released an all-you-can-fly summer pass that allows travelers unlimited flights between May 2 and September 30

Budget airline Frontier has released an all-you-can-fly summer pass that allows travelers unlimited flights between May 2 and September 30

Similar to its year-round pass - previously $1,299 but now $999 - the GoWild! summer certificate will allow travelers unlimited flights to more than 100 airports across the globe

Similar to its year-round pass - previously $1,299 but now $999 - the GoWild! summer certificate will allow travelers unlimited flights to more than 100 airports across the globe 

'Everyone loves summer vacation,' Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier Airlines, said in a statement Tuesday announcing the new flight pass, the latest in a series of rollouts designed to rekindle riders' satisfaction with the airline, following mass delays and cancellations seen during the pandemic.

With the new GoWild! Summer Pass,' Shurz said, 'you can enjoy even more of what you love.' 

Calling the pass perfect 'for people with flexible schedules,' the airline exec added: 'This is a terrific opportunity to have a truly epic summer and then some, soaking up rays on the beach, exploring national parks and visiting new cities.'

In another statement, the company warned that the pass will be offered 'on a limited basis' and could increase. They are currently being sold on a 'first come, first served' basis, it added.

The pass is valid for travel between May 2 and September 30, during which point patrons will be allowed an unlimited number of domestic and international flights to destinations such Canada, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Costa Rica, and several of the Caribbean Isles.

On top of the advertised $399 price tag, each flight will cost riders one additional cent, plus applicable taxes, fees and charges, the company said. The flights will not earn miles or status. 

That said, the $399 price-tag serves as a marked markdown from the price set for a summer pass just last year, when it stood at $999.

On top of the advertised $399 price tag, each flight will cost riders one additional cent, plus applicable taxes, fees and charges, the company said. The flights will not earn miles or status

On top of the advertised $399 price tag, each flight will cost riders one additional cent, plus applicable taxes, fees and charges, the company said. The flights will not earn miles or status 

That pass' rollout came as the airline faced backlash over mass cancellations that transpired during the pandemic, and its subsequent failure to issue refunds to displaced travelers.

'Everyone loves summer vacation,' Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier Airlines, said in a statement Tuesday announcing the new flight pass

'Everyone loves summer vacation,' Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier Airlines, said in a statement Tuesday announcing the new flight pass

Late last year, the US Department of Transportation got involved, and penalized the airline for engaging in an 'unfair and deceptive practice' to avoid paying out.

Calling Frontier the 'worst' offender out of several other airlines, the federal agency leveled critiques at the carrier that included it having a website that went down for 15 days in 2020, and it's preventing passengers from applying for refunds.

The DOT further charged that the airline attempted to retroactively redefine what counts as 'significantly delayed' to avoid dishing out rightful repayments. 

'When a flight gets canceled, passengers seeking refunds should be paid back promptly,' Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at the time of the airline's misdeeds, which saw it fined $2.2 million and ordered to pay more than $222million in refunds to the jilted passengers.

The pass comes months after the low-fare airline was slapped with a $2million fine for how it treated its customers

The pass comes months after the low-fare airline was slapped with a $2million fine for how it treated its customers

'A flight cancellation is frustrating enough, and you shouldn't also have to haggle or wait months to get your refund,' Buttigieg added. 

The department said it received 'a flood of complaints' since the pandemic began.

Other offenders included overseas carries such as Air India, TAP Portugal, Aeromexico, El Al Israel Airlines, and Avianca - though federal officials wrote that Frontier, by far, was the worst of the lot.

That pass' rollout came as the airline faced backlash over mass cancellations that transpired during the pandemic, and its subsequent failure to issue refunds to displaced travelers. It was forced to pay nearly $225million in fines and refunds late last year

That pass' rollout came as the airline faced backlash over mass cancellations that transpired during the pandemic, and its subsequent failure to issue refunds to displaced travelers. It was forced to pay nearly $225million in fines and refunds late last year

Since then, the airline - which, like other airlines, has seen ridership and profits recover to pre-pandemic levels this year - has implemented a slew of measures seemingly to recoup losses recorded during the industry-wide lull in 2020 and 2021, as well as the nearly $225million in the DOT ruling late last year.

Now repaid, the refund, the company said late last year, 'demonstrate Frontier's commitment to treating our customers with fairness and flexibility.' 

Late last year, the company scrapped its customer service helpline as part of a campaign to go 'completely digital.' 

Barstool Sports dubbed the move as one that officializes Frontier's reputation as 'The Worst Airline.'

the airline - which, like other airlines, has seen ridership and profits recover to pre-pandemic levels this year - has implemented a slew of measures seemingly to recoup losses recorded during the industry-wide lull in 2020 and 2021 and through its recent federal fine

the airline - which, like other airlines, has seen ridership and profits recover to pre-pandemic levels this year - has implemented a slew of measures seemingly to recoup losses recorded during the industry-wide lull in 2020 and 2021 and through its recent federal fine 

Explaining the decision in November, Jennifer F. de la Cruz, the low-cost airline's director of corporate communications, said Frontier 'found that most customers prefer communicating via digital channels.'

She said: 'Customers can visit our website and interact initially with a chatbot which provides answers to common questions,' 

Cruz also noted that if agent support is needed, an online chatbot is available 24 hours a day.

'At Frontier, we offer the lowest fares in the industry by operating our airline as efficiently as possible,' she said of the customer service pivot, which was almost immediately criticized, with many citing how competitor budget airlines such as Spirit and Allegiant still offer helplines to customers.

Frontier also recently launched its 'all-you-can-fly' pass, which, like the newly announced summer version, provides passengers the option to travel throughout the year at discounted rates.

Similar to the summer pass, travelers will only be able to confirm travel plans the day before a domestic flight departs. 

Also, like the summer pass, pass holders can be booted off the flight in favor  of other passengers who are paying for a single ticket.  

The cost of the pass has fluctuated since its release less than six months ago, priced as low as $799 and as high as $1,299, before being brought back down to $999 on Tuesday.

Amid the already pronounced outrage toward the airline, many questioned the stipulations laid out by the airline for those who sign up for the newly priced summer and year-round passes, which reportedly are limited in number.

Amid the already pronounced outrage toward the airline, many questioned the stipulations laid out by the airline for those who sign up for the newly priced summer and year-round passes, which reportedly are limited in number

Amid the already pronounced outrage toward the airline, many questioned the stipulations laid out by the airline for those who sign up for the newly priced summer and year-round passes, which reportedly are limited in number

One social media user took issue with the fact that those who pay for the pass can be booted off a flight seemingly at the drop of the hat, as well as the company's recent revamp of its customer service model.

'It's all fine until they cancel your flight or you need to talk to someone and then you will get the worst service on this planet from America's worst airlines,' the user wrote.

Another questioned the day-prior policy that requires travelers to book their flight the day before.

'What does it mean that you “Get confirmed bookings the day before the flight?”' The confused user asked, seemingly in disbelief. 'Does that mean we book the flight the day before?'

Both the summer and annual passes can currently be purchased on Frontier's website. They are non-transferrable and only available to travelers over the age of 18. 

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