I know, it sounds backward. Why would anyone drive to the airport to buy a plane ticket? Well, I would. And I did. It turns out there’s a little-known trick with ultra-low-cost carriers like Frontier, and buying tickets at the airport can be cheaper than booking online. I recently tested it out, bought a ticket at the counter, and came away with some savings and a few lessons. Here’s how it worked, how much it saves, and what you need to know when buying a Frontier ticket at the airport.
Why This Works
So, why does buying a ticket at the airport save money with some budget airlines? It comes down to how they structure their fees and how they dodge certain taxes. Ultra low-cost carriers like Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant, and Breeze tack on what’s called a Carrier Interface Charge (CIC) (or similar fee) when you book online. It seems like a convenience fee, but really, it’s just a sneaky way to avoid certain taxes.
“Airlines have to pay a 7.5% federal excise tax on airfare, but not on optional fees. In order for something to be considered an optional fee, there has to be a way to avoid paying it. So Frontier doesn’t have to pay taxes on the “carrier interface charge” portion of the ticket cost because it’s technically a fee, rather than airfare, since you can avoid it.” –One Mile at a Time.
It’s intentionally inconvenient. If too many people did it, it’d cost them. So they bury this trick in the fine print of their fee breakdowns, and it’s not something they advertise. But it’s legit, and it works.
Each budget airline labels it differently, but it all follows the same idea. Frontier uses the Carrier Interface Charge (CIC), Spirit calls it the Passenger Usage Charge (PUC), Allegiant the Carrier Usage Charge, and Breeze the Technology Development Charge.
The Savings
The savings depend on the route, fare, and airline, but these fees can add up fast. Since this post is focused on Frontier, that’s the example we’re going to stick with. Frontier’s Carrier Interface Charge (CIC) is typically $23 per segment, which means $46 round-trip per person. Sometimes, especially during promo fares or flash sales, that fee drops to around $10 per segment, but it’s still there.
As you can see in the example above, buying this Frontier ticket at the airport and avoiding the CIC drops the price from $98 to $52. That’s $46 in savings for one person, just by skipping the website.
Now imagine you’re booking for a family of four. That same flight goes from $392 down to $208. Same seats, same flight, just without the “convenience” of booking online.
And remember, the CIC is charged per segment. So if you’ve got a layover in Denver? That annoying connection just saved you another $23. The one time a layover actually helps your wallet.
Two more great examples. That ticket now becomes $96 cheaper. If you’re with family, these savings become unbeatable
My Experience
I’ve known about this little trick for a long time, but I’d never actually tried it. Mostly because the airport is 45 minutes away and I’m not usually looking for reasons to drive that far just to buy a plane ticket. But this time, the timing worked out.
I’d been watching some cheap flights to Las Vegas and I happened to be near the airport. It felt like a good chance to finally try it. Partly for my own curiosity, and partly so I could share the experience for anyone else wondering if it’s worth it.
What to Know When Buying a Frontier Ticket at the Airport
This example is specific to Frontier, but most budget airlines work the same way. You have to buy tickets at the check-in counter, and the catch is that there’s only someone at the counter when there’s a flight departing. No flight, no agent, no ticket for you.
Most airlines open for check-in about three hours before a scheduled flight. So before you drive to the airport, make sure there’s actually a flight departing around the time you plan to show up. Otherwise, you’ll waste your time.
In my case, I used Flightradar24 to check for Frontier departures out of SLC. You can also just Google “Frontier departures [your airport]” and you’ll usually get a live list. It takes 30 seconds and can save you a pointless drive.
I got there a few minutes after check in opened to avoid any lines. To keep things quick, I came prepared. I had everything written down: passenger names, birthdates, travel dates, times, and flight numbers.
When I asked about buying tickets, the agent looked a little confused at first. But once I handed her all the info, she went ahead and started plugging in the information. It took about 7-8 minutes, and everything went smoothly.
I already knew the price I was expecting to pay, so once she confirmed it, I paid, got my confirmation number, and was done.
It felt a little weird walking through the airport just to buy tickets, but honestly, it was a great learning experience and I saved some solid money doing it
Tips for Buying a Frontier Ticket at the Airport
Not all agents are created equal. Some people have reported being told they can’t buy tickets at the counter, or they’ve had the agent run the tickets without removing the CIC fee. The best approach here is to be polite and calm. Do not be that person who causes a scene.
It is totally possible the agent just doesn’t know the details of the CIC fee. After all, most normal people are not walking into airports just to buy tickets. So if things seem off, you can try asking nicely if there’s a way to waive the fee or reference what you’ve seen on other bookings. But if it’s a hard no, it may just not be worth the fight that day.
Be aware of timing and crowds. Frontier charges a fee to check in at the counter, which keeps lines shorter, but people checking bags still need to go up there. Keep that in mind and try to get to the counter as early as possible.
It takes some time for the agents to enter all the information, and you don’t want to hold up the line. That frustrates both passengers and agents, who just want to keep things moving. We all know a happy agent equals a better experience.
To keep everyone happy, be prepared. Write down everything the agent will need: passenger names, birthdates, travel dates, flight numbers, and don’t forget the phone number and email of the primary contact.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Buying Frontier tickets at the airport is not the most glamorous travel hack, but it can save you serious cash.
It takes a little planning, a short trip to the airport, and some patience. Skipping that annoying Carrier Interface Charge can shave a good chunk off your ticket price. Just remember to check flight times ahead of time, bring all your information, and be cool with the agents. Not every counter staff member knows the deal, but if you come prepared and polite, you will usually come out ahead.
Is it worth the hassle? If you are flying alone and the airport is out of the way, maybe not. But if you are booking for a family or already near the airport, it is a smart move that can add up fast.
Give it a shot next time you are hunting for budget flights. You might be surprised how much you save by skipping the website and going old school.
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