Frontier vs United - 5hr US domestic flight

Question

I've never flown Frontier before, United have changed my itinerary and I have the option to cancel if I want.

Frontier are almost half the cost so I could save quite a bit of money for my Family of 4.

Flight is LAX - MCO (Los Angeles to Orlando) direct

What are they like? I know they are a budget airline, but having never really flown a budget airline outside of Jetstar from Japan to Australia I don't have any other experience to draw from.

W2360ONmartind · Accepted Answer

I’ve flown Frontier quite a few times,4 hour flights although the last one turned into an 8 hour flight due to a gate hold, then a taxiway hold followed by by a diversion due to a medical emergency.

As far as budget airlines go they are fine with the usual uncomfortable seats and tight spaces.

They have very low prices but offer bundles for checked bags and seat selection and also offer a few rows of extra legroom seats. Maybe take some of the savings and pay for a better seat to make the journey a little more comfortable.

Everything is done via their app and their customer service seems to be a AI . They also lay it on pretty thick about carry on bags and make it seem like you can’t take a carry on on their cheapest fare, you can if it is a regular backpack size that will fit under the seat, larger carry on bags need to be paid for.

You just need to understand what you are getting for such a low fare; or more like what you are not getting.

I’d fly them again without any reservations.

TFerrell · Answer

Haven't flown Frontier, but recommend looking at Southwest Airlines. They are on the budget end of things but operate more like a major. No charge for up to 2 checked bags. Currently all seats are same size/width/pitch - better than most majors' basic economy - with seating by boarding groups. (They are scheduled to go to different tiers of seat assignments at some point.) Pay the extra $25 for automatic early bird seating to get an earlier boarding group if you like (I always do). When comparing prices be sure to take into account all the extras you'd pay for.

I think they are on Google Flights now but aren't on other aggregators AFAIK. Go to their site for searching & booking.

Edited: February 15, 2025, 1:16 pm

Furball146 · Answer

Ditto with Southwest.

I think any fare from Frontier is going to involve purchasing baggage, which makes that low price, not be so low in the end.

Do you have to go out of LAX? You may see some better fares out of Santa Ana or Burbank if you're looking at Frontier or Southwest.

SussexWorldtraveller · Answer

One other possible huge caveat. Are you looking to fly same day you arrive from Oz to the USA. Was the now cancelled United domestic flight all part of your long haul transpacific flight?

If so, then whoever you book with as separate flights, make sure you have a significant cushion of time to allow for delays of incoming flight. Also, you'd need to factor in getting from LAX to any other airport in the huge and congested metro LA area, so any saving may be replaced by huge anxiety if you get into traffic instead.

SWT

VAP1611 · Answer

How has United changed your itinerary? Yes you can cancel, but United does allow you to change your itinerary as long as you begin and end at the same destinations

GoodBeer · Answer

Frontier is on my no fly list.

bleen68 · Answer

> Pay the extra $25 for automatic early bird seating to get an earlier boarding group if you like (I always do). When comparing prices be sure to take into account all the extras you'd pay for

Northern_Traveler00 · Answer

Big SW fan here. But they haven't been the low cost option on any of my last 10 trips. I always check them and it never works out anymore

W2360ONmartind · Answer

#8

I have recently found pretty much the same with SW.

The last few years or so I’ve found their fares to not be competitive with United on a route I would often fly. The last several trips I made on that route Frontier was ridiculously cheap especially as I didn’t need checked bags or worry about seats.

I7247NQef · Answer

Frontier and Spirit airlines are also on my no fly list. They have cheap fares, but are Cheap about everything you may need. Once you add back everything you usually get from majors, any difference will likely be small.

Why don't you price out the flights with everything on their website to see for yourself. Don't stop with just the ticket face value.

Frontier vs United - 5hr US domestic flight - Air Travel Forum

Frontier vs United - 5hr US domestic flight

19 replies to this topic