Frontier airlines returns with low cost flights out of Santa Barbara

After a three year break, Frontier Airlines has touched down at the Santa Barbara Airport again with a low cost, non-stop flight to Denver. Service began this morning with an inbound flight about 10:40 am. Those on board were greeted with a welcoming gift bag full of discount coupons and visitor materials, along with a pass to the Santa Barbara Zoo. They walked through an archway of balloons as they came through the terminal to get to their bags. One passenger said he watched the pricing go down on the web over a couple of weeks, then bought his ticket. “I t was $60.00 about three weeks out and I waited for about one week out and a friend told me to wait until Tuesday and it dropped down to $45.00 and that was incredible,” said Adam Boatner. On line a $44.00 ticket price is listed. Another passenger, Karen Jenkins said when she was going to plan her flight, ” I didn’t know they had it. It was just luck I went on there (the web) and saw they came back.” The flights will be Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and offer an alternative to the United Denver schedule. Hazel Johns Santa Barbara Airport Director said, “Having Frontier come back is just a benefit. It really does give an option to have our passengers go to Denver at a lower cost.” One of the youngest passengers got a trip in before the start of school. Taj Trautman is an elementary school student who returns to his classes this week. He said he was on the morning flight, ” to get back from Colorado from seeing my grandma and grandpa.” For others it was just a good fit for school, family and a quick getaway. John Boch was a first time visitor to Santa Barbara.”I enjoy flying. In another life I would have been an airline pilot.This gives me a chance to see parts of the country I wouldn’t normally see,” he said. An incoming college student Emma Sachsenmaier said ” I’m excited because I am starting school at Westmont and I am from Colorado Springs so it’s nice to have it direct ” She was with her mom Margaret Sachsenmaier who like the pricing and has another plan in the works. “It ‘s great. We’re already planning our first visit to see her in November.” Boatner said he is already planning another trip back to the area soon. For me to be able to get out to Santa Barbara and support the local economy and get to see the part of the coast I haven’t seen before is an incredible experience.” Many of the passengers also enjoyed a welcoming cake from the airport made locally by Anna’s Bakery in Goleta. The low cost air fare comes with a basic flight. There are no extra charges for a standard carry on such as a purse or small bag, but there is a change for baggage and other items that have to be stored. The fees and ticket prices are listed on the Frontier Airlines website at: https://www.flyfrontier.com/