Frontier Airlines vs United Airlines

Side-by-side comparison of Frontier Airlines and United Airlines: cabin and checked baggage allowances, fees, online check-in deadlines, alliances, hubs and contacts.

Frontier AirlinesUnited Airlines
Country United StatesUnited States
Founded 19941926
Type Low-cost carrierFull-service airline
Alliance -Star Alliance
Main hubs Denver International Airport, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Kansas City International AirportNarita International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, O'Hare International Airport
Aircraft types 37
Cabin bag size 20 × 46 × 36 cm (8 × 18 × 14 in)56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in)
Checked bag (Economy) not included · 18.1 kg (40 lb)1 piece · 23 kg (51 lb)
First checked bag fee from 39 USDfrom 45 USD
Extra bag fee from 85 USDfrom 55 USD
Online check-in opens 24 h24 h
Online check-in closes 1 h45 min
Airport check-in fee freefree
Customer service phone +1 801 401 90 00-

Key differences

  • United Airlines includes more checked baggage in the basic Economy fare: 1 piece · 23 kg (51 lb) vs not included · 18.1 kg (40 lb) at Frontier Airlines.
  • United Airlines lets you check in online closer to departure (45 min vs 1 h).
  • Frontier Airlines is a low-cost carrier: expect a cheaper base fare with bags, seats and airport check-in sold separately, while United Airlines bundles more into the ticket.
  • United Airlines is a Star Alliance member, so miles and status benefits carry over to partner airlines.

Other comparisons

Allowances shown are for the basic Economy fare on most routes. Fees are the lowest published prices and change often - confirm on the official websites before booking.