Super Bowl

Frontier makes good on the Super Bowl jet that got away

By Reel Chicago
February 5, 2026

Thirty years ago, during the Big Game, a Pepsi loyalty promotion promised something so audacious it became legend: collect enough points and you could get a jet. One man believed it. John Leonard followed the rules, gathered the points, and showed up expecting the reward he’d earned. What followed instead was a legal battle, a cultural punchline, and a story so improbable it later became the subject of a popular documentary.

Now, three decades later, that story finally gets its ending.

This Super Bowl season, Frontier Airlines, via BarkleyOKRP, is stepping in to do what no one else did: honor the spirit of the promise. The airline has redeemed Leonard’s original seven million points for seven million Frontier Miles, enough to fly free on a jet for the rest of his life. A Big Game moment that once symbolized fine print and broken expectations is being rewritten as one of long-overdue redemption. Watch below:

“We’re redefining air travel, providing real value through the most rewarding loyalty program in the sky,” said Bobby Schroeter, senior vice president and chief commercial officer for Frontier Airlines. “We’re not only giving redemption to John, but also to consumers who have been left behind by other loyalty programs.”

Frontier isn’t stopping with Leonard. From February 5 through February 22, the airline is opening the door for travelers nationwide to get in on the moment. Consumers can convert unused reward points from other brands and receive up to 5,000 free Frontier Miles, enough for an Award flight, inviting everyday travelers to experience the kind of payoff that once felt impossible.

The move underscores Frontier’s larger positioning as the most rewarding airline in the sky, particularly for people who don’t live their lives at 35,000 feet. Unlike traditional airline loyalty programs designed around elite road warriors, Frontier’s model is built to deliver value faster and more accessibly.

Frontier’s loyalty program allows members to earn up to 20 times miles or points per dollar spent, more than any other airline. Elite status can be reached up to five times faster, unlocking meaningful perks sooner. Free flights arrive up to twice as fast, and elite benefits are designed to be attainable, including free bags, companion travel, seat upgrades, and First Class seating coming later this year.

That philosophy is intentional. Frontier is betting that loyalty shouldn’t require blind faith or endless accumulation. It should feel fair, achievable, and worth it.

The timing, during the Big Game, is no accident. Thirty years ago, Leonard’s story unfolded in front of millions watching football. Today, Frontier is using the same cultural moment to flip the script, turning one of advertising’s most infamous what-ifs into a statement about transparency, trust, and follow-through.

For travelers interested in participating, the limited-time offer runs February 5 through February 22 at FrontierMiles.com, where full terms and conditions are available. Redemption levels vary by flight, seasonality, and other factors, but the message is simple: loyalty should pay off.

With this gesture, Frontier proves that redemption doesn’t have to be complicated, and sometimes, the best way to move forward is to finally make things right.

CREDITS:

BRAND: Frontier Airlines

AGENCY: BarkleyOKRP