I bought Frontier's $1,999 all-you-can-fly pass for $599. I wish I knew about these 3 big downsides,

June 2024 · 4 minute read
2023-07-12T09:00:00Z

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Joshua Holi, a product manager in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has been edited for length and clarity.

For the past five years I've flown with American Airlines, but when Frontier began offering an all-you-can-fly pass, I knew I had to jump at the opportunity. 

The pass is called GoWild and it allows passengers the chance to hop on any domestic or international Frontier flight. I bought the $1,999 annual pass for $600 during a limited-time 48-hour sale. While it may seem great, there are some caveats you should be aware of.  

For example, the pass doesn't last forever. If you don't cancel after the first year, the pass will renew automatically.

Even with that in mind, I was excited about the $600 deal, which is a big savings in comparison to the original retail price. I'm a product manager who travels throughout the US for work, so I bought the pass knowing I could get my money back rather quickly.

I also saw the pass as a great opportunity for personal travel, too — I love traveling to Florida, and I'm eager to go to Puerto Rico.

There are three things I wish I knew before buying my pass

1. Long layovers

Before purchasing my pass, I wish I would have paid attention to the layovers. After doing some research I noticed most flights with Frontier have very long layovers. I've seen some stops that are over 20 hours long. 

For example, I wanted to book a flight from Philadelphia to San Diego, but the shortest layover was 12 hours, which might not be a possibility for those who need to make a quick trip and back. 

The layovers were a huge surprise to me personally.

2. Short timeframe for booking

It's important to note that you have to book the flight 24 hours before you plan to depart for domestic travel and 10 days before international travel. This means you need to be a spontaneous flier — you can't book your trip to another US city a month in advance, or even two days before your trip.

This might be okay if you're trying to visit family and have a guaranteed place to stay, but it might not be the best option if you're someone who needs to plan your trips well in advance. 

This also means you can't book a round trip. Instead, using your pass you can book your trip to your destination, but you can't book your flight home due to the 24 hour rule for domestic flights. You have two options in this case:

3. Additional fees

Another thing to consider is the extra fees — you still have to pay for your baggage. This means you have to pay a carry-on bag fee, and a checked baggage fee, too. The cost for your bags will vary depending on the date of your flight.

You will also have to pay taxes for that flight. The taxes you pay will also vary per flight and airport. For me, it's often $30.00. 

Is it a good option? 

In my opinion, this pass seems to be well-suited for remote workers who have flexible work schedules, or for people who like to travel and have the ability to work from different locations.

But, if you're someone who has to head into the office everyday or who can't pack up and leave, it might not be the best choice for you. 

Before purchasing this pass, I recommend doing some research on the airline and its routes. While it might be great for spontaneous travelers who fly often, it's certainly not for everyone.

If you have a travel hack and would like to share your story, email Alyshia Hull at ahull@businessinsider.com.

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