The days of being able to fly a few states away for less than $100 a person are becoming harder to come by as airplane ticket prices soar, leading underdog airlines to consider new ways to entice travelers. Enter Frontier's GoWild! pass, a plan that frequent flyers can purchase for $600 that buys them an all-you-can-fly ticket — with caveats.
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You don't have to be a skeptic to wonder what's included in the fine print for this too-good-to-be-true deal. After all, $600 isn't an unusual fare for a plane ticket to a single destination, so there has to be at least one loophole, a few exceptions, and a couple of pesky parameters that pass holders need to abide by, right? For starters, the pass is $600 only for the first year. When it renews automatically the next year, the charge is $2,000 — more than triple the initial cost.
Still, Frontier Miles members who hold the pass can travel as much as they want to U.S. destinations, including Puerto Rico. But Frontier's no-frills style of travel means you'll pay extra for luggage, including carry-ons, and even for your seat, none of which are included in the $600 pass price. Taxes and other fees and charges apply. So, even with the all-you-can-fly perk, you'll still have to pony up some cash, including a penny booking fee for each segment.
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Further, pass purchasers can begin using their passes on May 2, 2023, but they'll find there are numerous blackout dates that can complicate travel plans:
2023 blackout dates
- May 25-26, 29
- June 29-30
- July 1-5, 8-9
- Aug. 31
- Sept. 1, 4
- Oct. 5-6, 9
- Nov. 18, 22, 24-27
- Dec. 16-17, 22-24, 26-31
2024 blackout dates
- Jan. 1, 15
- Feb. 15-16, 19
- March 3, 10, 15-17, 22-24, 29-31
- April 5-7, 12-14
Blackout dates beyond April 2024 haven't yet been released.
Perhaps the biggest catch of Frontier's GoWild! pass is that you can't use it to book and confirm flights until the day before travel — no joke. If you're not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of traveler, you're probably shuddering at the thought of not knowing whether or not you're flying out until a day before departure.
What's more, booking just a day before means your place on the flight is "subject to availability." There it is, folks, the giant loophole. Still, if you travel a lot and can be flexible, $600 for a year's worth of airfare might be worth considering, even if you do have to sacrifice your United stroopwafel snack.