• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Frontier  >  Frontier Airlines Rescinds “Covid Recovery Charge”
Frontier

Frontier Airlines Rescinds “Covid Recovery Charge”

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 24, 2021June 24, 2021 12 Comments

UPDATE: Frontier Airlines has rescinded its Covid Recovery Charge. A spokesperson noted:

“Frontier Airlines has made the decision to rescind its Covid Recovery Charge of $1.59 per passenger per segment that was implemented in May.

“The charge, which was included in the airline’s total promoted fare versus an add-on fee, was meant to provide transparency and delineate what portion of the fare was going toward Covid-related business recovery, including repayment of a CARES Act loan from the U.S. Government.

However, to avoid misinterpretation, the airline will discontinue the practice of breaking out this category within its overall promoted fares.”

A pretty misleading statement, considering the description of the new fee (below) made no mention of repayment of CARES Act loan (most of which is forgivable) and it was indeed an “add-on fee” and not part of the base airfare.

But the surcharge is gone…


When you dig deep enough, you find that the so-called ultra-low-cost carriers are actually not all that ultra-low-cost. In the case of Frontier Airlines, the airline is slapping on a “Covid Recovery Charge” to all tickets despite being the recipient of a huge taxpayer-funded government bailout.

Frontier Airlines Covid Recovery Charge – Is This For Real?

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Frontier Airlines has received over $225 million in payroll protection support, direct aid from U.S. taxpayers. While millions of small businesses went under and families struggled to make ends meet, Frontier Airlines received huge subsidies to maintain full employment.

At the same time, it also dragged on refunds for cancelled flights, at first only offering future flight credit and thereby holding hostage millions of dollars.

But in order to say thank you, Frontier Airlines has aded a “Covid Recovery Fee” to all tickets. On its website, it describes the fee as:

Covid Recovery Charge: The Covid Recovery Charge offsets added costs to Frontier due to implementing Covid-19 related measures, such as increased sanitation and cleaning onboard the aircraft and in the airport, shields at the ticket counters and gate areas, and personal protective equipment for employees.

Cleaning and sanitation? That’s called the cost of doing business. To separate that out from the cost of the flight is disingenuous and a further attempt to bait and switch unsuspecting consumers with deceptively low base fares. It’s also a way to minimize taxes, since these “ancillary” charges are taxed at different rates than the “airfare” itself.

The Covid Recovery Charge is not the only fee that Frontier has added. It also charges:

  • Carrier Interface Charge
  • Service Fee
  • Surcharges (during holiday periods)
  • High Cost Airport Charge

(you can read all about Frontier’s fee structure here)

So how does it look on a typical flight? It appears the surcharge is about 7% of the carrier interface charge.

CONCLUSION

Frontier Airlines has added a “Covid Recovery Charge” to tickets, which is simply an insult to travelers and a particular insult to U.S. taxpayers. I’m disgusted by it. But not surprised.

(H/T: Miles To Memories // image: Frontier Airlines)

Previous Article Rumor: United Airlines To Buy 200+ New Jets
Next Article Review: Four Seasons Istanbul At The Bosphorus

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Frontier Airlines Miami Arrest

    How Many Cops Does It Take To Restrain A Frontier Airlines Passenger At Miami Airport?

    January 26, 2023
  • Frontier Airlines Bomb Threat

    Florida Airport Evacuated After Frontier Airlines Passenger Makes Bomb Threat

    January 25, 2023
  • Frontier Airlines Box Cutter

    TSA Hands Box Cutter Back To Man Who Uses It To Terrorize Frontier Airlines Flight

    December 12, 2022

12 Comments

  1. cargocult Reply
    June 22, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    @Matthew

    You repeatedly refer to Spirit Airlines. I assume you meant Frontier. I’ve never flown either, but it is unfair to besmirch Spirit for the actions of Frontier. An amusing slip-up, nonetheless.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 22, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      Goodness. Thank you. Fixed.

  2. Pierre Reply
    June 22, 2021 at 12:58 pm

    You need to edit…Spirit mentioned multiple times.

  3. Christian Reply
    June 22, 2021 at 1:42 pm

    This kind of shameless fleecing of the customer is certainly rude and disconcerting, particularly after being handed truckloads of money; what’s more appalling is the ULCC mentality that the heads of American and United illustrate on a regular basis. They got lots more cash but likewise are laser focused on screwing over the customer. AA dumping award charts is one example in a very long list.

  4. Alan Reply
    June 22, 2021 at 2:20 pm

    I agree it is tasteless; however, airlines are required to show all-in pricing when booking so it really isn’t a bait-and-switch. The price first displayed during the booking process includes this surcharge. Functionally, it is no different than just increasing fares across the board, except for the tax benefit and that it is easier for the pricing team to maintain the increased fare by doing it through a surcharge. There is basically no difference for the consumer. Frankly, my only complaint is that by naming it a “Covid Recovery Charge”, Frontier gave bloggers an easy target. This is no more newsworthy than American or Southwest increasing fares by 5%- which happens all the time, with nary a peep from the blogging community.

  5. Kale R Fithian Reply
    June 22, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    So, then are we to assume they weren’t doing any extra cleaning at all for the first 16 months or so of the pandemic and just started now?

  6. William Reply
    June 22, 2021 at 2:55 pm

    PUDDY: I just left out a couple of things: rust-proofing. Transport charge, storage surcharge, additional overcharge, finder’s fee…

    JERRY: “Finder’s fee”? It was on the lot!

    PUDDY: Yeah, that’s right… Floor mats, keys..

    JERRY: ‘Keys”?!

    PUDDY: How ya gonna start it?

    Seinfeld, “The Dealership”

  7. Jerry Reply
    June 22, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    Anybody care to guess which Marriott property in Florida/Mexico will be the first to give this a shot?

  8. ed lewis Reply
    June 22, 2021 at 5:36 pm

    outrageous!! they should be slapped down.

  9. emercycrite Reply
    June 23, 2021 at 7:26 am

    Boycott.

  10. Hadassah Reply
    June 23, 2021 at 6:59 pm

    Thank you for posting this piece. I hope you repost it multiple times, lest it sink down the memory hole

  11. derek Reply
    June 24, 2021 at 11:57 am

    Covid related costs are real but that should be reflected in the fare. Fares go up all the time.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Southwest Airlines Wheelchair Accident
    Family Sues Southwest Airlines For Negligence After Death Of 25-Year-Old Daughter February 1, 2023
  • Hotel Hairdresser Massage
    Hotel Hairdresser Invites Himself To My Room February 1, 2023
  • Mount Nebo Jordan
    Visiting Mount Nebo In Jordan February 1, 2023
  • A Silly Attack On United Airlines’ Boarding Process January 31, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Casting Couch? Kuwait Airways Forces Prospective Flight Attendants To Undress For “Research Purposes” January 4, 2023
  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • SWISS First Class Awards Bookable With United Airlines MileagePlus January 5, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.