American Express has removed Frontier Airlines as an option for airline fee credits (the Platinum card provides up to $200 for incidental fees). People that have selected it as an airline for 2022 will continue to be able to use it until the end of the year, but you cannot select Frontier any longer and it won’t be given as an option for 2023. Frontier does have a lot of fees and they just launched an all you can fly pass but it isn’t clear why American Express made this decision.
Hat tip to devilm116
I missed this update when Amex dropped Frontier. I selected Frontier on my Hilton Aspire card and did not use any of the benefit in 2022. Last week, I noticed a $250 credit for airline fee reimbursement and I had no idea what this was for.
Today I got an email stating:
“We’ve issued a statement credit to your account listed above.
Why we are issuing the credit
As of November 24, 2022, Frontier Airlines is no longer a qualifying airline for the Airline Fee Credit benefit. As a result, any incidental airline fees charged by this airline will no longer be considered eligible transactions for the Airline Fee Credit benefit. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
We’ve issued a statement credit to your account for the Airline Fee Credit
To make things right, we’ve issued a statement credit to your account for the remaining balance of your 2022 Airline Fee Credit benefit. You’ll see this credit on your upcoming billing statement.”
Yay to Amex for the free $250!
I have been busy and failed to change my designated airline for the credit. I left it as Frontier for 2023. Lo and behold I check my Amex today and I was credited the $200 on 11 January 2023 (AMEX AIRLINE FEE REIMBU). I have made no airline purchases this year. Did AMEX just give the credit to those who still had Frontier selected?
still able to use credit on united travelbank? bought some a week ago and still no credit.
I am gonna cancel Plat next year, the credits are becoming harder to use, and I have to constantly look for deals, and other stuff to offset the heavy annual fee. I don’t see a point of having an incidental credit for a drink on a flight, I mean come on Amex! $200 credit marketing for a few bucks drink, it’s horrible. On the other hand, Sapphire Reserve is adding better and easy credits with time, even offsetting that extra $250 ($550-$300). My sense is they are gonna kick out Spirit soon too…
they made the decision because Frontier airlines is the worst airline in the sky and their customer service is even worse. Last February my wife and I got canceled by Frontier for a flight that went from Tampa to Columbus Ohio. I immediately booked the next flight out, thinking they would certainly not cancel back to back flights. BUT THEY DID. I took a Spirit flight home the next day and after over 400 emails, two letters, neither responded to, and countless phone calls, I have yet to see a penny in compensation. I have elite status that has cost me money this year because of Frontier schedule changes and cancellations. Worst airline in the sky.
And as of recent, Frontier has removed its CS line: https://www.npr.org/2022/11/26/1139291958/frontier-airlines-drops-its-customer-service-line
With airlines line this, the AMEX airline fee works very well. It is obvious AMEX doesn’t want you to use it. They want you to fly airlines where you can only charge drinks and upgrades, likely catching a commission.
Have had success with airlines like Aegean (another bare-bones fare plus incidental seat select, carry-on, etc.) booked via United. Agreed, it may be the best use of airline incidental credits for budget-conscious travelers.
i just added few days ago.. 🙂
The minute an Airline has a fee you can consistently use the whole Airline fee credit on, Amex removes that airline. I keep railing against all these use-it-or-lose-it Amex credit bc they don’t want you to use them, now along with it’s fees Frontier’s airline is out, how convenient. Amex only wants to brag about their credits, they don’t want you to use them, thus it’s very important to carefully value the credits accordingly and not at full value. Of course, the triggering of some of the low fares as an airline fee credit didn’t help either.
Also for the 250 Hilton aspire credit too? Or just plat?
Why not login and check your account and see.
Why would u assume i have the card? Im trying to see if someone has the hilton surpass and they have taken frontier out of that card too.
thanks AmEx