Q: Will Frontier continue to fly?
A: Yes, Frontier plans to continue operations.
Q: Will Frontier tickets be honored?
A: Yes, according to its usual policies.
Q: How will my miles be affected?
A: Frontier does not plan any changes to the Early Returns program at this time. The airline said its customers can continue to earn and redeem miles with Frontier and its frequent-flier program partner, AirTran. Frontier wrote a letter to its Early Returns members telling them that their travel plans and EarlyReturns miles are secure. Forrester Research analyst Henry Harteveldt said if Frontier dramatically changes where it flies, “it certainly will affect the value and appeal of the frequent-flier program.”
Q: Will Frontier go out of business?
A: Under Chapter 11, Frontier plans to conduct normal business operations. The airline said it is operating its full schedule of flights and honoring tickets and reservations. Not all carriers successfully reorganize under Chapter 11, but Frontier said it expects to emerge as a financially stable company.
Q: Why did Frontier file for bankruptcy protection?
A: Frontier said its principal credit-card processor planned to start withholding significant proceeds from the sale of Frontier tickets, which “would have represented a material change to our cash forecasts and business plan. Unchecked, it would have put severe constraints on Frontier’s liquidity and would have made it impossible for us to continue normal operations.”
Q: What will happen to Frontier employees?
A: Frontier said it will provide wages and employee benefits without interruption. But when an airline goes into Chapter 11, employees may have concerns about the bankruptcy. “It’s tough for a CEO to keep even great employees engaged during a process like this,” said airline consultant Robert Mann.
Q: How long will Frontier be in bankruptcy?
A: Frontier said it expects its Chapter 11 reorganization to take nine to 18 months to complete.
Q: Will Frontier’s operations be affected by companies that refuse to provide products and services that are needed for the airline to conduct business?
A: Frontier said it does not expect that to be an issue.
— Kelly Yamanouchi
