Frontier Airlines to launch first-class seats for high-income travelers | Wilnesh News

Frontier AirlinesOne of the world’s largest budget airlines is adding first-class seats.

Its change of strategy comes as the industry competes for customers willing to splurge on more personal space.

Starting in September, Frontier plans to begin removing the first two rows of 3 x 3 economy class seats to add four 2 x 2 first class seats.

The Denver-based airline is also revamping its loyalty program, offering free seat upgrades (when available) to its Gold and above members and free companions to its higher Platinum and Diamond members Air tickets. In mid-2025, customers will be able to redeem miles for seat upgrades and baggage fees.

Chief Executive Barry Biffle said he expects the new measures to bring in about $250 million in revenue in 2026 and more than $500 million in 2028.

“While our costs are the lowest in the industry, we don’t have the best revenue model,” Biffle said in an interview.

Biffler said the biggest gaps in the company’s revenue model come from not offering first-class seats and not providing enough rewards to members of its loyalty program. “This will be a game changer,” he added.

He said he expects the new seats to be particularly popular on some of Frontier’s cross-country flights.

Frontier’s cabin changes come as the airline industry races to win over high-paying customers, outfitting planes with more first-class or premium seats to command higher fares, increasing pressure on budget carriers to offer more spacious options.

These upgrades come from like delta and unitedaccounting for the bulk of industry profits, while smaller operators such as JetBlue Airways. Frontier will have to compete with airlines that offer other perks like sitting in the front of the plane, such as meals, but Biffle said his airline’s best seats will beat them on price.

The airline announced in March it would begin selling seats with blocked middle seats, and Frontier plans to continue offering that option, a spokesman said.

Southwest Airlines The airline is planning to add seats with more legroom and introduce seat assignments to boost revenue, rerouting the open-plan cabins it has flown for more than 50 years.

Spirit Airlines, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month, offers “large front seats” on its planes that are similar to domestic first-class seats.