Flying Frontier to Walt Disney World
Money MattersTransportation

Flying Frontier Airlines to Walt Disney World

Savannah Sanders
Share This!

Flying Frontier to Walt Disney World

As I live a considerable distance from Walt Disney World, flying is my preferred method of travel in order to maximize my vacation time. But as many of you fellow travelers may know, flying can be almost as expensive as your actual vacation!

A few years ago, I looked into economy airlines in order to work more flexibility into my Disney World Vacation budget; and after my first roundtrip flight to Orlando International Airport with Frontier Airlines, I’ve flown with them pretty much ever since. Here’s what to expect when flying with Frontier Airlines and why I fly with them to Walt Disney World!

Schedule

Frontier Airlines typically offers only one flight per day from one destination to another. Frontier Airlines offers service from a vast number of locations, ranging from Los Angeles, California (LAX) to Saint Louis, Missouri (STL) to Trenton, New Jersey (TTN) and Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), but that’s only the start! All of these airports fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO), meaning passengers can take advantage of Disney’s Magical Express.

Rates and Flight Times on Frontier’s Website

Rates

Frontier Airlines often offers fantastic rates. I’ve personally taken advantage of flights as low as $29 one way! Now that’s not without fees and taxes, but don’t let that scare you. Even after the additional costs are added in, a flight with Frontier Airlines can still be much cheaper than with other carriers and can make that Disney World Vacation much more doable financially.

Booking

Passengers can book a flight with Frontier Airlines either by phone, online, or through third party sites like Kayak, Priceline, Orbitz, and etc. Personally, I prefer to book on Frontier’s site so I’m in full control of my seat selection onboard and what fees are being added to my total cost.

Note: Promo Codes are to be entered on the first page of the website in order to receive the discount.

Seat Selection and Rates on a Frontier Flight

Booking online is a relatively simple, but can be a lengthy experience. After entering dates and personal information, passengers get to pick their seat on their flights, as well as the cost of their seat. Seats towards the front are naturally more spacious and the most expensive, but one thing I appreciate is that aisle, window, and middle seats are usually priced the same. Also, on occasion, you can snatch a seat for free so look through the offerings with care!

If the plane isn’t full, or a passenger has a medical issue and needs a particular seat, be sure to inform a flight attendant. In both cases, I’ve seen them to be incredibly accommodating.

Next, passengers select their bags, have the option to purchase travel insurance and a rental car, before filling out the payment page. This is where passengers will see the total price of their trip with taxes and fees added in, and can enter Frontier credit or vouchers.

 

Where to measure a carry-on and personal bag

Baggage

A checked bag costs $30 one way while a carry-on costs $35, but only if you buy online. Paying for baggage at the airport will be higher and even more so at the gate.

Note: Bags exceeding weight and size will be charged or possibly accepted.

Each passenger is allowed a personal item within the limits of 14″ high, 18″ wide, and 8″ deep. Frontier describes a personal item as a purse or briefcase which fits under the seat in front of them. However, I use a small duffel or backpack within the required dimensions. I’m not exactly a light packer, but I have flown to Disney World with only a personal item forgoing the bag charges altogether! This was during the summer, however, as t-shirts and shorts take up very little space so I can’t say this method is doable for a Disney World Vacation during cooler months; but the point is, fully take advantage of that personal item!

Note: Assistance items like canes or respiratory devices or diaper bags are allowed on board for free.

Seat Assignment and Zone Number on a Frontier Boarding Pass

Boarding

Boarding begins 30 minutes to departure. The boarding process is divided into zones with Zone 1 boarding first and Zone 4 boarding last. A passenger’s assigned boarding zone is printed on their boarding pass.

Passengers who board first include those needing special services, families traveling with small children, and those who purchased the WORKS, who are an Elite member of EarlyReturns, and those with carry-on bags.

Note: If only one member of your family has a carry-on assigned to their name, they will be in a different zone than the rest of your group. Be sure to plan accordingly.

Refunds

If tickets were purchased more than 7 days prior to the travel date, they may be fully refunded if they’re cancelled within 24 hours of purchase.

My plane’s mascot! Cubby the Bear.

If a passenger purchased the Works, they can apply the value of their tickets to a new ticket or fill out an online refund form for a full refund.

