Looking to save money on flights? We’ve got you covered. Digging into Skyscanner data for average round-trip economy fares from the 40 most popular U.S. airports in the last year, we’ve determined the 15 best airports for cheap flights.
“Most travelers want to start their journey from their nearest departure point because it’s convenient, but this can be limiting,” Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner travel trends expert, tells Travel + Leisure. “For travelers looking for better flight deals, it’s usually smart to consider a variety of nearby starting points when searching for the best available prices.”
If you don’t live within driving distance of one of these airports, here’s a hot tip: Consider booking a cheap repositioning flight to get to a cheaper departure city. In some cases, booking two separate tickets can be cheaper than booking a flight with a layover from your home city.
But there are two notable catches. First, if you check a bag, it won’t be checked through to your final destination. You’ll have to claim your bag, and then re-check it with your second airline. Second, if your first flight is delayed and you miss your second flight, the airlines are not responsible for rebooking you. So if you decide to reposition yourself, make sure you have plenty of time between flights — and travel insurance, just in case the worst should happen.
The Best Airports for Finding Cheap Flights
1. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Average seat price: $318.50
Numerous airlines, including low-cost carriers like Spirit, have a major presence at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, contributing to the low average seat price found here. It’s a convenient option for the majority of South Florida, located between Miami (MIA) and Palm Beach (PBI).
2. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
Average seat price: $404.30
A great alternative to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Jose offers both international and domestic flights on such carriers as Southwest and Alaska Airlines.
3. Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Average seat price: $442.00
Southwest has a major presence at Sacramento International Airport, contributing to the low average seat prices. Other affordable airlines that operate at this airport include Spirit and Frontier.
4. San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
Average seat price: $460.20
Dallas Love Field might be the home base of Southwest, but San Antonio has numerous Southwest flights, too — and that’s why the airport has a fairly low average seat price.
5. Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Average seat price: $466.70
Don’t confuse this airport with Ontario, Canada. Ontario International Airport in California is a secondary airport in the Los Angeles area, offering a less-crowded experience to LAX. And it has cheaper flights, too, thanks to main airlines Frontier and Southwest.
6. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Average seat price: $471.90
Philadelphia is a hub for American Airlines, but low-cost carriers Frontier, Spirit, and Southwest help bring down the average price. Keep an eye out for airfare sales from American, too.
7. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
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Average seat price: $501.80
Orlando is one of the busiest airports in the country, and dozens of domestic and international airlines fly to this theme park hub. That said, it’s also a hotspot for more affordable airlines, including Breeze, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit.
8. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
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Average seat price: $535.60
Las Vegas is another low-cost airline hub, with numerous daily flights from such airlines as Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit.
9. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Average seat price: $583.70
You guessed it — New Orleans has a strong lineup of more affordable airlines. Southwest and Spirit are the main two here, making it easier to snag an affordable fare.
10. San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Average seat price: $598.00
The two airlines with the biggest presence at San Diego are Southwest and Alaska Airlines. Plus, Alaska often has reasonably-priced airfare and limited-time promotions.
11. Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
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Average seat price: $598.00
Midwest folks might want to head to Indianapolis to find the cheapest flights. Though it might be a long drive from hubs like Chicago and Detroit, Indianapolis has quite a few cheap flights on Allegiant and Southwest.
12. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
Average seat price: $630.50
Hawaii might be isolated, but hometown carrier Hawaiian Airlines offers great deals to both the mainland and international destinations across the Pacific from Honolulu. Southwest also flies between Honolulu and West Coast cities.
13. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
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Average seat price: $633.10
While budget-friendly airlines like Frontier and Southwest fly out of Salt Lake City, this airport is a Delta hub, so look out for deals on the major carrier.
14. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Average seat price: $638.30
Frontier offers the most flights of all the airlines servicing Cleveland, contributing to the lower average seat prices.
15. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Average seat price: $648.70
Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic, so it stands to reason that at least some of those flights are cheap. This is Delta’s home base, but low-cost airlines Frontier, Spirit, and Southwest also fly out of Atlanta.
Tips for Finding Cheap Flights
Flying out of these 15 airports isn’t the only way to save money on airfare. Here are three more tips for finding cheap flights.
Check secondary airports.
While the list above focuses on the cheapest of the 40 most popular airports in the U.S., there are many less-popular airports served by budget airlines. Take, for instance, Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, New York. This airport is technically a New York City alternative, but it’s about 65 miles north of the city — and it only has a few flights a week. From here, budget airline Play flies to Europe for as little as $99 one-way.
Be flexible with your travel dates.
The more flexible you are with your plans, the more likely it is you’ll score a good deal on airfare. Sometimes shifting your travel dates by a day or two can net you some big savings.
Use fare alerts to monitor prices.
You don’t need to manually check flight prices every day. Flight search engines like Skyscanner offer price alert tools that track flight prices for you automatically. When you see the price drop significantly, you know it’s time to book.
