Elite benefits stripped from Basic fare bookings; upgrades now require a bundle purchase

included on any fare → bundle purchase required

Announced in late August 2026 and effective for tickets purchased on or after January 1, 2027, Frontier Miles elite members booked on the cheapest Basic fares will no longer receive complimentary seat selection or waivers of change and cancellation fees. Complimentary upgrades to UpFront Plus seating and to Frontier's upcoming first class product will require the purchase of an Economy or Premium bundle, ending upgrades for elites buying base fares. The same announcement lowered the Elite Diamond qualification threshold from 100,000 to 75,000 status points and promised new milestone rewards for 2027, so the package mixes cuts with improvements, but the elite benefits themselves become conditional on buying up.

What to do: Frontier elites who value seat selection, fee waivers, or upgrades should budget for bundles from 2027 — or buy tickets before January 1.