I finally made my first flight on Frontier Airlines from Wilmington (New Castle Airport). I am pleased to report that the Delaware airport is lucky to have a carrier with a promising strategy for success in a tough industry.
Boarding from Wilmington is easy. The airline’s staff and TSA workers are friendly and efficient, especially when you are talking about a jet carrying nearly 170 passengers. That number pushes the terminal to its limit and airport management from the Delaware River and Bay Authority deserve credit for finding enough seating.
One blast from the past, the outdoor boarding ramps, do a good job of getting passengers on the Airbus 320 jet. Unlike an airline I won’t identify, passengers enter a clean, well-maintained interior. The crew consists of mature veterans of the industry who concentrate on the important stuff, such as getting carry-on luggage on board with a minimum of problems.
Frontier is hoping the hassles of stowing carry-ons will be reduced by its controversial decision to charge a fee for carry-on luggage. That produced scattered gripes in the boarding area, although most passengers were covered by the previous practice of allowing for one free bag.
The new luggage policy will actually charge less for checking that carry-on, rather than carrying it on board. That should reduce the time required for boarding and should not be a big hassle for the mainly leisure travelers who take the fight.
Frontier also offers a Classic Plus fully refundable option that is basically a Southwest Airlines-style fare with a free drink and free bag.
The carrier is betting that providing a higher level of service than other deep discount carriers will provide a competitive advantage. I would say, so far, so good.
Keep in mind that a passenger making a flight should load a book on the Kindle or bring a newspaper or magazine. The carrier has no inflight magazine or that catalog with overpriced, but interesting merchandise. The magazine fell victim to a cost cutting effort in 2011 as then-owner Republic put the carrier on the sales block.
There were no takers until Frontier was purchased last year by Indigo Partners, which made a nice chunk of change when it sold its investment in another low fare carrier, Spirit Airlines. By that time, a stronger economy, cost cutting and a gradually implemented low fare strategy had Frontier eking out a profit.
The flight to Denver was full, a sign that Frontier’s strategy of low fares from a low-cost airport is working well. Federal figures for the first two months of this year indicate that 92% of all seats were filled, above the 86% figure for Trenton/Mercer County, Frontier’s other airport in the region.
The full plane kept flight attendants busy, but the crew had the proper blend of friendliness and firmness, while also serving $2 a pop for pop. Water remains free. Legroom is fine for many six feet and under and one can work on a laptop as long as the passenger in the row ahead does not recline his or her seat. I would have no problem if the airline got rid of the recline feature.
The trip did not end at Denver, which remains a hub for the airline, with flights to a number of smaller western towns. The nonstop service to Denver, which, by the way, is not offered from Trenton, allows connections to a number of west coast points, including Alaska.
Those connections will not be available this summer as the carrier temporarily switches to late night “red eye” flights from Wilmington to Denver. The connecting flight to Phoenix went smoothly and again the Airbus was well maintained.
The return trip was more difficult, thanks to a four-hour layover in Denver made longer by an hour delay due to nasty weather in Delaware. Frontier, by the way, keeps a flight crew in Wilmington, since it overnights the jet at New Castle. That adds to the economic impact of the carrier on the state’s economy.
Frontier, had been looking for the right strategy after being hammered by Southwest Airlines, which chose to set up a presence in the Colorado capital after unsuccessfully battling with US Airways in Philadelphia with low fare flights to New England and Pittsburgh.
Frontier again performed well on the returning flight. Flight crews run a tight ship or jet with a strong emphasis on safety whiling managing to keep at least of a touch of a sense of humor.
That is important, if Frontier is to gain a competitive advantage over low-price rivals Spirit and Allegiant, it will need to keep its planes clean and its service professional, no small challenge.
I will fly Frontier again. If travel plans include one of their destinations, you should too.- Doug Rainey