Overall Experience

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much on my first Frontier Airlines flight as I figured I would get what I paid for, which wasn’t much! But I was wrong. I can honestly say I’ve had more issues and complaints with major carriers than I’ve had with Frontier. Still, there are a few things to be aware of…

Passengers will be offered refreshments onboard, but they are not complimentary and are to be purchased by card. Frontier Airlines doesn’t offer some of the luxuries and entertainment of other airlines either, so passengers should be prepared.

Each plane boasts an animal mascot with its own nickname. On my last flight, we flew with “Cubby” the bear, but my favorite is “Virginia” the wolf. Yes, they even have a sense of humor. Something else comical is the size of the tray tables on board. They remind me of desks in a college classroom…

Savings Tips

Every dollar counts when heading to Walt Disney World, so here are a few ways to earn a few extra Dole Whips and Disney Pins…

Sign Up for Emails: Frontier Airlines frequently offers discounted rates and promo codes, and signing up to receive emails makes sure you won’t miss them!

  • Discount Den: Frontier’s Discount Den is a yearly subscription offering members lower rates which are displayed during the booking process. The discount applies up to six members in a member’s party and racks up Frontier’s EarlyReturns miles. It does cost around $50 per year, but passengers flying multiple times a year can truly benefit
  • The WORKS: If the extras are a priority for your flying experience, The Works is a bundle package granting guests one checked bag and carry on bag, the best seats, and priority boarding plus refunds for $59. Note: The WORKS must be purchased at the time of booking.
  • Timing: While Frontier Airlines can offer wonderful rates, that’s not always the case. The key for a coveted $29 rate is timing. Booking too early or too late often means a hefty price tag. It’s best to check your email inbox for those Frontier Airlines promos and wait for when they’re covering your travel dates.

Why Do I Fly Frontier?

I have flown with other economy airlines to Walt Disney World in times past. Some don’t fly into Orlando International Airport, meaning I would need a rental car, and simply lacked the efficiency and professionalism of major airlines. Frontier offers me service to Orlando and professionalism.

Perhaps most importantly, Frontier affords me transportation to Walt Disney World without having to empty my wallet before I get there! I know that extra fees are an issue for some travelers, but I have no problem swallowing them if it keeps my rates below other competitors. I also appreciate that I have control over what fees I pay and for how much, such as in baggage and seat selection.

Have you ever flown with Frontier to Walt Disney World? What was your experience?

You May Also Like...

Savannah Sanders

Savannah has been visiting Disney World since she was a year old and has gone back almost every year since. In the real world, she teaches high school history and government and enjoys writing about all things Disney. Savannah can be reached on Twitter @DisneyParkSavvy.

16 thoughts on “Flying Frontier Airlines to Walt Disney World”

  • DO NOT TRUST THEM WITH YOUR LUGGAGE. MY LUGGAGE WAS GONE THROUGH AND THINGS STOLEN FROM IT.(NOT CLOTHES) CLAIM WAS FILED WITH FRONTIER AIRLINES TOLD THE LADY ON THE PHONE THAT IS WAS THIEF AND THAT THERE EMPLYEE’S ARE TRUSTED WITH OUR BELONGING WHEN WE LEAVE THEM AND THAT I WOULD NEVER FLY FRONTIER AGAIN. THERE IS A LOT OF HIDEN FEE AND COST FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO OR NEED.
    AGAIN DO NOT TRUST THEM.

  • Frontier is Denver based and since I live in Colorado, I used to fly it quite often. Southwest got less expensive and offered free checked bags, so I started flying them for most of my flights. Suddenly, Southwest has gotten much more expensive and I just booked a flight again with Frontier. It was less expensive (even including the price of checked luggage) and I get to fly out of Colorado Springs instead of Denver which saves me 1 1/2 to 2 hours of commuting to the airport each way. Parking is also a lot less money. I’m so excited!

  • The WORKS package states no change fees. If I initially purchase a ticket with the WORKS and that flight goes on sale later, can I rebook with the lower price and get a refund (or a credit, like Southwest does)?

    • Great question! I did some searching and the site says that WORKS allows passengers to refund their ticket & apply the value of their booking to a new ticket without penalty, subject to any difference in fare and/or options prices. I would assume you could to that, but I don’t think they promote it like Southwest. Just in case, I would try to talk to a Frontier rep beforehand just in case.

