American low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines currently offers a status match for status holders of four other American airlines. While the airline states that your matched status remains valid until December 31, 2026, it does not say how long the status match will be offered.
You cannot match higher than Elite Gold, which gives some okayish perks (like a free cabin bag), but the good stuff like free hold bags start at Elite Platinum, the next highest level. The match requires an application fee of US$69 (~€59), a sum that you can get back with your first two to three Frontier flights under your new status. You will have to pay it, even if your match is declined.
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Matched Programs
Frontier’s status match is open to members of four frequent flyer programs:
- jetBlue’s True Blue
- Spirit Airlines’ Free Spirit
- Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards
- Alaska Arlines’ Mileage Plan
Your status can only be matched if you have joined these programs before August 18, 2025.
Out of the above-mentioned programs, jetBlue offers a status match themselves:
Process
The match is as easy as it gets, as everything can be done via an online form. You’ll first need to have an account at Frontier Miles. You can sign up for free here. Afterward, simply go to the landing page and apply there.
You simply have to select the frequent flyer program and the current status. For verification purposes, you then still have to upload a photo of your frequent flyer card, or a screenshot of the online-account, which shows the status.
During the third and last step, you need to pay the US$69 (~€59). This is only possible by using a credit card. Subsequently, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Within 48 hours, the match should be confirmed. Afterward, it could still take a couple of days until the benefits really appear in the account.
Benefits
This page will give you a good overview of the benefits that await you. The essential benefits of Elite Gold status are:
- Free cabin bag (for the status holder)
- Free preferred and standard seat selection at booking
- Free premium seat selection at check-in (though higher tears can choose them earlier)
- Zone 1 priority boarding for the status holder (Zone 2 for everyone else on the booking)
- 14 points per dollar spent for status re-qualification (instead of 10)
The last point means that, in order to reach the 20,000 points required for Elite Gold, you need to spend roughly US$1,429 (~€1,219) instead of US$2,000 (~€1,706). To reach the next highest Platinum Elite tier, you need to reach 50,000 points (= US$3,571 (~€3,047)) with the gold booster. That tier gives free checked bags to everyone on your booking.
About Frontier Airlines
Frontier is an American low-cost carrier and has a similarly strict no-frills concept, like Ryanair and Wizzair in Europe. The lowest fare doesn’t even include a piece of hand luggage, only a personal item. At least, this personal item can be quite large, measuring up to 46 x 35 x 20 cm.Adding a cabin trolley can often cost US$30 (~€26) in each direction. On the other hand, tickets start at US$19 (~€16).
The fleet is made up of Airbus jets of the A320 family. The flights are almost entirely domestic flights within the USA. Furthermore, there are some routes to Central America and the Caribbean.
Bottom Line
It is an easy equation if this status match makes sense for you. If you plan to fly Frontier in the next 16 months and the costs of cabin bags are higher than $69, go for it. If not, the other benefits are hardly worth mentioning.
An interesting aspect of Frontier is that the status benefits are also granted when booking the cheapest fare. At Delta and United, frequent flyers travelling in Basic Economy, e.g. will not be permitted to select their seats.