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If you plan to travel with just a carry-on, you’ll need to be up to speed with your airline’s carry-on policy. Each airline’s rules are different, so don’t just assume that what works for one, will work for all airlines. This is especially true if you’re flying a low-cost airline, like Frontier, Allegiant, or Spirit.
Low-cost airlines may have lower base fares, but if you aren’t careful, you’ll pay more because of all their “a la carte” fees. These include fees for both checked and carry-on luggage (as well as seat assignments, beverages, printing your boarding pass, etc..).
If you are going to be flying Frontier Airlines, they have very specific guidelines for carry-on sizes, liquids, and other unique items that you may want to bring on board.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Frontier’s carry-on policy. This includes Frontier’s carry-on size and weight limits, liquid policy, personal items, pets, prohibited items, and other rules and restrictions you should know before boarding your flight.
Frontier Carry-On Size & Weight Limit
Frontier allows you to bring one personal item onboard with you at no charge, but, like Spirit, they will charge for both your carry-on bag and checked bags.
The personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, and the carry-on bag must be stowed in the overhead bin or it will have to be checked.
Frontier Airlines Carry-On Size (Dimensions)
Frontier’s size requirements for a carry-on are 22″ x 18″ x 10″ and they will make you pay if your bags are even the slightest bit larger than what fits in their carry-on sizer box.
Frontier Carry-On Weight Limit
Frontier requires your carry-on bag to be less than 35 pounds. Frontier is very strict about the size and dimensions of your carry-on (and personal item), but they typically will not check the weight.
Frontier Carry-On Fees
Carry-on bag fees are just one of many fees that Frontier will hit you with. The carry on fee will vary depending on a variety of factors including your destination, travel dates, and whether the fees are paid at booking, prior to check-in, or at the airport
The following is a range of fees you could pay for your carry-on:
| Baggage Type | Fee (each way) |
| Carry-on Bag (During Booking) | $55-$60 |
| Carry-on Bag (Online Before Check-In) | $59-$65 |
| Carry-on Bag (Online During Check-In) | $67-$70 |
| Carry-on Bag (At Airport Check-In) | $79 |
| Carry-on Bag (At Gate) | $99 |
| Personal Item | Free |
To know the exact charges for your flight, go to the Frontier Bag Price Checker and enter you departure, destination and dates of travel.
Recommended Carry-On Luggage
If you are looking for a great carry-on bag, I recommend the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Expandable Spinner. I have used this carry-on for years. It’s durable, reasonably priced, and holds everything I need for shorter trips. Plus the spinner wheels make it very easy to get through the airport quickly.
4-wheel spinners rotate 360°.
Case Dimensions:
- H: 21 in. W: 14 in. D: 9 in.
- Weight: 5.4 lbs.
This carry-on bag has been sizer bin tested to accommodate overhead bin space on most major US airlines. Fully expanded Carry-On may not meet airline restrictions.
Frontier Personal Item Size
As with most low-cost carriers, Frontier fares include one small personal item at no charge, but your other carry-on baggage is not included in your fare.
Personal items include a purse, briefcase, laptop, backpack, shopping bag, or a similar-sized item.
Frontier Personal item dimensions must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) including handles, straps, and wheels.
Coats, diaper bags when traveling with an infant, canes, crutches, portable oxygen concentrators, respiratory devices, or any other assistive devices, and foot rugs for use during prayer are all free to carry on in addition to your one personal item.
How strict is Frontier with your personal item size?
Frontier is very strict about the size of your personal item, even more so than other low-cost carriers.
While most airlines have a bag sizer for carry-on luggage, Frontier goes one step further and has a size checker for your personal item too. And there is a very good chance they will check the size of your personal item before you board the plane. If your personal item is too large will be be stuck paying the carry-on bag fee “at the gate” of $99!
Frontier Carry-On Liquid Limits & Restrictions
The rules for carry-on liquids are set by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), not by the airline. Frontier Airlines doesn’t have its own specific Liquids Policy, they just enforce the rules and policies of the TSA.
It’s also important to note that the rules for bringing a “liquid” in your carry-on bag are different from the rules that govern what you can bring in your checked luggage.
Liquids in a carry-on bag must be 3.4 ounces or smaller and fit in a 1 quart-sized container. Anything larger must be placed in your checked luggage.
The TSA 3-1-1 Rule
Each passenger may carry liquids, gels, and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters and are enclosed in a sealed, one-quart-size bag. Common travel items that must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, perfume, mouthwash, deodorant, and lotion.
