How to Upgrade Seats on Frontier Airlines

Whether you booked a basic fare to save money or you're already mid-trip and wondering if a better seat is still possible, upgrading your seat on Frontier Airlines is more achievable than most passengers realize. Frontier has overhauled its seating structure significantly as part of "The New Frontier" transformation, introducing new seating tiers, free upgrade pathways for loyal travelers, and bundle-based seat inclusions. This guide walks you through every Frontier seat upgrade option — from buying a better seat at booking to claiming a complimentary upgrade at check-in — so you can make the smartest choice for your trip.

Understanding Frontier's Seating Tiers Before You Upgrade

Before you can make a smart decision about a Frontier seat upgrade, you need to know what seats are actually available on the plane. Frontier's cabin is divided into four distinct seat types, each offering a different level of comfort and position in the aircraft.

First Seats are Frontier's newest premium cabin, featuring a 2x2 layout positioned at the very front of the plane. Introduced as part of The New Frontier, these seats deliver a genuinely elevated flying experience at Frontier's signature low-fare price point. As Frontier refreshes its fleet, First Seats are rolling out progressively across aircraft.

UpFront Plus℠ seats are located at the front of the cabin with extra legroom and a guaranteed empty middle seat — meaning you and the window or aisle seat neighbor will always have that buffer space between you, regardless of how full the flight is. These are Frontier's most popular premium seats among travelers who want personal space without paying for a full first-class product.

Premium Seating offers extra legroom compared to standard seats and is positioned in a desirable section of the cabin. These seats are a solid middle-ground Frontier premium seating upgrade for passengers who want more stretch room without the full UpFront Plus price tag.

Preferred Seating places you closer to the front of the plane than standard seats, which means faster boarding and deplaning — but without extra legroom.

Standard Seating is the baseline cabin in the middle and rear of the aircraft, with typical legroom. If you don't select a seat, Frontier assigns one from whatever standard seats remain, and your travel companions may not end up seated together.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of all four seat types:

You're Booking a New Flight: How to Upgrade Seats on Frontier Airlines Right from the Start

The easiest and often cheapest time to secure a better seat is during the booking process itself. When you book on flyfrontier.com or the Frontier Airlines app, you'll see all available seat types displayed on the seat map after selecting your fare. Selecting an upgraded seat at this stage is simply a matter of clicking your preferred option and paying the added seat fee.

Before finalizing your seat upgrade, it's also worth double-checking that the passenger name on your reservation matches your government-issued ID exactly. Even a minor spelling difference can cause friction at the airport. If there's a mismatch, reviewing the Frontier Airlines name change policy before you fly will save you unnecessary stress at check-in

Frontier's bundle system also makes it easy to include a seat upgrade as part of your overall booking. Each bundle packages a seat type together with bags and other perks at a bundled price. Here's how the four bundles relate to Frontier seat selection upgrade options:

The Frontier business bundle seats option is particularly good value for travelers who would otherwise be paying separately for checked bags and an upgraded seat. Adding those two items together à la carte frequently costs more than the bundle price, so comparing totals before choosing is always worth a few minutes of your time.

You Already Have a Basic Ticket: Can You Upgrade Seats on Frontier After Booking?

Yes — Frontier upgrade after booking is fully supported and is one of the most commonly used pathways passengers take. You do not need to have purchased a bundle or premium fare at the time of booking in order to upgrade your seat later. There are two primary ways to do this.

Through the Frontier App or Website (Before Check-In): Log in to your account, navigate to "My Trips," find your reservation, and select "Add seats, bags, or services." From there, the seat map shows you all available upgrades and their current pricing. You can purchase a Preferred, Premium, or UpFront Plus seat at any point from the time of booking up until check-in opens, subject to availability and current pricing. Prices on seat upgrades are dynamic, meaning they can change — sometimes seats cost less far in advance, and sometimes close-in pricing drops if certain seat types haven't sold.

If you're still within 24 hours of having made your booking and your travel plans feel uncertain, it may also be worth pausing on the seat upgrade until you're confident the flight itself is right for you. Under the Frontier cancellation policy, you may be eligible for a full refund if you cancel shortly after booking — so locking in a paid seat upgrade before that window closes is a decision worth making deliberately.

During Check-In (24 Hours Before Departure): When you check in through the Frontier app or website, you'll be prompted to review your seat and given another opportunity to upgrade. This Frontier upgrade at check in pathway is especially useful for travelers who were waiting to see whether prices dropped, or who simply forgot to upgrade earlier. At check-in, the seat map reflects what's still available, so popular seats like window UpFront Plus may already be gone — but there's often still good inventory in Premium and Preferred.

