Frontier credit card
$69
40,000 Frontier Miles
$500 initial spend
($320 net value, .65/$)
Signup Bonus Chart2x Frontier Purchases
1x Everywhere Else
3% Foreign Transaction Fee
If you fly Frontier, you may want to get this card for its signup bonus. For most people, it probably isn't worth paying an additional $69 per year to hold onto this card, just for the chance to earn the discount voucher, and to reduce your award redemption fees.
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Introduction to Frontier Miles
Frontier operates a frequent flyer called EarlyReturns.
- Award prices are good. Normal prices are 20,000 miles for round trips in the United States (and to Puerto Rico), and 30,000 points to Mexico, Central America, or the Caribbean.. This is lower than the required points with many other programs, but Frontier is a budget flying experience.
- Miles expire after only six months of inactivity. You'll need to use your miles quickly. As long as you still have the card, it is easy to keep them alive with a single purchase every few months.
- There is a $15 ticketing fees for tickets booked between 21 and 179 days prior to departure; but you won't pay it if you have the card. Within 21 days, the fees are higher. It is very unusual to have fees for award tickets booked so far in advance, but having the credit card waives these fees, so it isn't a problem if you use your miles before you cancel the card.
Collecting the Signup Bonus
- If you fly Frontier, it is worth signing-up for this card, just for the signup bonus. The normal bonus is 40,000 miles. That's enough for two round trip tickets within the United States and Puerto Rico.
- It is possible to earn the same signup bonus multiple times. Barclays has no real limit on the number of times you can get the bonus. Hold onto the card until close to the end of your first year, cancel it, wait a few months, and reapply.
However, if you have been actively signing up for credit cards, it can sometimes be hard to get approved for new cards from Barclays. If you really want to keep the card part of your core credit collection, don't cancel it, counting on being able to be re-approved for the card a few months later. But if you are mainly interested in the signup bonus, there is little harm in trying.
Other Notable Benefits
- Annual $100 Frontier Airlines voucher (with a $2,500 spending requirement). You'll receive a voucher every year that you spend at least $2,500 with the card. If you are planning on holding onto the card, it makes sense to try to spend enough to earn the voucher.
- Waived award redemption fees. You'll save $15 on each of your award redemptions.
- Access to Mastercard luxury hotel program. When you book at one of the participating hotels, you'll get an number of valuable benefits, like free breakfast, a $100 hotel credit, a room upgrade, and late checkout.Take Advantage of Luxury Hotel Programs for Valuable Extra Perks
- Free ShopRunner membership. Like all World Elite Mastercards, your card entitles you to a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which provides free two-day and return shipping from around 150 of the largest online retailers. ShopRunner
- DoorDash and Hello Fresh discounts. Cardmembers who have a DoorDash membership get $5 off their first two orders each month when paid for by their Mastercard. If you don't have a free membership from Chase, you can get your first three months membership for free through Mastercard. You also get a 5% credit back on each HelloFresh purchase.
Bonus Categories
- You are better off making your Frontier purchases with a card that earns a higher reward rate for airfare spending. 2x Frontier miles is okay but not as good as what you'd earn from one of the better cards.Best Credit Cards for Travel Spending.
- You don't want to use this card for your everyday spending. You'll earn higher rewards from a good general-purpose reward card. Get a Great General Purpose Reward Card and Use It for All of Your Spending.