  • LOVE flying Frontier. We have never had any problems on our flights. Our last trip to Disney, planned last minute at 2 weeks prior, we got tix for 2, for $200 total round trip. Depending on the day, there have been an evening flight offer, where as the other carriers we could have flown, did not. Our trip in January, we stayed 3 nights and was able to just pack a personal item and it worked out great! You can get a decent size bag under your seat.

  • Thanks Savannah! This article is quite helpful. Although we are loyal Southwest customers, their fares have been creeping up from STL to MCO. It’s nice to see another direct flight alternative that might save us substantial money.

  • Flew Frontier last summer for the first time and loved it. I got checked bags and roomier front of plane seats for less than just the ticket of the major airlines. Only issue is you can’t use the Resort Airline checkin which was a huge disappointment but for the savings I’ll probably be schlepping my bags to the airport myself next time.

  • I have compared prices between Delta, Southwest, Spirit, and Frontier from KC. Frontier has consistently been the first or second most expensive fare. Even Spirit is more than Delta and Southwest sometimes…and the flight times for Spirit are often terrible…arriving in Orlando close to midnight and 5:00 AM return flight.

    I have a Delta Sky miles card which gets me free checked bags and enough miles so I can even upgrade if I like and I only fly a few times a year.

    Southwest is usually my second choice because they are often affordable and have more direct flights from Kansas City.

    I don’t think I would ever fly extreme budget airlines like Spirit or Allegiant. I think Frontier falls somewhere in between…not horrible but not the best choice.

    Also it does depend which airport you fly out of. From Kansas City Frontier may be the most expensive, however from St. Louis it may be the cheapest.

  • We flew Spirit one time and that is not happening again. If you want a discount airline that still has some perks go Southwest. Free bags (checked and carry on), free snacks and soft drinks, they fly into MCO and, they are on the Disney resort check in list. I have had fewer delays with SW than with any other airline I have flown. Plus you can get those ridiculously cheap fares ($65 one way from Dallas) if you pay attention.

  • I think people often overlook the deep discount airlines because of stories they have heard about them. I have found the same experience flying Spirit. Once you learn the quirks of their system there are great opportunities to save a lot of money and the experience isn’t any worse then the majors. A few weekends ago we were able to fly round trip from Baltimore to Orlando for $82 round trip. That wasn’t per person. That was three of us for $82 round trip with fees. We had to go to the airport to purchase the date and I had to watch for a promotion but it enabled us to take a long weekend trip to Disneyworld for a fantastic price.

  • Frontier isn’t listed as participating in Resort Airline Check-In on the way home… So you have to bring your checked baggage on the Magical Express with you to the air port, and check-in when you get there.

    Typically, you board the Magical Express 3hrs before your scheduled flight. Does that leave enough time to do the check in at the air port?

    • We barely made it onto the plane on time when we left yesterday. The only reason we did make it is because my husband was using a wheelchair for his broken leg, which got us through security faster. The ME bus picked us up at the resort at 425am; it took the driver a while to get the luggage and my husband loaded and we didn’t get on the road for the airport until about 445am I’d say? We got to the airport at about 545am and waited in the check-in line for almost an hour, leaving us with not that much time to get through security and on the tram to our gate. It was stressful to say the least. I heard the flight attendants say there was like 40 empty seats on the plane which I would be were for people still waiting to get through security due to the delay at the check-in desk.

    • We flew Frontier last month and had a 7am flight home on a Saturday. ME picked us up at 4am and we were at our gate by 5:45am. It took us about 10 min to check our bags and about 30 min to get through security. And we were traveling with 3 young children!

    • Frontier is notorious for extremely long lines at check in. The one time we flew them they were lining people up outsideat MCO because there were to many people on line inside the terminal. If you decide to take a chance with them plan accordingly. I find you get what you pay for. I flew Newark to MCO for $150 on United three weeks ago and I’m paying $150 round trip in two weeks on Southwest. Not worth the hassle with Frontier even though I live very close to Trenton.

  • Will never fly them again. Constant cancellations, delays and bag charges.

  • Flown them twice and never again. Always delayed. Always issues. Always add ons for picking a seat or bringing a bag or pretty much anything.

    Avoid them like the plague.

Comments are closed.