Frontier baggage fees: carry-on, checked bags, and bundles
Every Frontier ticket includes one personal item up to 14 × 18 × 8 inches. A full-size carry-on and standard checked bag cost extra on Basic unless a bundle or benefit includes them; live prices vary by route, date, and when you buy.
Frontier includes one personal item up to 14 × 18 × 8 inches. A full-size carry-on up to 24 × 16 × 10 inches and 35 lbs is a paid add-on on Basic; its price depends on the trip and when it is purchased, so the bag decision belongs at booking, not at the gate.
The free 14 × 18 × 8 inch item must fit under the seat. Frontier says its size is checked during boarding, so an overpacked personal item can turn the cheapest fare into a gate charge.
Basic does not include a checked bag. A standard checked bag is limited to 40 lbs and 62 linear inches, and its base price depends on travel date and purchase timing. Overweight and oversize charges are added separately.
For bookings made on or after September 25, 2026, Basic Fare and Standard cost USD 149 to change within 59 days of departure or to cancel. Economy Fare and Economy, Premium, or Business bundles list no change or cancellation fee, although fare differences can still apply.
- Decide on bags before checkout. Frontier's carry-on and checked-bag pricing is timing-sensitive, so late airport or gate decisions can change the economics of the fare.
- If you need flexibility, compare Basic Fare or Standard against Economy, Premium, or Business bundles before booking; those bundles show no change or cancellation fee.
- Keep bags under 40 lbs and within 62 linear inches when possible. Frontier's overweight and oversize charges are separate from the base bag purchase.
- For personal-item-only trips, measure the bag shape, not just the label. Frontier's cheapest path depends on the item fitting under the seat.
Basic is cheapest only when the add-ons and flexibility risk stay low.
Can the trip stay personal-item-only?
That is Frontier's cleanest low-cost path: one item no larger than 14 × 18 × 8 inches. Frontier says it checks the included item's dimensions during boarding, so an overpacked bag is not a dependable workaround.
Do you need a carry-on, checked bag, and seat together?
Price Basic with every needed add-on, then compare the itinerary's bundle offer. Frontier publishes bags through its Bag Price Checker rather than one universal price, so the checkout comparison is the decision—not a generic national average.
Might the itinerary change inside 59 days?
For Basic or Standard bookings made on or after September 25, 2026, a change inside 59 days or a cancellation costs $149 per passenger, per direction. Economy Fare and Economy, Premium, or Business bundles list no change or cancellation fee.
Will the checked bag stay at or below 40 lb?
Frontier's standard checked-bag limit is only 40 lb. A 41–50 lb bag adds $75; a 51–99.99 lb bag adds $129 on bookings made on or after April 4, 2026, before any separate oversize charge.
Does a verified exception apply?
Eligible elite status, Frontier's qualifying card benefit, and active-duty military rules can change the bag total. Apply those benefits only when the traveler, booking, and operating-flight conditions match.
Does Frontier Airlines still win after the fees?
Start with Frontier Airlines preselected, add the competing flight, and compare the whole party's fare, checked bags, overhead carry-ons, and seats. Choose the exact fare profile only when it matches the booking.
Compare true trip costCompare the bag bill before the fare wins.
Pick travelers, bags, route context, and bag size. The table estimates only when the stored fee data has a usable fixed amount. Route-priced airlines stay flagged for lookup instead of showing a false $0.
| Airline | Trip bag cost | Annual exposure | Best card waiver | Overweight / oversize | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Airlines Current page | Route lookup needed Missing first bag fee. | Route-priced | No eligible card benefit | Standard-size input | Price this airline Usually depends on route or market and fare family. |
| Southwest Airlines | $180 | $180 | No eligible card benefit | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| Ryanair | Route lookup needed Missing first bag fee. | Route-priced | No eligible card benefit | Standard-size input | Price this airline Usually depends on route or market and fare family. |
| easyJet | Route lookup needed Missing first bag fee. | Route-priced | No eligible card benefit | Standard-size input | Price this airline Usually depends on route or market and purchase timing. |
| Alaska Airlines | $180 | $180 | $180 / year Atmos Rewards Visa Business card | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| American Airlines | $180 | $180 | Standard-size input | Price this airline | |
| Delta Air Lines | $180 | $180 | $180 / year Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| United Airlines | $180 | $180 | $180 / year United Explorer Card | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| JetBlue | $0 | $0 | Check card rules | Standard-size input | Price this airline |
| Air Canada | Route lookup needed Missing first bag fee. | Route-priced | Check card rules | Standard-size input | Price this airline Usually depends on route or market and fare family. |
Core fee breakdown
Start with what the base fare excludes, then check how purchase timing, bag size, and weight change the price.
Carry-on rules
See also the broader carry-on fee reference.
When the issue is whether a bag will physically pass at the gate, compare the published rule with sizer enforcement reality.
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All fares | All routes | 0.00 USD | per flight | Every fare includes one personal item; boarding checks can trigger charges if it exceeds 8 x 18 x 14 in | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-25 |
| All fares | All routes | Bag Price Checker / booking flow USD | per flight | Carry-on price depends on route, date, and purchase timing; airport and gate purchase can cost more | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-25 |
Checked baggage fees
See also the checked baggage fee reference. For a side-by-side baseline comparison, review Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet.
