HOW IT WORKS

blackout dates

EarlyReturns® redemption seats are subject to blackout dates and availability. A blackout date is defined as a day that there are no regular redemption seats available anywhere in our system. Because of blackout dates, award seats will not be available for redemption travel on all flights on all days. Available award seats depend on the flight, the date of travel, the expected demand for the flight, the season, the destination, and various other factors. For FAQs concerning blackout changes click here.


    2009 Domestic Blackouts (Contiguous U.S.)
    February 16
    March 20,22,27,29
    April 3,5,10,13
    May 22,25
    July 3,5
    September 7
    November 25,29
    December 18,22,23,27,28

    2009 Anchorage Blackouts
    June 6,13,20,27
    July 4,11,18,25
    August 1,8,15,22,29

    2009 Mexico / Costa Rica Blackouts-Southbound
    February 14
    March 14,20,21,22,27,28,29
    May 22,23,24
    June 27
    November 20,21
    December 18,19,20

    2009 Mexico / Costa Rica Blackouts-Northbound
    January 2,3,4
    February 21
    March 21,22,27,28,29
    April 4,5
    May 29,30,31
    July 4,5
    November 28,29
    December 26,27



    2010 Domestic Blackouts (Contiguous U.S.)
    January 2, 3, 4
    February 13, 15
    March 19, 21, 27, 28
    April 3, 4, 10, 11
    May 28, 29, 31
    June 26
    July 3, 5, 10
    September 4, 6
    November 24, 28, 29
    December 18, 19, 23, 26, 27, 31

    2010 Anchorage Blackouts
    June 5, 12, 19, 26
    July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
    August 7, 14, 21, 28

    2010 Mexico / Costa Rica Blackouts-Southbound
    February 13
    March 13, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
    May 28, 29, 30
    June 26
    November 19, 20
    December 17, 18, 19

    2010 Mexico / Costa Rica Blackouts-Northbound
    January 2,3,4
    February 20
    March 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
    April 10, 11
    June 4, 5, 6
    July 4, 5, 10
    November 27, 28
    December 26, 27


EarlyReturns® blackout FAQs

Why Blackout dates?

While it sounds strange, Blackout Dates actually increase the value of your miles and the EarlyReturns® program overall. Essentially, in exchange for adding blackouts on dates that offered fairly limited seat availability to begin with, we have increased the availability of redemption seats throughout our system by approximately 30 percent. We feel this will give our members a better opportunity to use the miles they have accumulated, thereby increasing the value of those miles.

Will this mean there are fewer seats?

No. In fact, quite the opposite-we are actually adding redemption seats to the system overall. In exchange for blackout dates we are reallocating seats to create increased availability on all other flights. This will increase a passenger's opportunity of getting a redemption seat on all non-blackout dates. However, please remember that *flexibility* is key when booking award travel. Passengers who are able to travel on a Thursday or a Monday (as opposed to a Friday or a Sunday), stand a much better chance at securing award seats. For additional redemption tips and a list of recommended markets for redemption, click here to visit our Redemption Tips page.

It sometimes seems that I can never find a seat on a particular flight now matter how flexible I am. How is the number of seats available for redemption determined?

Previously, a set number of seats were allocated per flight and if that number was filled, there were no additional seats available. With this system, there are more seats available because Frontier is basing availability on consumer demand for that flight. So, the most popular flights (such as the day before Christmas or Thanksgiving) are now considered blackout dates, but the non-peak days will have several more seats available than the previous set amount.

The date I want to travel is not a blackout date, why aren't there any seats available?

With the exception of blackout dates, there are award seats allocated for every market every day, although the quantity varies by market and by date, and by flight.

For example: If there are 4 flights to "City USA" on Tuesday March 17th, and there are 10 award seats allocated for that market on that date, those 10 award seats may be spread across those 4 flights in any number of ways. It could even be possible that one of the four flights on that day may contain zero award seats, while the 10 are split among the other three flights.

If you are unable to locate an award seat - this may mean that award seats allocated for that market and date have already been secured by other EarlyReturns members. Planning ahead and being flexible is key when booking award travel. Redemption seat availability is not guaranteed and depends on the flight, the date of travel, the expected demand for the flight, the season, the destination, and various other factors.

If seat availability is based on consumer demand, will the number of available award seats fluctuate as the flights get closer to departure?

Possibly. With the exception of blackout dates, there are award seats allocated for every market every day, although the quantity varies by market and by date. Once set, award seat allocation generally does not change - except on rare occasions, which is why it is key to plan ahead. Our Weekend Web Fares emails are a good place to check for last minute award seat availability. To ensure you are receiving these emails, check your EarlyReturns account profile and view your communications / email settings. Because it is unlikely that additional award seats will open up at a later date, we strongly recommend that you check alternate dates and times to use award travel if your first choice is unavailable.

Will the blackout dates change from year to year?

Yes, according to the day / holiday. IE: Thanksgiving, New Year's, etc. Click here to go to our Blackout Dates page and you will find a year long calendar with our Domestic and Mexico blackout dates.