Over the last year, more and more airlines have been playing around with the idea of a "flight subscription."
The concept dates back to the 1980s-era American Airlines (AAL) -) AAirpass promising one a lifetime of unlimited travel for a single price of $250,000 but, in recent years, has resurged in a much less expansive model. American Airlines ended up scrapping the program and suing the New York investment banker who purchased the pass and then used it to fly around the world in first class multiple times a month for 25 years.
DON'T MISS: Popularity Prompts Yet Another Frontier All-You-Can-Fly Pass
While the idea of paying one price and flying as much as you like then entered the retro territory of smoking aboard and getting real plates and forks in economy, Alaska Airlines (ALK) -) became the first major airline to bring it back in the 2020s era. In February 2022, the Seattle-based air carrier launched a revamped subscription program giving customers six, 12, or 24 nonstop West Coast flights a year.
This Is The Latest Version Of Frontier's GoWild! Pass
Budget airline Frontier (FRON) -) followed a few months later with a GoWild! Pass allowing holders to travel to any of its domestic and international destinations on the 300 days outside of the year's busiest travel periods.
After several promotional periods, the annual pass is now being sold for $1,999. The program has also proven so popular that Frontier has expanded it with a number of variations: a $799 all-you-can-fly pass for children and $999 seasonal passes for spring and summer or fall and winter.
The latest version of the pass is the monthly subscription. As first reported by the Points Guy, the new subscription works the same as the original pass in that it lets one book an unlimited number of flights outside popular travel periods. Domestic flights can be scheduled the night before but international ones need to be booked at least 10 days prior to takeoff.
Meant to reach those who need to travel a lot in a short period of time, the new pass is valid for 30 days from the time of purchase. The price is only $149 along with a $99 enrollment fee that is meant to discourage travelers from buying frequent monthly passes instead of committing to a longer subscription. It will also be waived for those who book before August 7.
Is The GoWild! Pass Worth It? Depends On Who You Ask
"It's also a great option for people who know they want to travel within a given month and have flight scheduling flexibility," Frontier's VP Of Marketing Tyri Squyres said in a statement. "Scores of consumers are using and enjoying the GoWild! Pass to travel affordably and see amazing new destinations or visit family and friends."
At a time when ticket prices can be high, the pass has seen strong pickup. Critics, however, have pointed out that the extensive terms and conditions only make it worth it for some people in specific circumstances -- while the flight itself is covered by the pass, one has to pay any taxes and airport fees as well as any baggage or seating assignments.
Some of the travelers who tested out the pass also reminded those also considering one that Frontier does not usually fly out of a given city's most central airport -- in Los Angeles, travelers would not leave from LAX but John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana or Ontario International Airport around 50 miles outside of town and, between all the fees and Uber (UBER) -) rides downtown, may not end up saving much.