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All fares | All routes | Bag Price Checker / booking flow USD | each way | Checked-bag price depends on route, date, and purchase timing; standard checked bag limit is 40 lb and 62 linear in | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-25 |
Excess and overweight baggage
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All fares | All routes | 75.00 USD | each way | Bags weighing 41-50 lb; standard checked bag limit is 40 lb | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-25 |
| All fares | All routes | 100.00 USD | each way | Bags weighing 51-99.99 lb for bookings made before April 4, 2026; bags over 100 lb not accepted | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-25 |
| All fares | All routes | 129.00 USD | each way | Bags weighing 51-99.99 lb for bookings made on or after April 4, 2026; bags over 100 lb not accepted | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-25 |
Oversized baggage
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All fares | All routes | 75.00 USD | each way | Bags measuring 63-110 linear in; bags over 110 linear in are not accepted except assistive devices | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-25 |
Seat and fare-related fees
See also the seat selection fee reference.
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic fare | All routes | Shown during booking USD | at booking / manage trip / check-in | Basic fare does not include a seat assignment; paid seat selection varies by flight and seat type | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-21 |
| Basic fare | All routes | 0.00 USD | check-in | Random seat assignment if no seat is purchased | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-21 |
| Economy bundle | All routes | 0.00 USD | at booking / manage trip | Standard seat selection included with Economy bundle | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-21 |
| Premium bundle | All routes | 0.00 USD | at booking / manage trip | Premium seat selection included with Premium bundle | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-21 |
| Business bundle | All routes | 0.00 USD | at booking / manage trip | Seat selection included for any available seat with Business bundle | Official sourceChecked 2026-08-21 |
Change and cancellation references
See also the change and cancellation fee reference.
For cancellation, significant schedule change, and refund timing rules in U.S. markets, see the U.S. DOT refund rules reference.
| Applies to | Region / route | Amount | Timing | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 0.00 USD | 60+ days before departure | Change flight fee for bookings made on or before June 4, 2026: 60+ days before departure | |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 49.00 USD | 59 to 7 days before departure | Change flight fee for bookings made on or before June 4, 2026: 59 to 7 days before departure | |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 99.00 USD | 6 days or less before departure | Change flight fee for bookings made on or before June 4, 2026: 6 days or less before departure (including same-day) | |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 0.00 USD | 60+ days before departure | Change flight fee for bookings made June 5 through September 24, 2026: 60+ days before departure | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 79.00 USD | 59 to 7 days before departure | Change flight fee for bookings made June 5 through September 24, 2026: 59 to 7 days before departure | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 129.00 USD | 6 days or less before departure | Change flight fee for bookings made June 5 through September 24, 2026: 6 days or less before departure (including same-day) | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 0.00 USD | 60+ days before departure | Change flight fee for bookings made on or after September 25, 2026: 60+ days before departure | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 149.00 USD | 59 days or less before departure | Change flight fee for bookings made on or after September 25, 2026: 59 days or less before departure (including same-day) | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Economy / Premium / Business bundle | All routes | 0.00 USD | any time before departure | Change flight fee: no change fees at any time | |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 99.00 USD | before departure | Cancel flight fee for bookings made on or before June 4, 2026: per passenger, per direction | |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 129.00 USD | before departure | Cancel flight fee for bookings made June 5 through September 24, 2026: per passenger, per direction | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Basic Fare / Standard | All routes | 149.00 USD | before departure | Cancel flight fee for bookings made on or after September 25, 2026: per passenger, per direction | Official sourceChecked 2026-09-27 |
| Economy / Premium / Business bundle | All routes | 0.00 USD | before departure | Cancel flight fee: no cancellation fee |
Fare-class behavior
Basic Fare / Standard
For bookings made on or after September 25, 2026, changes remain free at least 60 days before departure but cost USD 149 within 59 days. Cancellation is USD 149 per passenger, per direction. Earlier 2026 bookings retain their older fee ladders.
Economy / Premium / Business bundle
Economy includes a personal item, carry-on, standard seat, and no change/cancel fee. Premium adds a premium seat and Board First with overhead-bin space. Business adds two checked bags up to 50 lbs each and UpFront Plus seating. Bundle prices still vary by itinerary.
Personal-item-only travel
One under-seat personal item is included at USD 0.
Paid carry-on and checked-bag products
Carry-on pricing depends on purchase timing, and checked-bag pricing depends on both route and purchase timing. That is why Frontier bag math should be done before the airport.
When fees may not apply
- Economy and Premium include a carry-on but not a checked bag; Business includes two checked bags up to 50 lbs each.
- Frontier checks personal-item and carry-on dimensions during boarding. An item outside the limit can trigger an additional charge.
- Overweight and oversize charges are separate from the route- and timing-dependent base bag price.
- Basic Fare and Standard show a USD 0 change amount when the request is made 60 or more days before departure; the paid tier inside that window depends on the original booking date.
Compare with other airlines
Comparison links below are limited to airlines with closely related fee structures or booking models.
Related guides
Legal Disclaimer
This reference reflects the published policy details and linked official sources available for this airline.