Frontier Airlines World Mastercard review: A great choice for dedicated Frontier fans

Overview of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

While the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® may not be the most rewarding credit card available, it offers valuable perks for regular Frontier travelers. It's a solid secondary option for Frontier flyers, but we suggest pairing it with a more versatile travel card. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

For budget travelers flying with Frontier Airlines, the à-la-carte booking option can significantly reduce flight costs.

With an introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year (then $99), the ability to pool Frontier miles with family members, priority boarding, and the chance to earn credit toward elite status, this card is definitely worth a look. We suggest having a minimum credit score of 700 before applying for the Frontier Airlines Mastercard.

Let's delve into this card's welcome bonus, rewards rate, and other ongoing benefits to determine if the Frontier Airlines Mastercard is the right choice for you.

The details for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard have been independently sourced by Dinogo. The information presented on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Pros and cons of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

Welcome offer for the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

Currently, new cardmembers can earn 50,000 miles after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening their account.

One-way flights with Frontier start at 10,000 miles, meaning you could potentially redeem the welcome bonus for two round-trip award tickets and still have some miles remaining. According to TPG's September 2024 valuations, Frontier miles are valued at 1.1 cents each, making those 50,000 miles worth approximately $550.

Benefits of the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

The Frontier World Mastercard provides some unique and potentially valuable perks for the airline's frequent flyers.

To start, cardholders have the option to combine their miles with up to eight other Frontier Miles accounts. While Frontier refers to this as "Family Pooling," it can include any eight individuals you prefer — whether they are friends, colleagues, or housemates. There are no limits or restrictions on the amount of miles you can transfer using this feature.

Additionally, every year on your account anniversary, you'll receive a $100 flight voucher after spending $2,500 or more on the card in the prior year. This benefit can offset the annual fee (following the initial fee waiver period).

Furthermore, for every dollar spent on the Frontier Airlines Mastercard, you will earn one Elite Status Point in addition to the bonus miles accumulated. This can significantly speed up your journey to enhanced status with Frontier.

A significant advantage of flying with an ultra-low-cost airline: Enjoy two free checked bags on all flights operated by Frontier Airlines when you use your card for payment.

Additional perks include priority boarding in zone two, a waiver for fees on award flights booked with this card, the option to choose from five card designs, and no foreign transaction fees.

Accrual of miles with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

With this card, you’ll earn 5 Frontier miles for each dollar spent on qualifying purchases at flyfrontier.com, 3 miles for every dollar spent at restaurants, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Given the card's $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (subsequently $99), these earning rates are quite favorable. If you frequently fly with Frontier, accumulating 5 miles for every dollar spent on eligible online purchases is an excellent way to quickly achieve award redemptions.

However, the earning rates for non-Frontier purchases aren't particularly impressive, so this card is most effective when used alongside another card that offers better earning rates.

Using miles with the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

In terms of redeeming your miles, the Frontier award chart is quite clear-cut. The lowest one-way Value awards cost 10,000 miles for domestic flights and 15,000 miles for international travel. Standard awards, which offer more availability, start at 20,000 miles within the U.S. and 25,000 miles for international flights.

If you hold elite status, you can pay additional miles to bypass capacity costs. For a minimum of 2,500 extra miles beyond the Standard award price, you can secure a Last Seat award as long as there is a seat available for purchase on your desired flight.

Remember, you'll need to cover taxes and fees on these tickets; however, the previously mentioned award booking fee is waived if you use your Frontier Airlines Mastercard to settle the taxes and fees.

The related taxes and fees can vary significantly based on your booking, so be sure to use your Frontier Airlines Mastercard for payment.

What cards rival the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard?

When looking at competitors for this card, you might initially consider other airline-specific cards. However, it might be beneficial to think about a general travel card in comparison to the Frontier Airlines Mastercard.

• For a general travel card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card features a $95 annual fee and allows you to earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to any of Chase's 14 airline and hotel partners. Additionally, this card provides a $50 hotel statement credit for bookings made through Chase Travel℠ and includes a free DashPass membership (activation required by Dec. 31, 2027). To find out more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
• For a more affordable airline card: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card comes with a $69 annual fee, which is mostly compensated by a 3,000-point bonus awarded on each cardmember anniversary (valued at $42 based on TPG's September 2024 valuations). The Southwest Plus card may be a better option if you're hesitant about the annual fee for the Frontier Airlines Mastercard. To learn more, read our complete review of the Southwest Plus card.
• For an airline card with no annual fee: The United Gateway℠ Card charges no annual fee and provides 25% back on inflight purchases and United Club premium drink transactions, along with no foreign transaction fees. You'll also receive a one-year complimentary DashPass membership upon activation by Dec. 31. For further details, see our full review of the United Gateway card.

For additional options, take a look at our selections for the top airline cards.

Is the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard a good choice?

I would suggest the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard if you are a loyal Frontier customer or if you fly with them at least a few times each year. However, if you often fly with different airlines, a general travel card may be a better fit. Before applying, think about the value you'll gain from this card and whether it justifies the $99 annual fee that kicks in after the first year.

In conclusion

The Frontier World Mastercard may not be the best fit for most individuals. However, for frequent Frontier travelers, the benefits of this card — such as family pooling, waivers on award booking fees, and elite status points — can far outweigh the annual fee.

With Frontier's route network extending into the Caribbean and Central America, this card could be an excellent companion for your upcoming adventures.