A "student discount" on flights seems like a dream for many travelers, especially those with tight budgets like students. For a time, Frontier Airlines held such a right. However, in recent times, that particular program seems to have been phased out.
According to reports regarding Frontier airlines Student Discount policy - which was also frequently called "Student Fly Free" - is no longer available for booking through that airline.
So if you are hoping to get hold of an unchanging student fare with Frontier, the hard truth is that there is no formal, always available "student discount" at this time-nothing that the airline is willing to go out and say it publicly, anyway.
The student discount program was created some time in recent years, but what were the details?
When the student discount used to be available, it had a couple of limitations:
It was aimed at students aged roughly 18 to 22 enrolled in a college or university.
Students were required to provide a proof of enrollment (student ID) for the discounts.
Fares were often heavily discounted. In some cases, ticket vouchers promised "free" one-way or round-trip travel on select flights.
The program was a sign-up type and was a component of another fare-discount club offered by Frontier.
Stars shift, deals disappear, however-as mentioned, this program seems to have been discontinued.
So what are the students left with today in flying cheap with Frontier?
Now, while formal student discounts may have vanished, we can still obtain them for now:
Membership with Discount Den
The Discount Den costs a nominal fee to join and gives them access to cheap deals on select flights on some occasions, the flyers access deals significantly cheaper than standard fares on its own.
Discount Den allows bookings for up to 9 persons on one reservation, which may come handy when travelling with friends and groups.
Inasmuch as the Discount Den doesn't set its focus on students, the discounted fares from the program have become many a student's best shot at getting reasonably priced airfare available.
Greeting seasonal promotions and sales
Frontier holds promotions and general sales quite regularly. These sometimes yield rates low enough for students to go after.
Booking way in advance, maintaining flexibility with travel dates, watching the Deals/Sales tab on the airline's website, and subscribing for their newsletter will help you grab the cheapest prices.
Use family friend discounts if traveling with younger ones or family on your trip (Kids Fly Free)
That doesn't count as a student discount, but Discount Den members flying Frontier can use the Kids Fly Free discount on a few select flights. This could possibly lessen your group fare trip with the little ones in tow.
Call customer service and inquire
Your travel books or guides may recommend giving Frontier a ring sometimes, unpublished promotions do pop up, or that agents may know of short-time "student-friendly" fares not divulged online.
So while there's no guarantee, the call might be worth a shot if you're flexible in your travel plans or either trying to travel during the holidays/semester breaks.
The Reason Behind the Change: What Ended Up Namely Causing The Vanishing of The Student Discount
No formal announcement was made to the public from Frontier on why the student program was done away with-but one could speculate on the most probable reasons:
Low utilization: It may be that few students used the benefit-so few that it did not justify keeping up a separate program.
Complexity/cost: If the administrative burden of verifying eligibility (student-ID verification, age limits, booking constraints) is high-and if these heavily discounted fares materially compromise revenue-the net effect may disfavor the program.
Change of strategy: Frontier may be inclined towards a simpler fare-club-and-flash-sale strategy (like the Discount Den + a few sales thrown in) rather than a narrowly focused student program.
This is a trend which Frontier is not alone in following-indeed, more and more budget carriers are depending on fare clubs, dynamic pricing, and add-on charges rather than fixed discount programs for students or other specific demographic groups.
Anything You Should Know-and Watch Out for
Students planning to fly Frontier nowadays should be:
Do not rely on one "student fare," as there is no recognized student discount program that is ever open.
Discount Den would enable savings, yet it would be a burden (being a paid membership) and does not particularly cater to students.
Be vigilant about promotions and sales, as timing can be everything with these savings.
People may not read the fine print: that inexpensive fare excludes baggage, selection of a seat, and any other add-on; with low-cost airlines, that "base fare" always appears cheap, yet adds up after all these add-ons.
If saving is very important, travel lightly (only carry-on); no unnecessary fluff! Being as flexible as humanly possible could be a huge help in getting good deal prices.
Conclusion
Frontier previously very formal definition of the word "student discount" is practically a thing of the past. Formerly programs offered sizable fare reductions for eligible students of a specific age group; nowadays, Frontier seems to hardly offer, if at all, even a tangible definition of that benefit.
In this way, price-conscious students-and budget travelers alike-will have no reason to despair. Discount Den, for internet flyers and tricks to grab sales, strategic booking, and flexibility, goes a long way toward saving bucks.
If you are a student considering flying Frontier treat it like a treasure hunt: plan ahead, keep an open eye; be flexible; this can offer the best fares without any formal student discount.
If you are interested, I can very well compare this disappearance of the student discount from Frontier with other airlines that do still provide student or youth fares; it may help you decide whether to stick to Frontier or go with someone else.
Let me know if you would want that comparison drafted.
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