Commercial airline service will once again be available in all 50 states with Frontier Airlines returning to Delaware this spring. Frontier plans to start up flights from Wilmington once again and is also adding 3 new flights from Philadelphia. Intro fares are available from $29 one-way or $57 roundtrip, including peak summer travel dates.
New Flights from Delaware and Philadelphia on Frontier Airlines
Starting May 14, 2020, Frontier will return to Wilmington (ILG) with nonstop service to Orlando (MCO) three times per week on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Frontier used to serve up to 7 destinations from Delaware, but ended flights in 2015, citing the markets were not profitable. With larger airports and more airline choices nearby, it may be difficult to sustain a large number of flights, but travelers from Delaware may prefer to fly from a smaller and closer airport.
In a press release, Deputy Executive Director and Airports Director for the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), Stephen D. Williams, said, "The Wilmington - New Castle Airport is all about convenience."
From Philadelphia (PHL), Frontier will add 3 new nonstop flights this spring. Daily flights to/from Los Angeles (LAX) begin April 23, 2020, and to/from Boston (BOS) on May 1, 2020, Flights to/from Chicago (ORD) will be offered 3 times per week, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, starting May 17, 2020.
All of the new Philly routes will compete directly with American Airlines. The LA route is also flown by Spirit Airlines and nonstop flights to/from Boston can also be found on JetBlue or Delta. Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) flights are also available on United, and Southwest competes indirectly with nonstop flights between Chicago-Midway (MDW) and Philadelphia.
We're likely to see even lower prices on all airlines thanks to the added competition. Sign up for FREE airfare alerts to find out when prices drop.
Related: Kids Fly Free on Frontier Airlines
Travel Availability
- Travel Period: Service start date (late April or May) through August 5, 2020.
- Travel Days of the Week: Intro fares are advertised for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. However, we're seeing these low fares available for daily travel on the PHL LAX route and Sun/Tue/Thu travel for spring dates on the PHL ORD route.
- Blackout Dates: May 21-22, 24-26, and June 30 - July 8.
Sale Period
Intro fares are advertised to expire on January 31, 2020, at 11:59 pm ET.
New Nonstop Service on Frontier Airlines Starting Spring 2020
Wilmington to Orlando $57 roundtrip
Orlando to Wilmington $57 roundtrip
Philadelphia to Boston $57 roundtrip
Boston to Philadelphia $57 roundtrip
Philadelphia to Chicago $77 roundtrip
Chicago to Philadelphia $77 roundtrip
Philadelphia to Los Angeles $137 roundtrip
Los Angeles to Philadelphia $137 roundtrip
Baggage
These fares only include one small personal item. Checked bag fees start at $34-$38 each way when purchased during the initial booking. Larger carry-on bag fees start at $37-$42 each way.
Seat Assignments
Seats will be assigned at random upon check-in for these prices. You may pay a fee to choose a specific seat.
Related: Everything You Need to Know Before You Fly Frontier
Alternate Fares
Discount Den member fares are slightly less than standard fares. Frontier also offers the Works bundle, which can be added to any flight during the initial booking. It includes a standard carry-on bag plus a personal item, one free checked bag, seat selection (including stretch seating), priority boarding, flight flexibility, and refundability. This is a value if you want all of these amenities, but chances are you can get away with just adding what you need a la carte for cheaper.
Example Booking
Searching Frontier's site, I found tickets departing Philadelphia PHL on Friday, July 10, returning from Los Angeles LAX on Monday, July 13, for $137 roundtrip.
Book your ticket at the airport and save $42 by eliminating Frontier's online booking fee (carrier interface charge). This means you can fly nonstop from Philly to LA for $95 roundtrip this summer if you book your ticket at the airport before January 31, 2020.
Related: How to Avoid Online Booking Fees on Airline Tickets
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