Finding the best time to book Frontier Airlines flights can make a significant difference in how much you pay for your trip. As one of America’s most prominent ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs), Frontier’s pricing strategy relies on offering rock-bottom base fares and charging extra for add-ons like baggage, seats, and priority boarding. Understanding when and how to book can help you save hundreds of dollars on your next trip.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best days to book, how far in advance to plan, optimal travel days, seasonal timing, and FAQs that will help you secure the lowest fares on Frontier Airlines.
Frontier operates under an à la carte pricing model, meaning the base fare only covers your seat. Everything else—like seat selection, carry-on luggage, and even snacks—is an optional upgrade. Because of this, Frontier fares are dynamic and fluctuate frequently based on demand, timing, and route popularity. Knowing how the system works gives you a major advantage.
Dynamic Pricing: Frontier adjusts fares multiple times a week depending on route demand.
Limited Seats at Lowest Prices: Each flight offers only a few seats at the lowest fare tier.
Add-ons Affect Total Cost: Booking early lets you bundle services like baggage or seat selection for less.
Choosing the right day of the week can have a surprising impact on the fare you pay.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: These are widely considered the best days to book Frontier flights. Frontier typically updates its pricing early in the week, leading to temporary dips in fares.
Saturday Deals: Some routes show reduced prices for Saturday bookings or departures, especially for travellers avoiding weekend crowds.
Avoid Fridays and Sundays: Fares tend to spike on these days due to increased business and leisure demand.
Pro Tip: Start checking fares on Monday night and book Tuesday morning to catch early fare adjustments before seats sell out.
Ideal Booking Window: How Far in Advance to Book
Timing your purchase can mean the difference between a $50 and a $200 ticket.
Frontier rarely offers cheap last-minute deals, so booking early gives you the greatest advantage.
For domestic Frontier flights, the ideal booking window tends to be 1 to 3 months before departure. Booking in this window often yields good availability at lower fares without being too early, where inflation of price might occur.
If you’re travelling during peak or holiday seasons, you may want to start even earlier—3-4 months ahead—because Frontier fares for high-demand routes go up fast.
Last-minute deals occasionally occur but are risky: fewer seats, fewer low-fare options, and often high prices unless there’s some specific promotion.
Understanding Frontier’s seasonal pricing helps you plan cost-effective travel:
High Season (June–August, December holidays): Expect higher prices due to family and vacation demand.
Shoulder Season (April–May, September–October): Best mix of low fares and pleasant weather.
Low Season (January–March, early November): Deep discounts available on most routes.
For the lowest fares, plan travel during spring or fall when Frontier releases promo fares to stimulate demand.
Frontier regularly hosts flash sales—short-term fare promotions that last 24–72 hours. These can drop prices as low as $19–$39 one way on select routes.
To catch these deals:
Sign up for the Frontier Discount Den® membership (annual fee, early access to sale fares).
Subscribe to Frontier email alerts for flash sales and discount codes.
Follow their official social media pages where promotions are often announced first.
Use Frontier’s Low Fare Finder: Available on their official website, this tool allows you to view fares across multiple days or months.
Set Fare Alerts: Platforms like Google Flights and Hopper notify you when prices drop on your chosen routes.
Be Flexible with Dates and Airports: A one-day change can reduce fares significantly.
Bundle Smartly: Frontier’s “WORKS” or “PERKS” bundles may seem expensive upfront, but can be cheaper overall than buying add-ons separately.
Avoid Last-Minute Purchases: Fares typically spike 14 days before departure.
If you’re planning a round-trip from Denver to Orlando:
Start monitoring fares 8 weeks before departure.
Check prices Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
Choose Tuesday or Wednesday flights for lower fares.
Avoid peak summer or holiday dates if possible.
Following this simple pattern can often save you up to 40% off standard pricing.
Flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays often results in lower ticket prices. These days generally have lower demand.
Saturdays can also be cheaper, especially for outbound or return flights. They're less popular travel days compared to weekends or Fridays.
Avoid departures on Fridays, Sundays, and often Mondays—they’re peak travel days, so fares tend to be higher.
Use Frontier’s Low Fare Calendar (if available) to see fare trends over a month. This helps you identify cheaper days to fly.
Sign up for alerts from Frontier and third-party fare-tracking services. Flash sales or limited-time discounts sometimes appear outside predictable windows.
Be flexible with travel dates. Even shifting your trip by a day or two might lead to noticeable savings.
Travel during off-peak/shoulder seasons (e.g. late fall, early spring) rather than summer months or major holiday periods. Demand is lower, pushing fares down.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the cheapest days to fly, as these are midweek, low-demand days.
For domestic travel, the sweet spot is 1 to 3 months before your departure date. For holidays or peak seasons, aim for 3 to 4 months in advance.
Rarely. Frontier’s lowest fares are limited and sell out fast. Last-minute tickets tend to cost significantly more unless a flash sale coincides with your travel date.
Yes. Frontier frequently runs flash sales offering tickets for as low as $19–$49 one way, usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. They often last just a day or two, so act fast when they appear.
The cheapest months are generally January, February, May, and September—outside of school vacations and holiday peaks.
Yes. Frontier charges an online booking fee (Electronic Carrier Usage Charge). Purchasing your ticket directly at the airport ticket counter can save $20–$30 per segment
Sometimes, but Frontier doesn’t automatically refund fare differences. You can cancel within 24 hours of purchase (if booked at least 7 days before departure) for a full refund, then rebook if prices drop.
Early morning hours (6 a.m. – 10 a.m.) or late at night often display fare updates after Frontier’s system refreshes overnight
Frontier typically updates fares several times a week—especially late Monday and mid-Tuesday.
If you fly Frontier more than twice a year, a Discount Den membership is worth it. Members get early access to sale fares and special “Kids Fly Free” promotions.
To consistently book Frontier Airlines flights at the lowest fares, remember this formula:
Book: Tuesday or Wednesday, 1–3 months before travel
Fly: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday
Travel: During shoulder or off-peak seasons
Check: Frontier’s Low Fare Finder and email alerts regularly
With a little flexibility and strategic timing, you can enjoy budget-friendly travel on Frontier Airlines without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Start planning early, keep an eye on sales, and always compare total costs—including add-ons—to truly score the best deal.