Frontier Airlines is mandating vaccines for employees and running promotions for vaccinated flyers. Except vaccinations aren't really required for either.

Frontier Airlines became the second US airline to require vaccinations for workers and is allowing them to opt-out through testing.

David Zalubowski/AP

• Frontier Airlines is requiring employees to be vaccinated and running promos for vaccinated flyers.
• But workers can opt out through testing, and customers aren't being asked to prove vaccination.
• The move comes as more companies are aligning themselves with pro-vaccine policies.
• See more stories on Insider's business page.

Frontier Airlines is the latest company to incentivize vaccines for both employees and customers.

In the past week, the ultra-low-cost carrier unveiled two promotions aimed at vaccinated flyers and instituted a vaccine mandate for employees. That would put Frontier on the leading edge of airlines that are taking active measures to get more of the country vaccinated, joining United Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines as the only other US airline with a vaccine mandate.

The only caveat is that vaccinations aren't technically required for either the promotions or workers.

"A vaccination policy is a clear next step for the airline as it remains committed to the health and safety of all passengers and crew members," Frontier said in a statement on Friday.

Employees, however, can opt out of mandatory vaccinations by submitting to "regular" COVID-19 testing.

Frontier's policy differs from rival United Airlines' that will only allow exemptions for religious or medical reasons, and its timing has the trimmings of a publicity stunt more so than genuine public health policy.

"The majority of our employees have already been vaccinated and our hope is that this step will increase that percentage," spokesperson Zach Kramer said of the more than 5,300 Frontier workers directly employed by Frontier.

Frontier didn't clarify which tests would be acceptable and how often tests would be allowed when asked by Insider, but did that say receiving the vaccine or undergoing testing would be a "condition of employment."

The half-hearted approach to vaccine mandates can also be found in Frontier's recent promotions. Companies have been using incentives to encourage vaccinations, including offering free products.

But the key requirement is proof of vaccination.

Frontier's "Friends With Vaccines Fly Free" allows vaccinated members of the airline's Discount Den subscription program to buy a ticket and get another free. The terms and conditions require customers to fly on certain days and within a certain time frame but it doesn't actually mandate that purchasers be vaccinated, and Frontier isn't likely asking for proof.

Another promotion gives flyers 10,000 bonus miles under the Frontier Miles frequent flyer program for every two flights they take. This program also relies on the honor system where flyers "agree" that they are vaccinated by signing up.

"With respect to the Friends With Vaccines Fly Free and 10K Bonus Miles offers, our goal is to highlight the importance of being vaccinated to protect each other and encourage people to get vaccinated, if they haven't already done so," Kramer added.

Frontier didn't address whether vaccination cards would be checked by airline staff for those that booked tickets under either promotion, when asked by Insider.

Read More: Airline CEOs say it doesn't matter how well they protect passengers from COVID-19 - travel demand won't bounce back until the pandemic ends

Dr. Rupali Limaye, an associate scientist and director of behavioral and implementation science at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Insider that a vaccine mandate with testing opt-outs isn't likely to sway the unvaccinated that have likely made their minds up about the vaccine.

"If they're still not persuaded by Delta and looking at morbidity and mortality related to Delta, I don't think they're going to get [the vaccine]," Limaye said of the unvaccinated facing vaccine mandates with testing opt-outs. "I think that they would automatically opt for the testing option."

The same logic can be applied to vaccine-based promotions that don't actually require vaccinations.

While any mandate is better than nothing, Limaye believes that regular testing for workers should include multiple viral tests per week.

The unvaccinated workforce should also be wearing masks to prevent spreading the virus in case they contract it in between tests, according to Limaye. Many airport-based airline workers are already required to wear masks due to the federal mask mandate.

Vaccinated individuals can contract COVID-19 but the so-called breakthrough cases don't often result in severe hospitalization or death.

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