How Strict Is Frontier Airlines With Carry-On & Personal Item Size?

How Strict is Frontier Airlines With Its Carry-on Luggage Policies? – If you’ve never flown Frontier and are considering giving them a try, you might be curious about how strict the airline is about passenger luggage size restrictions for carry-on and personal items.

I’ll also fill you in on Frontier’s current rules and regulations and then answer common questions I often hear and offer you links to additional relevant and important information.

This great carry-on bag is for travelers that want to get the best value out of their luggage investment.

This Travel Pro bag could end up being the last carry-on bag you ever purchase! 

Just how strict is Frontier Airlines with carry-on item restrictions?

Frontier is considered to be somewhat strict when it comes to carry-on and personal item sizes. Passengers are allowed to bring one free small personal item on board Frontier flights, while regular size carry-on items are charged a fee of $30 USD to $60 USD, depending on whether you check your bag ahead of time or have to check it in at the gate.  

The carrier is not nearly as concerned with carry-on luggage weight as it is with the size of your carry-on/personal items. 

Frontier, like other carriers, implements its own policies, taking into account Travel Safety Administration (TSA) requirements.  

Frontier carry-on and personal items have size restrictions, but typically not weight restrictions, and they are stowed in the luggage bins overhead of the passenger seats. Personal items typically are stowed underneath the seat of each passenger, though they may need to go in the overhead bin, as well. If any of your bags happen to be deemed oversized, you’ll likely be assessed additional fees, especially if you’re on a very full flight. 

Frontier Airlines’ Carry-on Baggage Policy

Frontier allows each of its passengers a free small personal item (e.g., purses, handbags, computer bags, briefcases, diaper bags, and kid backpacks) onto its flights, including wheels and straps, with a size not to exceed: 18″ W (45 cm) x 14″ L (35.56 cm) x 8” H (20 cm), OR 40 total linear inches/101 linear cm. Personal item size will be checked before boarding, and items larger than required will be charged a fee.

Carry-on items (e.g., large backpacks, small bags, and small suitcases/wheeled bags) are considered an upcharge by Frontier, and they cannot exceed: 24″ W (60 cm) x 16″ L (40 cm) x 10″ H (25 cm), or 50 linear inches/125 linear cm, including straps, handles, and wheels.

Carry-ons will need to be able to fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. Carry-on items any larger than these dimensions will need to be checked, even if at the gate during boarding, and a $60 fee will be assessed.

Frontier does not currently impose weight restrictions for passenger carry-on bags or personal items, only size restrictions. Carry-on items need to be able to be lifted into the overhead bin without assistance if the item does not fit beneath the seat in front of you.

Frontier carry-on fees are about $55 USD if checked ahead of time and $60 USD if checked at the gate.

If you purchase “The Works” bundle option when purchasing your ticket, you’ll get a free carry-on bag, free checked bag, seat selection, the “Board First” amenity, flight flexibility, and 100% refundability. 

Take some preemptive cautionary steps beforehand and invest in some Frontier-compliant carry-on luggage so that you can travel with peace of mind.

How Can I Measure My Carry-on Bag to Make Sure It Fits on a Frontier Airlines Flight?

To help you verify your baggage conforms with Frontier carry-on size restrictions, the carrier recommends taking note of bag sizers at airport locations that feature its required 24″ x 16″ x 10″ dimensions.

It’s also a good idea to measure your carry-on bag before you leave for the airport to ensure that your entire bag, along with the wheels and handles, falls within Frontier size requirements.

It’s important to remember that the three dimensional measurements together – length + width + height – cannot add up to more than 50 linear inches/125 linear cm. If you happen to be traveling with a soft-sided or expandable suitcase, you may want to measure your carry-on again after it’s packed to ensure it still complies. 

My Frontier-compliant Luggage Recommendations

Need a recommendation for carry-on luggage I would recommend flying with Frontier Airlines? I personally love the following Frontier-compliant carry-on luggage bags, taking into account the carrier’s strictness with its carry-on size policies. 

This is a great carry-on bag if you’re looking to get lasting value out of your travel baggage investment.

This Travel Pro bag is one you’ll fall in love with (like I did!), and it could end up becoming the very last carry-on bag you’ll ever purchase! 

Frontier Airlines’ Carry-on Luggage Allowance

Almost all Frontier Airlines passengers are allowed a smaller personal item to bring on board its flights (e.g., purses, handbags, computer bags, briefcases, diaper bags, and kid backpacks), while carry-on items incur an upcharge. 

If your personal item or carry-on bag has been deemed to be in excess of baggage dimension requirements (it should be able to fit in an overhead luggage bin or underneath the seat in front of you), you will likely have to check it for a fee ($60 for items that need to be checked at the gate). If you’re going to need to travel with a carry-on, be smart and pay for it ahead of time! 

Bringing Carry-on Liquid Items Onto Frontier Airlines Flights

You are allowed to bring liquid items onboard Frontier flights in accordance with TSA regulations as long as they make it through TSA security checkpoints. 

Liquid items in question include your toiletries and all other liquids and creams you may want to pack along. The TSA allows containers/bottles with no more than 3.4 fl. oz. / 100 fl. ml.

