Frontier Lowers Its Change Fees as Competition Heats Up
Skift Take
This is how competition should work. American, Delta, and United have been poaching customers from discount airlines with their no-frills basic economy fares. Frontier doesn't like that, so it has come up with a new passenger-friendly policy to try to sway potential passengers.
As some of its competitors increase fee prices to add revenue as fuel prices rise, Frontier Airlines seeks to differentiate itself by reducing how much its charges many customers to change or cancel tickets.
The ultra-low-cost airline said Thursday it has stopped charging change or cancellation fees to customers who tell the airline they don't plan to fly at least 90 days prior to departure. Passengers who cancel or change between two weeks and 89 days of departure will be charged $49, down from $99. The $99 rate remains for customers who seek to make changes 13 or fewer days before the flight.
Change fees can be profitable because they allow carriers to wring extra revenue from an existing customer, and then sell the passenger's seat again. Major carriers usually charge $200, though some of their cheapest
