On August 5, 2023, a Frontier Airlines plane parked at the gate of Denver International Airport (DEN) in Denver, Colorado.
Daniel Slim | AFP | Getty Images
Frontier AirlinesOne of the world’s largest budget airlines is adding first-class seats.
Its strategic changes follow changes in the industry fighting Suitable for customers who are willing to pay for more personal space.
Starting in September, Frontier plans to begin removing the first two rows of 3 x 3 economy class seats to add four 2 x 2 first class seats.
The Denver-based airline is also revamping its loyalty program, offering free seat upgrades (when available) to its Gold and above members and free companions to its higher Platinum and Diamond members Air tickets. In mid-2025, customers will be able to redeem miles for seat upgrades and baggage fees.
Chief Executive Barry Biffle said he expects the new measures to bring in about $250 million in revenue in 2026 and more than $500 million in 2028.
“While our costs are the lowest in the industry, we don’t have the best revenue model,” Biffle said in an interview.
Biffler said the biggest gaps in the company’s revenue model come from not offering first-class seats and not providing enough rewards for loyalty program members. “This will be a game changer,” he added.
He said he expects the new seats to be particularly popular on some of Frontier’s cross-country flights.
Frontier’s cabin changes come as the airline industry races to win over high-paying customers, outfitting planes with more first-class or premium seats to command higher fares, increasing pressure on budget carriers to offer more spacious options.
These upgrades come from like delta and unitedaccounting for the bulk of industry profits, while smaller operators such as JetBlue Airways. Frontier will have to compete with airlines that offer other perks like sitting in the front of the plane, such as meals, but Biffle said his airline’s best seats will beat them on price.
The airline announced in March that it would start selling seats blocked The spokesperson said Frontier plans to continue offering the option of a middle seat.
Southwest Airlines Planning to add extra legroom seats and introducing seat assignments to increase revenue, rerouting away from the open-plan cabins it has flown for more than 50 years.
Spirit Airlines files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy bankruptcy protection Last month, the company launched “large front seats” similar to domestic first-class seats.
