Most GoWild coverage obsesses over the domestic midnight scramble, which is fair, but it buries the pass's most underrated feature. International flights open 10 days before departure. Ten days is enough to request time off, book a hotel, and tell your friends. It turns the pass from a spontaneity toy into a real international travel tool.
Where the pass can take you
Frontier's international network reaches Mexico, Central America, and a healthy stretch of the Caribbean: think Cancun, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Aruba, St. Maarten, Turks and Caicos, and more. Routes shift seasonally, so what's bookable from your airport depends on the schedule that month.
Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, being US territories, follow the domestic one day window instead, though as we noted in the taxes post, Puerto Rico adds its own charges.
The taxes conversation nobody can skip
The $0.01 airfare holds internationally, but each country stacks its own departure and arrival taxes on top, and the spread is dramatic. Based on published fare breakdowns we've seen, a few illustrative round trip tax totals from the US, nonstop, look like this:
| Destination | Outbound leg taxes | Return leg taxes |
|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | ~$34 | ~$74 |
| Bahamas | ~$35 | ~$136 |
| Mexico | ~$87 | ~$102 |
| Jamaica | ~$78 | ~$122 |
| Costa Rica | ~$53 | ~$80 |
Two lessons jump out. First, the return leg usually costs more than the outbound because you're paying to depart a foreign airport. Second, even the expensive examples total under $250 round trip for international flights, which still embarrasses most cash fares. Just don't walk in expecting $15.
Planning a 10 day window trip
- Day 10: the window opens for your outbound. Book it when you see availability you like.
- Book the return at the same time if it's open. Your return within the next 10 days is also inside the window. A 5 to 7 day trip can be fully booked, both directions, on day one.
- Longer trips: if your return is more than 10 days out, you'll book it while abroad when its window opens. Doable, but have a cash-fare backup plan in case availability is thin that week.
Entry requirements and the boring essentials
Tourist cards, entry fees paid on arrival, and proof of onward travel requirements vary by country and occasionally trip up passholders whose return flight isn't booked yet. If you're traveling on an open jaw or haven't booked the return, carry evidence of your plans and know the country's rules before you fly.
International GoWild might be the best version of the pass for people who hate the midnight game. Ten days of notice, tropical destinations, and tax totals that still beat any cash fare you'd find. More on picking the cheapest international destinations later in the series.
Quick answers
How early can I book international GoWild flights?
International GoWild fares open 10 days before departure, compared with the day-before window for domestic flights.
Are international GoWild fares still one cent?
Yes, the airfare is $0.01. Each country then adds its own departure and arrival taxes, which range from about $35 to over $135 per leg depending on the destination.
Do I need my return flight booked before I fly out?
Not always, but some countries require proof of onward travel. If your return is not booked yet, carry evidence of your plans and know the entry rules before departure.
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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.