I saved $146 by not reserving seats for my children on a Frontier flight, and nonetheless obtained a row to ourselves due to a coverage many vacationers don't find out about

• I just lately flew Frontier Airways with my children, 12 and eight, and did not pay additional for reserved seats.
• The airline routinely seats kids youthful than 14 with not less than one grownup of their celebration.
• This coverage saved me $146 on this journey and made the journey expertise a lot much less nerve-racking.

For Mom’s Day, I deliberate a weekend journey from Cleveland to Orlando with my two daughters, ages 12 and eight. Fortunately, I discovered some reasonably priced Frontier Airways flights to get us there and again.

The finances airline is not for everybody (I’ve heard some disagreeable tales), however my household has at all times had nice experiences flying with Frontier. It is all about following the rules and gauging expectations.

On this journey, I saved $146 by not deciding on my children’ seats forward of time, and it ended up being a implausible resolution. 

After I booked our tickets, the whole got here out to $490

Every of the round-trip tickets value about $127, and since that charge did not embrace any checked luggage or carry-ons, I paid $52 on the way in which to Orlando and $55 on the flight again to Cleveland to examine one suitcase that all of us shared.

In whole, I spent about $490 getting us to and from Orlando. I might need been capable of finding a greater deal if I would waited to ebook, however I did not have time to buy round. 

Final 12 months, I used to be a member of the Low cost Den, Frontier’s annual financial savings program that provides frequent flyers perks like unique entry to low fares and free seats for youths on choose flights.

I let my membership lapse as a result of I wasn’t touring sufficient to justify the price of this system ($60 a 12 months). I additionally like to buy round for flights and located that Frontier is not at all times the most affordable possibility.

I did not pay additional to order our seats forward of time since Frontier routinely places kids subsequent to not less than 1 grownup of their journey celebration

I prefer to know my children’ seating assignments forward of time since I don’t need them sitting alone subsequent to strangers. Nevertheless, reserving spots upfront might be an costly improve.

On our flights to and from Orlando, securing three seats forward of time would’ve value a complete of $146. Since I used to be an grownup flying with two minors, I figured there needed to be a greater means. 

After conducting some on-line analysis, I discovered that Frontier routinely seats kids underneath 14 subsequent to not less than one grownup of their journey group at no cost. I confirmed the coverage with the airline’s customer support forward of reserving. 

My mates who incessantly fly with Frontier instructed me the airline at all times seats them with their little one at no cost in the event that they’re on the identical reservation. They do not even must request it.

Those that have traveled in teams with a couple of grownup stated the airline might cut up them up, but it surely at all times places every child subsequent to an individual 18 or older of their celebration. 

Frontier despatched me our seating assignments 4 days earlier than our departure, and the entire course of was seamless

Frontier’s web site says it assigns these seats earlier than the check-in window opens (24 hours earlier than departure), however after I requested an internet customer-service agent for extra particulars, I had a troublesome time getting any solutions.

The agent instructed me to reach on the airport two to a few hours early in case there was a problem with our reserving, however I nonetheless wasn’t positive once we’d get our seating project.

In the long run, I had nothing to fret about. On the Sunday earlier than my Wednesday departure, I obtained an e-mail with our seating assignments for each flights. To be truthful, I am undecided if this superior discover is customary or not.

I could not select the place the seats have been positioned on the aircraft, however all three of them have been collectively on each flights. The whole lot was all set, but when there was a problem, I might’ve had loads of time to contact customer support and resolve it.

On the flight to Orlando, our seats have been behind the aircraft, which wasn’t an issue since I usually select to sit down there anyway

I did not get to decide on the place our seats have been on the aircraft, however crucial factor was that every one three of us have been collectively.

Our departing flight skilled a 30-minute delay, making me much more grateful to be subsequent to my children. Our baggage additionally went to the fallacious carousel at baggage declare, however we finally recovered it.

None of those mishaps have been catastrophic, however the delays meant we did not arrive at our resort till properly after midnight. Via all of it, I used to be glad to be with my children the complete time.

On our return flight to Cleveland, our seats have been within the final row, which did not have a window

Lisa Galek

I did not have a problem with these seats. In reality, I most likely would’ve picked them myself. They have been proper subsequent to the lavatory, which was handy since my children have a tendency to make use of it not less than as soon as a flight.

The one factor I did not like was that our row did not have an exterior view.

My daughters often take turns sitting within the window seat — my 8-year-old obtained it on the flight to Orlando, and my 12-year-old was alleged to have her activate the flight dwelling. For sure, they have been dissatisfied.

Above all else, I used to be happy to save cash on seating upgrades and be with my daughters all through each flights