Any liquid that does not meet the TSA 3-1-1 rule will either have to be checked with your luggage or will be thrown away at the security checkpoint.
Here is a little video to help illustrate this:
Exceptions to this rule are certain medications and baby food/child nourishment.
Carry-On Food
The TSA also sets the rules for what type of food you can bring on the plane. There are two different scenarios pertaining to food:
- The food you bring with you from home, and
- The food you buy at the airport after you have gone through security.
When bringing food with you from home, an important thing to note is the classification of liquid vs. solid foods. The general rule is “If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it, or pour it, then it’s considered a liquid or gel,”.
This means your food may be considered a liquid and will fall under the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule, which mandates that any liquid, gel, cream, aerosol, or paste in a carry-on must be 3.4 ounces or less, and fit in one quart-size resealable bag (only one such bag is allowed per passenger).
Here’s a link to the TSA website advising what food can be brought with you on your Frontier flight. This applies to food you are bringing from home through security. Once you get through security, you can bring just about any food on the plane that you buy at the airport.
Frontier Airlines Pet Policy
Frontier Airlines allows domesticated dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, or small household birds may be carried on flights within the United States. Only domesticated dogs and cats may be carried to or from international destinations.
Frontier does not allow pets to be checked as baggage.
If you are going to bring a pet on board with you, it must be able to fit in a small, ventilated pet carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. Your pet carrier cannot exceed 18″ x 14″ x 9″.
Carry-On Pet Fees
Here is a chart showing the pet fees Frontier charges each way. Double them for a round-trip flight.
| To/From Destination | Pet Fee Each Way |
| Any Frontier Airlines Flight | $ 99.00 |
TSA-Approved Pet Carrier for Frontier
If you do plan on bringing your pet with you, make sure you follow TSA’s pet policy and have an approved Pet Carrier that conforms to Frontier’s pet policy.
I have traveled with 2 dogs over the last 10 years, one was a 20 lb. Shih Tzu-Bichon (in the picture above) and another is a 12lb. Chihuahua mix. We used the Sherpa pet carrier when bringing them on a flight with us and it worked great!
Features mesh panels so your pet can breathe easily, a non-slip shoulder strap, locking zippers, and a rear storage pocket for treats and other goodies.
Approved for use on most major airlines and the small and medium sizes are included in Sherpa's exclusive Guaranteed on Board program.
Frontier Airlines Prohibited & Restricted Items
There are certain items that are considered dangerous and classified as a hazardous materials. Dangerous goods are prohibited from both your carry-on and checked bag on all flights. These rules are not specific to any airline and are mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Prohibited Items:
Here is a list of items that are strictly prohibited on Frontier flights:
- Firearms and ammunition
- Self defense sprays, such as mace and pepper spray
- Explosives, including fireworks and flares
- Flammable liquids, including gasoline, lighter fluid, and kerosene
- Poisonous, infectious, or radioactive substances
- Knives and sharp objects (pocket knives, cutting instruments, razors, ice picks, carpet knives, metal scissors, box cutters, or similar items)
- Any alchoholic beverage with more than 70 percent alcohol
- Camping equipment containing flammable liquids or gasses
- Hoverboards, including electric skateboards, balance boards, gravity boards, and self-balancing devices
- Medical or liquid oxygen
- Torch lighters, lighter fluid, strike-anywhere matches, and fire starters
- Wet-cell batteries
Restricted Items:
The following items are not considered “dangerous goods” and are allowed when packaged properly, in accordance with FAA regulations
- Knitting/scissors
- Hiking or trekking poles
- Hair dryer/Straightener
- Hair spray
- Sunscreen/bug spray
- Batteries
- Food as a carry-on
- Fishing hooks
- Fragile glass items
It is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list and that the TSA’s rules and regulations are subject to change. Additional prohibited or restricted goods and materials can be found in the following resources:
Summary: Frontier Carry-On Size Policy
In conclusion, Frontier Airlines is a low-cost carrier that offers competitive base fares for passengers who are willing to pay “a la carte” for only the services they use. While the airline’s base fare may be lower than other airlines, Frontier charges fees for just about everything, including seat selection, award redemptions, agent assistance, priority boarding, checked baggage, carry-on bags, etc.
Anyone who is considering flying Frontier should carefully review Frontier’s fee schedule and policies before booking a flight to avoid unexpected costs.
Here is a link to Frontier’s Carry-On page to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.
American Airlines Refund Policy: How to Get a Refund on AA.com
