Elite status on an ultra-low-cost airline sounds like a punchline until you look at what it does to the pass lifestyle. Status removes exactly the fees that GoWild doesn't cover: bags, seats, flexibility. Pass plus status is the closest thing to full-service flying at swim-club prices.
The tiers
Status runs on status qualifying points earned in a calendar year:
| Tier | Points needed | Headline perks |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Silver | 10,000 | Better seat assignments at booking, boarding improvements |
| Elite Gold | 20,000 | Free carry-on territory, better seats, flexibility perks |
| Elite Platinum | 50,000 | Premium seating windows, free pet travel, benefits shared with up to 8 companions on your reservation |
| Elite Diamond | 100,000 | The everything tier, including the most generous seat and flexibility treatment |
Benefit specifics evolve, so verify current tier charts before chasing anything, but the shape has been stable: each tier peels off another fee category.
How points pile up (including from the pass itself)
Three earning channels:
- Flying: 10 to 20 points per dollar spent with the airline on fares and add-ons, scaled by your tier. Taxes and government fees don't earn, which stings on GoWild fares where taxes are most of the ticket.
- Membership purchases: this is the quiet one. Buying or renewing a GoWild Pass itself grants a meaningful chunk of status points, with published tables showing annual pass purchases granting thousands of points. The pass literally boosts you toward the status that makes the pass better.
- Credit card spend: the co-branded card earns a point per dollar of everyday spend, which is how non-frequent-flyers grind status. More on the card in the next post.
Should a passholder chase status?
Silver is nearly free for an active passholder given pass-purchase points plus add-on spend, and it's worth having. Gold is where the math starts to feel like real perks for real money. Platinum's shared benefits, where up to eight companions on your reservation ride your perks, is the sneaky-great family feature. Diamond is for people whose relationship with the airline is best described as a second mortgage, affectionately.
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WildFares is an independent tool and publication. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Frontier Airlines, Inc. GoWild! is a trademark of Frontier Airlines, Inc. Where this article mentions third party products or services, including other GoWild search tools, those names are trademarks of their respective owners and we have no affiliation or relationship with them. Program rules, prices, taxes, and dates change often. Always confirm current terms directly with the airline before you buy or book anything.