A commercial for a popular airline asks, “Wanna get away?” If your answer is yes, then booking a flight is often the first step in planning your escape. Flying can be pricey, and none of us want to pay more than we have to for that dream vacation or trip to see Grandma. Knowing which airlines offer the cheapest flights comes in handy.
In general, the airlines that offer some of the cheapest flights based in the United States are Frontier, Spirit, Southwest, Sun Country, and Allegiant. Compared to legacy airlines, these low-cost alternatives can save you money, depending on where and when you want to go.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler with many flights under your belt or a first-time flyer, it pays to know when to book a flight, what day to fly, and which airlines to travel with. So buckle up and settle in for a smooth read on finding cheap flights.
What is the Cheapest Day to Fly on an Airline?
Most travel experts agree that the cheapest days to fly domestically within the United States are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays—in that order. For flights headed to Europe from the U.S., you’ll typically fly for less on any weekday compared to taking a Saturday or Sunday flight.
The cheapest days to fly don’t necessarily translate into the best day to actually book a cheap flight. That honor goes to Sundays. You’ll usually find the lowest fares on Sunday and can save about 15% on a domestic flight by booking then over waiting until Monday.
For international flights, the cost savings increase to about 20% for buying a ticket on Sunday rather than Friday.
To help keep the cost of your flight down as much as possible, follow these tips:
- Book at least three weeks in advance for the cheapest flights.
- Book your flight on a Sunday.
- If possible, have flexible travel dates so you can take advantage of the best deals.
- Set up fare alerts so you’ll be notified if a flight you want has dropped in price.
- Let the deal decide your destination—go to a place where you can get there the cheapest.
Another Tip: Airlines track your online searches. If you see a great price, be prepared to book it right then. It’s likely that the price of the same flight will creep up the more you look. Good deals disappear quickly!
The cost of a flight can vary significantly depending on several factors, which means the price you see one day may not be the same price you see tomorrow or that your friend sees when they search.
- Size of the originating airport: Is it a major hub or regional airport?
- Popularity of the flight: How many people want to go to this destination?
- Day of the week
- Time of day
- The capacity of the airplane
- How many seats have already been sold
Which Airline has the Cheapest Flights?
Frontier Airlines consistently offers the cheapest flights to the places that it serves. The Frontier website provides five pages of city-to-city flights that list all the places it flies to and from. (Some are seasonal.) A spot check of several round-trip flights showed Frontier’s prices are usually at least 10% lower than most other airlines.
| Flight | Frontier | Spirit | Southwest | Delta | United |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta – Denver | $52 | $65 | $128 | $157 | $157 |
| NYC – Orlando | $42 | $51 | $49 | $97 | $259 |
| Denver – Detroit | $62 | $112 | $204 | $157 | $157 |
These super low-cost flights are usually a win-win situation for the traveler and the airline. For example, Frontier’s hub is in Denver. If a plane in Atlanta is needed in Denver for the next day, the airline will offer an extra-low fare for that Atlanta-Denver leg. The plane’s going anyway, so the airline might as well make some money on the flight. On the other end, the traveler scores a wallet-friendly flight.
The 5 Airlines with the Cheapest Flights
Booking the cheapest flight possible is doable if you are willing to flex on your travel dates and located close to an airport where these five airlines offer originating flights.
The old adage, “you get what you pay for,” occasionally rings true with these cheaper airlines. Several of them only travel to popular destinations. A few have blackout dates which can cause you to adjust your travel dates. Meals and other in-flight amenities may be rare or non-existent.
Cheap filghts may compromise on comfirt sometimes here are Ways to Relax When Flying to get best flying experiance.
Note: The prices listed below are for the flight only; they do not include taxes and fees.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is based in Denver, Colorado, and serves about 120 destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Their motto, “low fares done right,” sums up their commitment to quality flying at budget-friendly prices.
Their bundle deals offer various perks like free checked bags and free seat selection, and the Discount Den subscription membership allows children 14 and under to fly free. For frequent flyers, these deals may be worth the subscription price.
