Frontier Airlines is adding more benefits for its elite members next year. And some of them sound a lot more like what you’d expect from a full-service airline.
Beginning in 2027, every level of Frontier Miles elite status will come with a chance at a complimentary upgrade to UpFront Plus or the airline’s forthcoming First Class seats. That includes Silver, Frontier’s entry-level elite tier.
Frontier is also reshuffling how members qualify for status. Diamond is getting 25% easier to earn, while the requirements for Silver and Gold are going up.
The changes come as Frontier continues to stretch beyond its ultra-low-cost roots. First Class, upgrades, a more comprehensive loyalty program, and Starlink Wi-Fi are all things that would have sounded almost unthinkable just a few years ago for an airline known for selling fares for less than $20.
First Class Upgrades Are Coming to Every Elite Tier
Frontier plans to introduce First Class later this year. It’s in the process of installing two-by-two seating at the front of its aircraft.
Starting in 2027, every Frontier Miles elite tier will have a chance to upgrade into First Class or UpFront Plus (a handful of rows where the middle seat is kept empty). The benefit will be available to elite members who purchase an Economy or Premium bundle.
How early that chance comes depends on status. Silver members become eligible for upgrades four hours before departure, followed by Gold at eight hours, Platinum at 18 hours, and Diamond at 24 hours.
There are other improvements coming for elites, too. Platinum members will receive a free checked bag for everyone on their reservation. Diamond members will get two.
Frontier is also introducing Milestone Rewards in 2027, although it hasn’t revealed what those rewards will include yet.
Frontier Is Reshuffling How You Earn Elite Status
Frontier isn’t making every level of status easier to earn.
Starting September 1, the requirement for Diamond will drop from 100,000 Elite Status Points to 75,000. Anyone who reaches 75,000 points in 2026 will earn Diamond status for 2027.
But starting January 1, the requirement for Silver will increase from 10,000 to 15,000 points, while Gold will move from 20,000 to 25,000. Platinum will stay at 50,000 points.
Frontier is also adjusting how members earn miles and Elite Status Points on tickets purchased beginning September 1. Travelers buying Economy, Premium, or Business bundles will earn at higher rates, and Frontier cardmembers can earn even more.
The end result is a loyalty program that’s raising the bar at the bottom while making its top status easier to reach and more rewarding to hold.
That’s an interesting direction for an airline built around low fares and charging separately for much of everything else. The irony is that the more you spend with Frontier, the fewer of those extras you’ll have to pay for.