Frontier Defends Bag Fee Increase During Holiday Travel Season

DENVER (CBS4)- Some Frontier Airlines passengers are upset about the airline raising baggage fees for the holiday travel season. Frontier is defending its actions.

"A lot of carriers do change carry-on fees but they hide it and passengers don't know they're paying more to carry on a bag or check a bag," said Frontier Airlines spokesman Jim Faulkner.

Checked and carry-on bags will cost an extra $5 to $10 for flights on Frontier scheduled between Thanksgiving week and just after New Year's.

The temporary price increases are in effect for departures from Nov. 19 through Jan. 5, 2016 as well as other weeks in 2016 that include Feb. 11 to April 4, June 9 to Aug. 16.

"With extra fees it's not fair. It doesn't seem like it can be justified," said one passenger.

A quick price comparison of a round trip from Denver to Phoenix Thanksgiving week shows that a flight from Monday through Friday on Frontier would cost about $100 less than the same flight on Southwest. But flying the same route and returning a day later, on Saturday, is about $100 cheaper on Southwest compared to Frontier.

With all the fares, fees, restrictions and promotions, frugal travelers might find that they spend more time researching flights for a trip than the time they enjoy the trip itself.

Frontier is giving travelers double frequent flier miles on flights through Dec. 31.