Frontier boost frequent-flyer seats, adds blackout dates

Chris Walsh, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 15, 2007 at midnight

Text size

More Airlines & Aerospace

Frontier Airlines is boosting the number of award seats on many flights but also is adding blackout dates to its loyalty program.

As of July 1, the carrier will make more seats available for frequent fliers who want to cash in miles for free tickets. Frontier said the number of seats reserved for award travel on each flight will vary, based on demand. In the past, Frontier has allocated a set number of seats for every flight across its system.

"The change will allow us to be more flexible in the way we distribute redemption seats and will increase overall availability by more than 30 percent," the carrier said in an e-mail to its frequent fliers.

Frontier, though, also will add blackout dates on high-traffic days, mostly around holidays.

This year's blackout dates, for instance, include two days near Thanksgiving and four near Christmas and New Year's, as well as a handful of other dates.

Frontier said travelers typically found it difficult to secure seats for those dates anyway.

"In reality and and in practice, these are flights that had the least amount of seats to begin with," company spokesman Joe Hodas said.

Some blackout dates apply for late June.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News