A practical example: Imagine you booked a Basic fare for a flight from Denver to Miami three months ago. A week before travel, you log into the Frontier app and check the seat map. You notice two UpFront Plus window seats are still available for $45 each. You add the Frontier seat selection upgrade to your reservation, pay the fee, and arrive at the airport with guaranteed front-of-cabin seating and an empty middle seat beside you — all without rebooking or upgrading your fare class.

Elite Status Members: How Free Frontier Seat Upgrades Actually Work

Frontier has expanded free seat upgrade access for FRONTIER Miles Elite Status members. This is one of the most passenger-friendly changes the airline has made, and understanding exactly how it works helps eligible travelers take full advantage.

Preferred, Premium, and UpFront Plus seats are all available for upgrade. Preferred and Premium seat upgrades have always been offered as a benefit for Elite Status members. Starting in 2025, Elite Gold and Platinum members gained access to UpFront Plus seats for free upgrades.

The timing of when you can claim your free upgrade depends on your Elite tier:

The upgrade process for eligible Elite members follows these steps according to Frontier's official seating guide:

1. Open the Frontier Airlines mobile app and check in for your flight.
2. At your allowed upgrade time, select "Manage" for your reservation (accessible on the app homepage or under "My Trips").
3. In the Manage My Booking tab, select "Add seats, bags, or services."
4. Tap the pencil icon under the "Upgrade Your Seat Now" section.
5. Choose your desired UpFront Plus or Premium seat from the available options shown.
6. Select "Continue" at the bottom of the screen.
7. Your new seat assignment will appear on the Upgrade & Save confirmation page.

No fees are associated with seat assignment upgrades when eligible. If no UpFront Plus seat is available when your upgrade window opens, you remain eligible for a Premium or Preferred upgrade based on your status level. The upgrade is not guaranteed if the inventory has already been taken — which is why higher-status members benefit from their earlier upgrade windows.

Frontier Airlines Extra Legroom Seats: What Counts as "Extra" and Is It Worth It?

The phrase "extra legroom" covers two distinct products on Frontier, and many passengers don't realize the difference when they're browsing seats.

UpFront Plus extra legroom is the more generous option. These seats sit at the front of the aircraft in rows that Frontier has designated as the premium section. The guaranteed empty middle seat effectively gives window and aisle passengers more horizontal space as well as the standard extra pitch. For anyone over 5'10" or simply someone who prefers not to feel cramped on a longer domestic route, the combination of front positioning and extra legroom makes UpFront Plus worth the seat fee on most flights.

Premium Seating extra legroom gives you additional pitch (the front-to-back distance between your seat and the one in front), but the middle seat is not blocked. You're getting more leg space than a standard seat, but not the personal bubble that UpFront Plus delivers. On a short flight, this may be entirely sufficient. On a three-plus hour route where the flight is full, the presence of a seatmate in the middle row changes the experience meaningfully.

So are Frontier stretch seats worth it? Here's a practical breakdown of when each makes sense:

Frontier Front Row Seats and First Seats: Upgrading to the Very Best Available

For passengers who want the absolute best seat on the plane, Frontier's front row and First Seats represent the top tier of the cabin. The Frontier upgrade to first row experience has evolved considerably with the rollout of the new 2x2 First Seats layout.

First Seats occupy the first two rows of the aircraft with a 2x2 configuration — two seats on each side of the aisle with no middle seat by design. This is Frontier's answer to a traditional first-class cabin, combining genuine comfort at prices that undercut legacy carrier premium cabins significantly. As Frontier progressively installs First Seats across its fleet, passengers in UpFront Plus positions may find themselves seated in a First Seat as aircraft are updated.

Elite Gold members and above can enjoy free upgrades to First Seats, making first-class travel more accessible than ever. For non-elite passengers, First Seats can be purchased as part of the upgrade selection process during booking or through the Frontier app before check-in, subject to availability.

The Frontier Airlines seat upgrade cost for First Seats and UpFront Plus varies based on route length, demand, and how close to departure you're purchasing. Earlier purchases on less-traveled routes typically cost less than last-minute upgrades on popular corridor flights.

Paying for Seat Upgrades: What Does a Frontier Seat Upgrade Actually Cost?

