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If you are going to be flying Frontier Airlines, they have very specific guidelines for carry-on size bags, personal items, and other things 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 and the fees they will hit you with!
Carry-On Policy for Frontier Airlines
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.
Carry-On Size Restrictions
Frontier’s size requirements for a carry-on are 22 x 18 x 10 inches and they will make you pay if your bags are even the slightest bit larger than what fits in their carry-on sizer. Your Personal item can’t exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) including handles, straps, and wheels.
Carry-On Weight Limit
Most domestic airlines, do not enforce weight limits on carry-on bags, but Frontier does. They require your carry-on bag to weigh less than 35 pounds. Frontier is very strict about the size and dimensions of your carry-on (and personal items), so you should assume they will be every bit as strict with the weight of your carry-on items.
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 your 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, 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.
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 enforces a size checker for your personal item too. If your personal item is too large will be stuck paying the carry-on bag fee “at the gate” of $99! This most commonly happens with larger backpacks that will be considered carry-on bags and not personal items.
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.
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.
Here is a video to help illustrate this:
Exceptions to this rule are certain medications and baby food/child nourishment.
Carry-On Food
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,”.
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.
Frontier Airlines Carry-On 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.
Here is a chart showing the pet fees Frontier charges each way.
| To/From Destination | Pet Fee Each Way |
| Any Frontier Airlines Flight | $ 99.00 |
If you 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.
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.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
There are certain items that are considered dangerous and classified as 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.
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:
Concluding Thoughts…
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.
Allegiant Carry-On Rules: How to Avoid Extra Fees!