These liquid toiletries/items also need to be packed neatly into a re-sealable clear Ziploc-style plastic baggie, like these gallon size baggies. Your baggie can’t be any larger than 7.8 x 7.8 inches (20 x 20 centimeters).

You’ll find plenty more information here on our TravelontheFly site about what items you are and aren’t allowed to bring on a plane with you.

You can also verify these requirements on the TSA’s website

How Strict Is Frontier With Your Carry-on Size?

Frontier Airlines is known among travelers to be quite strict about their carry-on baggage size/weight policies, but you shouldn’t have to worry about anything as long as your item(s) fit in the overhead bin above you or underneath the seat in front of you.

To make your flight as worry-free as possible, I’d suggest complying with the airline’s policies. If you need a new carry-on bag that will fit Frontier’s (and other carriers’) size policies, get this bag and never even think about it again.

How Strict Is Frontier Airlines With Your Carry-on Baggage Weight?

Most airlines, including Frontier, are not concerned with carry-on/personal item weight, but carry-on items should be able to be stowed comfortably in the appropriate spaces. Meeting the size dimensions of your carry-on bags I mentioned above should cover all your bases.

Should I Risk Flying on Frontier Airlines With an Oversized Carry-on?

Should you risk trying to get a slightly larger carry-on bag onboard a Frontier flight? Well, sure, if you don’t mind paying extra fees at the gate. I’d have to agree with most seasoned travelers and ask you, “Why even risk it?”

Keep in mind that if your bag is only slightly larger than Frontier’s specified size requirements, you’ll likely be OK. Worst-case scenario if your carry-on is deemed oversized, is that you will have to check your bag for $60 (gate fee). If your checked bag weighs more than 40 pounds, you will have to pay an additional overweight bag fee of $50 – $100 USD.

PRO TIP – You have a better chance of getting away with a slightly larger piece of luggage if your carry-on is soft-sided. That‘s why I have highlighted and pointed you toward soft-sided bags like this one here. They are a little easier to squeeze into tight spots, including into the overhead bins on a plane!

Frontier Airlines’ Checked Baggage Fees

Frontier checked bag fees come out to about $55 per checked bag.

I travel with a bag that is slightly larger than many airline regulations and I have never been asked to check it. I can’t guarantee that you won’t be asked to.

Your best bet is to travel with baggage that is within Frontier’s size and weight policies, and then you will never have to worry about it!

You can read more about Frontier Airlines’ checked bag policies here, as you’re preparing for a specific upcoming flight.

Where Can I Find a Quality Travel Bag That’s Within Frontier Airlines’ Carry-on Luggage Limits?

I highly recommend this great carry-on bag that is a great value for the money.

And this Travel Pro bag is perfect, even for the most finicky travelers. 

How Strict Is Frontier Airlines With Its “One Personal Item” Policy?

Frontier Airlines, especially because of its competitive airfares, is considered to be one of the stricter airlines in operation today in regard to baggage sizes and weights–especially for full flights. One small personal item is allowed per passenger (e.g., purse, handbag, briefcase, laptop bag, backpack, and medically necessary items).

As long as your personal item can easily be carried and stored underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead luggage bin, Frontier representatives likely won’t ask to verify its size.

Frontier Airlines’ Personal Item Policy

Your personal item ( e.g., purse, shoulder bag, backpack, diaper bag, etc.) must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin above. Read more about personal items on Frontier flights here

Carrying Additional Items Onto Frontier Flights

In addition to your carry-on bag and personal item onboard Frontier flights, you are also allowed to bring small items, such as a jacket/sweatshirt, blanket, umbrella, book, duty-free items, a reasonably sized stuffed animal, food/drink purchased past the security checkpoint, crutches, strollers, camera, etc.

These won’t count as personal items, unless they’re larger things that take up space overhead or underneath a seat, like purses, shoulder bags, backpacks, briefcases, large camera cases, etc.

Is the First Checked Bag Free on Frontier Flights?

Frontier Airlines checked bag fees come out to about $55. 

Checked bags cannot exceed 62” (157 cm) in linear inches/cm (length + width + height) or 40 pounds (18 kg) in weight. Note that any bag that exceeds these requirements will be considered oversized and possibly overweight as well, and fees will apply as needed for size and weight.

Oversized bags incur a charge of $75 each way, and overweight bags will be assessed a fee of $50 – $100.

Read more about Frontier Airlines’ checked bag policy here.

So, How Strict is Frontier Airlines About Carry-on and Personal Items?

Frontier passengers are each allowed to take one personal item onto the plane with them (e.g., purses, handbags, computer bags, briefcases, diaper bags and kid backpacks), while there is an upcharge for carry-on bags.

Both your personal item and carry-on bag should be able to fit in an overhead luggage bin, or one of them should be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. Invest in carry-on baggage that complies with Frontier regulations, like this one.

In case you choose to take this risk with Frontier Airlines by bringing a larger bag, be sure to at least use a soft-sided bag so you’ll be able to navigate it into a tight space better.

If your carry-on or personal item is deemed to be “oversized,” you could be charged a bag check-in fee of $60 for any bag or item you need to check at the gate.

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