Denver Based Frontier Airlines Is Adding First-Class Seats

Frontier Airlines, the Denver-based carrier long known for low fares, animal tails and the ability to make you do airline math at checkout, is adding first-class seating and expanded legroom options across its aircraft.

The airline announced that reservations open Tuesday for its new first-class seats and extra-legroom seats, part of a broader cabin overhaul aimed at giving travelers more choice — and, yes, giving Frontier more ways to sell comfort beyond “congratulations, you have a seat.”

The new first-class setup will be located in the first two rows of the cabin, with seats arranged in a two-by-two configuration. That means no middle seats in first class, which already sounds like a luxury spa experience by budget airline standards.

Those seats will offer up to 37 inches of pitch. For normal people who do not spend their free time reading aircraft layout diagrams, pitch is the distance between a fixed point on one seat and the same point on the seat directly in front of it. Basically: It’s how much space your knees get before they enter a long-term relationship with the seatback ahead of you.

Frontier is also adding extra-legroom premium seating in rows three through eight, with up to 34 inches of pitch.

Installation of the new first-class and extra-legroom seats has already begun, with completion expected by March 5, according to the airline.

What’s changing on Frontier planes?

Frontier’s new cabin layout includes several comfort upgrades in the front portion of the aircraft:

First-class seating

The first two rows will feature first-class seats in a two-by-two configuration. There will be no middle seats in those rows, and passengers will get up to 37 inches of seat pitch.

This is not the traditional legacy airline first class with champagne, hot towels and someone pretending the warmed nuts are a personality trait. Frontier has not described it that way. But it is a major shift for an airline built around the ultra-low-cost model, where comfort has historically been available, technically, for an additional fee.

Extra-legroom seating

Rows three through eight will become extra-legroom seating, with up to 34 inches of pitch.

That puts more premium-style seating toward the front of the cabin, giving passengers who do not want to go full first class a middle-ground option. Think of it as: “I don’t need to be fancy, I just want my kneecaps to survive the flight.”

UpFront Plus seating

Frontier will continue offering UpFront Plus seating in select rows, which guarantees an empty adjacent middle seat.

That product has been Frontier’s version of “we can’t make the plane wider, but we can at least stop a stranger from eating a tuna wrap directly next to you.”

In-seat power

The airline said it will add USB-C in-seat power at every seat in the first eight rows. Installation is expected to begin in 2027 and continue throughout the year.

That is good news for anyone who has ever boarded a flight at 14% battery while pretending everything is fine.

Starlink Wi-Fi

Frontier also said Starlink Wi-Fi will begin rolling out across its aircraft in 2027, with installation progressing throughout the year.

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has been gaining traction with airlines looking to offer faster and more reliable in-flight connectivity. For Frontier passengers, it could mean a future where streaming, messaging and doomscrolling at 35,000 feet become a little less painful.

“We’re transforming what customers can expect when they fly Frontier,” said Bobby Schroeter, chief marketing officer for Frontier Airlines. “First class seating, more room to stretch out, in-seat power and fast, reliable Starlink Wi-Fi will bring a new level of comfort and convenience to flying with us. We’re continuing to deliver the great value our customers count on, combining more comfort and choice with Frontier’s low fares.”

What this means for travelers

The short version: Frontier is not abandoning its low-fare model, but it is clearly trying to compete for passengers who want cheap-ish flights without the full budget airline endurance test.

For years, ultra-low-cost carriers like Frontier have centered their business around low base fares, then charging extra for things like bags, seat selection, priority boarding and other add-ons. The model works for travelers who want the lowest possible fare and are willing to skip the extras.

But the airline industry has been changing. Travelers are increasingly paying more for roomier seats, early boarding, better Wi-Fi and a little more control over their trip. Even passengers chasing low fares may still want the option to buy out of misery when the price is right.

Frontier’s new cabin upgrades give the airline more ways to appeal to those passengers.

It also gives Frontier a chance to grab customers who might otherwise book basic economy on a larger carrier, then pay extra for a better seat. In other words, Frontier wants to be budget-friendly, but not necessarily bare-bones in the front rows.

Is this really “first class”?

That depends on what you expect from first class.

If you are imagining lie-flat seats, multi-course meals and a flight attendant addressing you like minor royalty, probably not. Frontier’s announcement focuses on bigger seats, more pitch and no middle seats in the first two rows.

But for domestic travelers, especially on shorter routes, that may be enough. A wider seat and extra legroom can make a big difference, especially if the alternative is sitting in a standard row wondering why your femur feels like a carry-on item.

So yes, it is first class by Frontier’s new cabin definition. Just maybe don’t expect caviar. This is still Frontier. Let’s all remain emotionally grounded.

Why it matters in Colorado

Frontier is headquartered in Denver, making this a notable move for Colorado travelers who regularly use Denver International Airport as a jumping-off point.

DIA is one of Frontier’s major hubs, and the airline’s growth and product changes are closely tied to the Denver market. For local travelers, the upgrades could mean more options on nonstop leisure routes, family trips, quick getaways and flights where paying extra for space feels less like a splurge and more like basic spinal preservation.

The addition of Starlink Wi-Fi and in-seat power also matters for business travelers and remote workers who may have avoided Frontier because the onboard experience was not exactly built for productivity. Once those features roll out in 2027, Frontier could become more appealing to passengers who need to stay connected.

The bottom line

Frontier Airlines is adding first-class seats, more extra-legroom rows, USB-C power in the front of the plane and Starlink Wi-Fi beginning in 2027.

The first-class and expanded legroom seat installations are already underway, with completion expected by March 5. Reservations for the new seats open Tuesday.

For passengers, the move means more comfort choices on a low-cost airline. For Frontier, it means another step away from the old-school “cheap seat, good luck” budget model and toward something a little more flexible.

Still low fares. Still add-ons. But now with fewer middle seats up front.

Progress, people. Progress.