The safety of our passengers is our #1 priority at Frontier Airlines. With that in mind, Frontier works hard to avoid extended tarmac delay situations. However, occasionally these situations do arise. Frontier maintains a plan to resolve the extended tarmac delays as quickly as possible as well as mitigating the impact and inconvenience to our passengers.
For all flights that remain at the gate or other disembarkation area with the main cabin door open 30 minutes after scheduled departure time (including any revised departure time that passengers were notified about before boarding) from which there is an opportunity to deplane, Frontier will notify passengers that they have the opportunity to deplane from the aircraft and repeat that notice at least every 30 minutes thereafter while that opportunity continues to exist.
1. For all flights that have departed from a gate without taking off or after a flight has landed without arriving at a gate (“Delay”), Frontier will notify passengers of the status of the Delay every 30 minutes while the aircraft is Delayed, including the reasons for the Delay, if known.
2. No later than 120 minutes after a Delay begins, Frontier will ensure that all passengers have been afforded the opportunity to receive food and water, unless the pilot-in-command determines that safety or security considerations preclude such service.
3. At 150 minutes (210 for international flights) after a delay begins, unless the pilot in command deems that departure is imminent, Frontier will look to return the aircraft to a gate or move to a remote parking location where passengers can be afforded the opportunity to deplane
4. By no later than 180 (240 for international flights) minutes after a Delay begins Frontier will return the aircraft to a gate or other location where passengers will have the opportunity to deplane, unless:
5. The pilot in command determines there is a safety related or security related reason (e.g., weather, a directive from an appropriate government agency) why the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac to deplane passengers; or
6. Air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the gate or another disembarkation point elsewhere in order to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations.
7. During any Delay, Frontier will ensure that a comfortable temperature is maintained throughout the passenger cabin.
8. During any Delay, Frontier will ensure access to medical attention is available to meet all requests, including the use of a third-party medical consultation service.
9. During any Delay, Frontier will ensure that operable lavatory facilities are available provided the pilot-in- command determines that it is safe and secure for passenger to move about the aircraft cabin.
10. At each airport where Frontier flies, including diversion airports, this plan has been coordinated with airport authorities, Customs & Border Protection, and the Transportation Security Administration.
11. Frontier has ensured that it has adequate resources available to administer this plan.
Frontier would also like our passengers to be aware of certain the following that will apply in the case of a Delay:
A. If a flight returns to a gate or diverts from its planned destination, in most cases, the delayed or diverted flight will attempt to continue to its final destination. The right to deplane in such cases will be determined in accordance with the above.
B. Frontier maintains information and arrangements with both airports and other airlines to secure additional gate space if needed during a tarmac delay. If allowed by the airport, the deplaning of passengers may take place when it is safe and secure to do so, either at a gate or at an approved remote parking position via stairs and ground transportation.
C. Any passengers who choose to deplane from a flight that has experienced a delay and make alternative travel arrangements may do so when it is determined to be safe and secure, after the aircraft has been moved into position for deplaning, all operational requirements for deplaning have been completed, and the pilot-in- command has allowed customer deplaning to begin.
D. Passengers should be aware that if they choose to deplane, they do so at their own risk and the flight may depart without them. Frontier will make reasonable attempts, e.g., via airport announcements, to communicate the new departure time of the flight. In cases where an aircraft that has returned to a gate, passengers may be advised how long the aircraft will remain at the gate to determine how much time (if any) passengers may spend inside the terminal prior to having to re-board the aircraft for the continuation of the flight. Such time may, however, be shorted in which case an announcement will be made to return to the aircraft.
E. Passengers who choose to deplane and/or make alternative travel arrangements should be aware that on most domestic flights their checked baggage will remain on the aircraft. In cases where a flight returns to the gate and is canceled baggage will be returned to the baggage claim area. F. In instances where passengers are permitted to deplane at a remote aircraft parking position, reboarding the aircraft may not be possible.