Extremely low price carriers in america have been struggling financially, given how shopper demand has developed. There’s a lot of speak of how premium journey demand is robust, and that’s one thing extremely low price carriers have struggled to capitalize on. That’s one thing they’re slowly however certainly attempting to vary.
Alongside these strains, Frontier Airways has simply launched a brand new seating product. I feel it’s sort of sensible, although it’s additionally more likely to annoy the service’s most loyal clients.
Frontier Airways is introducing UpFront Plus seating, which is a brand new upgraded seating choice with further house and luxury within the first two rows of each plane.
UpFront Plus seating not solely presents considerably extra legroom than the usual financial system seating, but in addition presents a assured blocked center seat. Consider it like enterprise class on flights inside Europe, besides with extra legroom and fewer service. Word that UpFront Plus seating doesn’t provide any extra companies, so you continue to should pay for all ancillaries individually, as earlier than.
This new product is bookable now for flights as of April 10, 2024. As a particular introductory provide, UpFront Plus seating upgrades can be found beginning at solely $49 per passenger per section. This is applicable for tickets booked by March 20, and for journey via April 30.
Right here’s how Frontier CEO Barry Biffle describes this new seating choice:
“Many shoppers strongly want a seating choice that gives further house when flying. Frontier is all about selection and giving shoppers the flexibleness to customise their journey to swimsuit their particular person wants and preferences. UpFront Plus is a good choice for individuals who need expanded private house and additional consolation.”
It nearly looks as if Frontier is attempting to repeat Spirit Airways’ Huge Entrance Seat idea, besides with out the price of truly reconfiguring jets.
Frontier Airways’ UpFront Plus seating will annoy elite members
I feel Frontier Airways’ new UpFront Plus seating is mostly a sensible transfer, if not a bit unoriginal. Between the additional legroom and the blocked center seat, this can at the very least assure a fairly comfy flight when touring with the service.
Nonetheless, I believe elite members of the Frontier Miles program may have a really completely different tackle this seating. Frontier Miles Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members, all obtain Stretch seating as an elite profit. It is a nice perk that makes flying with Frontier extra nice.
The catch is that as Frontier introduces its UpFront Plus seating, the airline can also be drastically lowering its Stretch seating:
- Beforehand Stretch seating included the primary three rows of the plane, plus exit rows
- Now the primary two rows have gotten UpFront Plus seating, that means that Stretch seating simply contains the third row of the plane, plus exit rows
So this represents a major devaluation to Frontier Miles elite perks, since arguably one of the best seats (within the first couple of rows) are now not accessible as an elite perk. That being mentioned, from Frontier’s perspective, I can hardly blame the airline.
I’m curious to see how profitable this turns into. Can Frontier entice premium clients with a product like this, when it doesn’t provide different premium companies, like Wi-Fi? Or will these seats find yourself empty in the long term, at the very least past the introductory pricing?
Backside line
Frontier Airways is introducing UpFront Plus seating, whereby the primary couple of rows on every plane will function further legroom and blocked middles. The airline isn’t truly making any modifications to its plane, however relatively the primary two rows of Stretch seating are being rebranded, by having a center seat blocked. I’m curious to see how this idea performs for Frontier…
What do you make of Frontier’s UpFront Plus seating? Do you assume will probably be profitable?
