Frontier Introduced a $299 ‘Unlimited’ Flights Pass. What’s the Catch?

Plenty, it turns out.

With no sign of high flight prices ending soon, any money-saving passes can be tempting–especially one as low as Frontier’s new “unlimited” $299 offer. The new pass caught many eyes and got a lot of chatter from fliers. The question is always, “What’s the catch?” Plenty.

“Frontier Airlines’ unlimited flights offer initially seems too good to pass up–a pass for the price of a cheap JFK to LAX flight, valid for five months, including international travel,” says Kamau Asphall, co-creator of The City and Beyond, a resource designed to help travelers maximize their paid time off. But Asphall and others point out several factors that challenge its true value.

Here we’ll break down the fine print, the limitations, and the select few who will find this pass might be their perfect ticket to ride.

Black Out Dates and Extra Costs

Before jumping into this new deal, analyze whether the copious caveats will actually work for you. This pass is cheaper than Frontier’s other offerings because it is a fall and winter-only pass, September through February. Blackout days abound, knocking out the holidays and others. If you were thinking it might still be worth flying for Thanksgiving or Christmas, think again.

If you jump over that hurdle and this still could be worth it, crunch some numbers. The $299 pass does not include charges for bags and seat selections. Frontier is known for some of the strictest baggage fees, with steep carry-on costs (around $60, according to reviewers) and lower weight limits on checked baggage. If you bring more than a backpack or want to have any say in where you hunker down for the flight, factor in those costs. Taxes and fees are also extra.

Don’t count on this being a massive long-term deal either; like Frontier’s other passes, this introductory rate disappears after the first year. You’ll be automatically resubscribed for this fall and winter pass–for $999.

Check Where Frontier Flies

Time to put down the calculator and grab a map. The numbers may make sense, but only if your routes do. One of the catches with Frontier passes is that you have to be near a Frontier route. As obvious as that sounds, plenty of Frontier fliers will tell you of the geographical acrobatics they’ve maneuvered, with many connections, to get them where they want to go.

Denver is the airline’s hub with changing routes; the airline quietly announced cutting 14 routes across the continental states while adding 8 routes to Puerto Rico. Those around Denver will have the most options, and people flying into Colorado for the ski season may also find a good deal. Yet Frontier often has to add connections and, more importantly, a lot of hours to get residents in the eastern United States to their destinations. Check their routes and what flies direct (because there are few direct routes.)

You Have to Be Flexible

You may be ready to travel during the fall and winter, taking advantage of off-season deals, escaping somewhere warm, or heading out for some winter wonderland adventure. If you’ve checked your maps and done the math and it makes sense–after all, just one flight might be more than this–there is still one more thing to consider.

Those who use the pass are basically in a stand-by status when they attempt to reserve a seat. Frontier won’t confirm your reservation until 24 hours before a domestic flight and 10 days in advance for an international flight. Essentially this makes sense; those paying full price will have the first shot, and if the plane doesn’t fill, you’re in.

The unknown will likely be ulcer-inducing for those with a definitive trip with non-refundable lodging, car rentals, activities, or plans to meet family and friends. The days of day-of-flight deals have joined the ranks of rotary phones and dial-up internet: a nostalgic and almost unbelievable legend, out there but hard to find. As Asphall says, “In urgent situations, you may end up paying more than the price of the pass on another airline, nullifying the pass’s value.”

When It Might Work

The skeptics are out in full force on this one, and it is understandable considering the pass’s limitations and extra fees. Asphall, upfront about his dislike for Frontier due to “extremely uncomfortable seating,” limited destinations, strict baggage rules, and lack of transparency in options compared to other budget airlines, questions the overall experience. “The unlimited flights offer may not deliver the seamless and enjoyable travel experience sought by travelers.”

Kendyl Grender, creator of Kendyl Travels for budget travel hacking advice, still says working towards the Southwest Companion Pass is the best money-saving bet. “Just work towards a Southwest Companion Pass. You don’t have to pay for it; you get bags and have more destinations with no blackout dates or specific booking windows. You get BOGO airfare for two years.”

But for a select few, this still may be a solution. As Grender says, this and other Frontier passes can save you money if you’re in a unicorn situation. “If you’re flexible on travel dates and even destinations and live where there are many Frontier flights, like Denver, you could come out ahead. But for most people, it won’t work.”

If you’re an avid skier on a budget who wants to ski in Colorado multiple times, doesn’t need to maximize holiday time off, can go at the last minute, and has an easy flight to Denver, the pass could lend itself to a dreamy winter chasing dust on crust. Or maybe you want to get away to the Caribbean, Mexico, or a Central American destination this winter. If you can go anytime with just 10 days’ notice, this could also be a steal.

Just remember to cancel that membership after this winter unless you’re ready to pay $999.