Report: Best and Worst Airports for Cheap Domestic Flights

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Saving money on air travel is a favorite pastime of money expert Clark Howard and Team Clark. One way to do that is to find flight deals when and where you can.

A recent report from travel deals site Scott’s Cheap Flights lists U.S. airports with the most cheap flights and those with the least.

Which Airports Have the Most Domestic Flight Deals?

If you’re contemplating taking a trip in the near future, this list might come in handy as you search for cheap flights.

Let’s look at the top five airports for deals on airfare, according to Scott’s Cheap Flights.

Airport / CodeDeals Over the Past 6 MonthsAverage Fare
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)195$163
Newark Liberty International Airport/EWR153$159
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)151$161
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport/FLL149$150
Denver International Airport/DEN142$162

Now let’s consider five of the airports with the least amount of deals, according to Scott’s Cheap Flights.

Airport / CodeDeals Over the Past 12 MonthsColumbia Metropolitan Airport
Inouye International Airport/HNL13$219
Columbia Metropolitan Airport/CAE13$169
Worcester Regional Airport/ORH15$188
McGhee Tyson Airport/TYS20$162
Greater Rochester International Airport/ROC23$170

Read the complete report from Scott’s Cheap Flights.

How To Save When You Fly

Clark says he expects airfare to rise this year as the economics of flying is set to put more pricing pressure on customers.

“Unless the economy goes into a much more serious recession than I expect, you’re going to see that demand is going to outrun the supply of seats for all of ‘23,” Clark says.

Clark loves to travel — but not as much as he loves to save! Here are three travel tips that Clark uses to get the best deals regardless of the airports involved.

Search Online for Airfare Sales

Clark is a big fan of flight comparison websites that show the fares of different airlines. He usually starts his online search for cheap flights at Google Flights, which allows users to receive fare alerts to track prices.

He also likes to check Kayak.com, where he uses the Explore feature to find affordable destinations.

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After you have an idea of what travel deals are available, the next thing you need to focus on is timing.

Know When To Book

If you want to save when you buy a plane ticket, make sure you shop on the right day.

The best day to book a cheap flight is Sunday for both domestic and international flights. Read our guide on the best times to schedule your next trip.

Avoid Airline Junk Fees

While there are some airline fees you can’t get around, there are others that you can. 

You usually can keep your travel bill down if you avoid the following fees:

  • Baggage
  • Seat selection
  • Boarding pass printing

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the top airports for travel deals and even when to book, all you need now is a destination.

Want to save money on your next flight? Read Clark’s guide on how to travel cheap.

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