Frontier Airlines Will Start Airport Temperature Scans in June

Denver-based budget carrier Frontier Airlines will start airport temperature screening for all passengers and crew members before boarding flights starting June 1, 2020, becoming the first U.S. airline to do so.

The airline says it will deny boarding to anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher.

“The health and safety of everyone flying Frontier is paramount and temperature screenings add an additional layer of protection for everyone on board,” Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said in an announcement Thursday.

It's the latest move as airlines do more to convince travelers it's safe to return to the skies. Most major U.S. airlines now require all crew and flyers to wear face masks. Many are blocking middle seats to increase social distancing in the skies. And airlines have all implemented new cleaning procedures on their planes.

Earlier this week, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly called on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to start doing temperature checks at airport security.

In the meantime, Frontier intends to check passenger temperatures' on its own.

“This new step during the boarding process, coupled with face coverings and elevated disinfection procedures, will serve to provide Frontier customers an assurance that their well-being is our foremost priority and we are taking every measure to help them travel comfortably and safely,” Biffle said.

This announcement comes just days after Frontier drew scorn for rolling out – then quickly drawing back – its new “More Room” seat option: selling an empty middle seat for $39 or more. Just a day after announcing that policy, Frontier scrapped it after U.S. lawmakers accused the airline of trying to profit off safety.

Bottom Line

Frontier will soon start temperature screening at airports. And while they're the first U.S. airline to do so, we're betting they won't be the last.