Lost Luggage? Here’s How Much Frontier Airlines Owes You

You've already paid for your seat, paid for your carry-on, paid for the privilege of selecting a seat, and even paid for water on your Frontier flight. 

Now you're standing at an empty baggage carousel, realizing you'll have to pay again — this time for toiletries and clothes while your luggage is MIA.

The good news? You’re entitled to compensation from Frontier when they delay your bag!

I’ve gone through Frontier Airlines’ baggage policies (so you don’t have to), and here’s exactly what you can expect — and how to claim what you’re owed.

Your Rights When Frontier Airlines Delays Your Checked Bag

When an airline delays your bag, they’re responsible for locating it and covering the cost of your necessities while you wait to get it back.

These aren’t just company policies — passenger rights are backed by federal regulations set by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Domestic baggage rights

Under DOT regulations, airlines must compensate passengers for reasonable expenses incurred due to delayed baggage. The DOT caps liability at $4,700 per passenger, but airlines determine how much they’ll actually reimburse. 

However, airlines aren’t supposed to impose arbitrary spending limits. For example, they’re not allowed to claim they’ll only cover $50 per day that your bag is missing.

International baggage rights

When you fly internationally, you’re protected by the Montreal Convention, a universal treaty that protects passengers by holding airlines accountable for injuries and damages. 

Under the treaty, passengers who’ve lost bags can file claims with the airline for damages. The treaty is less clear-cut than any U.S. rules, and you can only file for damages up to $1,700. 

Frontier Airlines’ bag delay policy

Frontier’s baggage delay policy is stingier (and more vague) than many competitors. While they must abide by DOT regulations, they don’t offer any additional compensation like a travel credit. 

Some airlines cover the cost of getting the missing bag back to you, usually by contracting a local delivery company. However, Frontier does not make any promises for bag delivery — so expect to take another trip to the airport to retrieve it.

(Note: The DOT has since increased the maximum for lost/delayed bags to $4,700!)

What Expenses Will Frontier Actually Cover When They Delay Your Bag?

Frontier needs to cover “reasonable and necessary” expenses. Think: toiletries, basic clothing, and essential items you were forced to repurchase while waiting for your bag. 

What won’t they cover? Anything that could be considered non-essential. If it’s a splurge or luxury purchase, don’t expect reimbursement. 

My rule of thumb is that if you can’t defend why you needed the item, you probably can’t count on getting reimbursed for it.

What to Do When Your Bag Doesn’t Show Up

If your bag isn’t on the carousel, don’t panic. But don’t leave the airport without taking action, either.

1. File a delayed baggage form

Frontier requires you to report your delayed bag within 4 hours of arrival. 

They recommend you do this with an airline representative at the airport, but if you leave before filing your report, there is an online option. Or you can use the chat feature on the Frontier website.

If you don’t file within the 4-hour window, you likely won’t be eligible for reimbursement. 

2. Keep all documentation

When you report your missing bag, you should be provided with a file ID number. Keep track of this number along with your boarding pass, flight information, and bag claim tag — you’ll need these to check your bag’s status and file for reimbursement later.

You’ll also want to put together a list of items you lost so you can refer to it in your claim.

3. Start saving receipts

This part is critical — Frontier won’t reimburse you without documentation! If you have to purchase essentials while waiting for your bag, hold on to every receipt.

I recommend you take pictures of each receipt so you have backups just in case something happens to the originals.

4. Track your bag’s status

You can check the status of your delayed bag on Frontier's online baggage portal. 

The Frontier website offers no clarity on how to connect with their central baggage service, so I recommend you get the phone number and email address of the Baggage Service Office in the airport where you reported the bag missing.

Filing Your Compensation Claim

It’s unclear from Frontier’s website how long you have to submit for reimbursement, but most airlines have a strict timeline — usually between 21 and 30 days from the date your bag was reported missing. 

To be safe, file your claim for reimbursement from Frontier within 2 weeks of reporting it missing. You’ll likely need:

• Your file ID number from your initial delayed baggage form
• A copy of your boarding pass and baggage claim ticket
• Itemized receipts for purchases made while your bag was missing

You can submit your claim through the Frontier baggage service portal. Processing times vary, but expect to wait a few weeks.

What If Frontier Denies Your Claim?

If your claim is denied, don’t take no for an answer:

• Politely push back and provide more documentation. You can call their customer service line at 801-401-9000.
• If you believe Frontier is violating federal regulations, you can escalate your case to the Department of Transportation.

Tips for Dealing with Delayed Bags

There’s no way to guarantee your bag won’t get delayed, but you can prepare for the possibility. Here are my tips for preparing for the worst.

Pack essentials in your carry-on

To be a proactive traveler, always pack these in your carry-on:

• One change of clothes
• Essential toiletries
• Valuable items and documents
• Any medication you need
• Phone and laptop chargers

Having these items handy will ease the inconvenience when your bag is delayed. It doesn’t fix the problem, but when a lot of your stuff is in limbo, it helps to have the basics with you.

Use tracking apps

Frontier Airlines has a mobile app, but it doesn’t offer bag tracking. 

Instead, you can drop an AirTag into your checked bag to track it yourself — I do this every time I travel, so I know exactly where my bag is at all times!

It won't prevent delays, but at least you'll know where your stuff is.

Tap into travel insurance

Travel insurance policies and credit cards that include baggage delay coverage will offer more reliable and thorough compensation than airlines provide. More than likely, these policies come with higher spending limits. 

For example, maybe you have pricey items in your bag that add up to more than what the airline is agreeing to cover. In this case, your travel insurance or credit card would cover what the airline didn’t.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, for example, both offer up to $3,000 per passenger for lost luggage and up to $100 per day for up to 5 days when your baggage is delayed at least 6 hours.

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TL;DR: Your Rights When Frontier Delays Your Bags

Report your missing bag ASAP since you only have 4 hours to file a report. Save receipts because you’ll need proof of expenses for reimbursement.

Frontier’s bag delay policies are vague, so follow up and push for what you’re owed. Airlines rely on passengers not knowing their rights — so don’t leave money on the table!

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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.