Frontier's Frontier Airlines seat upgrade cost structure is dynamic — meaning there is no single published fee that covers all routes and all seats. The price you see reflects the specific flight, the current demand for that seat type, and how far in advance you're making the purchase. That said, here are the general pricing factors and what passengers typically encounter:

These ranges reflect general passenger experience and should be verified directly on flyfrontier.com for your specific flight. A helpful habit is to check the seat map when you first book and again about 7–10 days before departure — prices sometimes shift based on unsold inventory.

It's also worth knowing that Frontier seat assignment fees apply per person, per segment. A round-trip ticket means two segments each way, and if there are two passengers in your party, the total upgrade cost can add up quickly. Bundling via the Premium or Business bundle at the time of booking is often more cost-effective than adding seat upgrades à la carte after the fact.

Traveling with Family: Seat Upgrades and Children's Seating

Families with children have a unique consideration when it comes to the Frontier seat selection upgrade decision. Frontier officially guarantees adjacent seating for children age 13 and under with an accompanying adult at no additional charge, subject to the following conditions:

• The child and the accompanying adult must be on the same reservation.
• Adjacent seats must be available at the time of booking in the selected class of service.
• The adult must either choose seats for the entire reservation or skip seat selection entirely — partial selections can break the guarantee.
• It must be physically possible based on the aircraft layout to seat the children next to the adult.

If adjacent seats aren't immediately assigned at booking, Frontier will ensure the adjacent seating arrangement is in place no later than the day before the scheduled departure. Families flying with very young children should also take care of one additional step before thinking about upgrades. If you're bringing a baby, make sure you've taken the time to add a lap infant to your Frontier reservation before selecting seats.

Also, For families considering a Frontier premium seating upgrade, keep in mind that purchasing UpFront Plus for some passengers but not others on the same reservation can complicate the adjacent-seating guarantee.Similarly, passengers traveling with someone who has a mobility need should coordinate their seat selection carefully. UpFront Plus and front-row seats are among the most accessible positions on the aircraft for boarding and deplaning. If anyone in your party requires mobility assistance, you'll want to request wheelchair assistance on Frontier Airlines in advance so that your seat selection and accessibility arrangements are aligned from the start.

Frontier Upgrade Options at a Glance: Who Can Upgrade and How

Understanding the full landscape of Frontier upgrade options is especially useful for passengers who fly the airline regularly. Here's a consolidated summary of every upgrade pathway available:

The most important takeaway from this table is that the answer to "can you upgrade seats on Frontier" is definitively yes — through multiple pathways, for passengers at every fare level and status tier. The right pathway depends on your situation, your status, and how much you're willing to pay versus how early you're willing to plan.

Practical Tips for Getting the Best Seat Upgrade on Frontier

A few habits that help passengers consistently secure better seats without overpaying:

Book early and check the seat map immediately. Premium and UpFront Plus inventory is limited. Checking the map at the time of booking tells you right away whether the seats you want are available and at what price.

Compare bundle pricing to à la carte seat fees. Before adding a seat upgrade separately, check the cost of stepping up to the next bundle tier. The Business bundle often includes UpFront Plus plus two checked bags — if you were planning to check a bag anyway, the bundle may cost less than adding each item individually.

For Elite members, set a reminder for your upgrade window. If you're a Gold status member, your window to claim a free UpFront Plus seat opens four hours before departure. At that point, the best seats go quickly. Set a phone alarm so you can act the moment your window opens. And while you're managing pre-departure timing, keep the broader check-in and boarding deadlines in mind too. Frontier's rules around these are strict. If unforeseen circumstances arise on travel day, knowing what to do if you miss a Frontier flight can help you protect both your seat upgrade investment and the rest of your itinerary

Check seat prices again 7–10 days before departure. On flights that haven't sold out, Frontier sometimes lowers upgrade prices as departure approaches. If your original preferred seat was too expensive at booking, a mid-week recheck may show a better price.

Use the app, not the website, for the fastest upgrade experience. The Frontier Airlines mobile app is optimized for the upgrade workflow and reflects real-time seat availability more reliably than the browser experience for many users.

Whether you're a first-time Frontier flier wondering how to upgrade seats on Frontier Airlines or a seasoned traveler looking to extract maximum value from your Elite status, the options available today are significantly better than they were even two years ago. The New Frontier has brought genuine premium products — guaranteed empty middle seats, extra legroom, and first-class configurations — to what was once a no-frills basic cabin. Understanding how to access them puts a meaningfully more comfortable flight within reach on almost every route Frontier flies.

This content is based on Frontier Airlines' official seating pages, FAQ, and press releases as published at flyfrontier.com and faq.flyfrontier.com. Seat upgrade availability and pricing are dynamic and subject to change; always verify current details directly with Frontier before booking.