Some of Frontier’s advertised flights include:
- Round-trip from Atlanta to Denver: $58.00
- Round-trip from Boston to Orlando: $114.96 for Discount Den members
- Round-trip from Dallas to Los Angeles: $157.96
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, serves the United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. They claim to run the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet of planes in the country—their FitFleet, they call it.
“More Go” describes Spirit’s dedication to getting more people to more places. They make about 500 flights every day to 67 locations at budget prices.
Joining the Spirit Saver$ Club gives travelers a chance for discounted fares, savings on checked bag fees for up to eight guests, and savings on premium seating. With fares so low, it may be worth becoming a member to avoid fees that add to the cost of your trip, especially if you fly a lot.
Spirit Airlines offers competitive pricing on all its flights. Here are a few examples:
- One-way from Atlanta to Denver: $32.19
- One-way from Charlotte to Orlando: $18.90
- Round-trip from Charlotte to Orlando: $39.90
- One-way from Boston to Aruba: $215.68
Southwest Airlines
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Southwest Airlines began in 1972 as a small company with a new concept of flying. Originally Southwest served major Texas cities, but it has since evolved into a respected company with a nationwide service area, and it sets the bar high for its competition.
Southwest turned the airline industry on its head by being transparent with customers and giving them a chance to fly fee-less and with ease:
- Each traveler can check two bags for free.
- There are no hidden fees in the ticket pricing.
- There is never a fee to change or cancel flights.
- Seat choices are always free.
- Inflight entertainment is always free.
- Boarding is simplified.
Along with eliminating some fees when other airlines don’t, Southwest is committed to making air travel as affordable as possible with low fares to over “100 destinations throughout North America, Central America, and the Caribbean—even Hawaii.”
Most flights have a “Wanna Get Away” price that gives you a cheap flight with some restrictions. Other choices are Anytime or Business Select, where prices are a little more with few or no restrictions.
On Southwest’s website, you can even search for their daily low fares by month. Choose your preferred month and where you want to fly from and to. You’ll see each day’s fare listed for that month.
Let’s take a look at some of their advertised deals:
- Atlanta to Denver (Wanna Get Away): $104.00 ($199.40 round-trip)
- Atlanta to Denver (Anytime): $134.00
- Round-trip from Boston to Aruba (Wanna Get Away): $360.00
- One-way from Dallas to Los Angeles: $91.00
- Round-trip from Dallas to Los Angeles: $135.22
Sun Country
Based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, Sun Country services about 50 popular vacation destinations with 80 flights. Some of their flights only operate seasonally so, while prices are definitely competitive, your options may be limited depending on when and where you want to travel.
If your travels are in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, you may score a good deal on a flight with Sun Country. The prices below are for one-way legs. Return legs vary in price.
- Minneapolis to San Juan, Puerto Rico: $169.00
- Minneapolis to Ft. Lauderdale: $39.00
- Minneapolis to Los Angeles: $129.00
- Los Angeles to Minneapolis: $87.00
- Baltimore to Chicago: $87.00
- Denver to New Orleans: $168.00
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air was founded in 1997 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The airline flies only non-stop flights in the U.S. (including Alaska) and near Canada. Some of its routes are seasonal and, since it primarily goes to popular destinations and smaller markets, Allegiant’s limited options may not suit every traveler’s needs.
The interactive route map on Allegiant’s website is a handy tool to use if you need to know whether the airline flies to or from where you want to go:
- Boston to Fort Walton Beach, FL: $46.00 each way (Round-trip flight required to get this price.)
- Asheville, NC to Key West, FL: $71.00
- Key West, FL to Asheville, NC: $65.00
- Las Vegas to Orange County, CA: $18.00 with a return flight of $21.00 (Round-trip flight required to get this price.)
- Glacier Park to Phoenix: $47.00 each way with round-trip required for this price.
Allegiant allows travelers to bring one personal item on board. However, fees do apply to carry-on luggage and checked bags. With its no-frills pricing, Allegiant only offers drinks and snacks for purchase, and there is no in-flight entertainment at all.
What Are the Best Websites for Finding Cheap Flights?
You can always go straight to an airline’s website. In some cases, like with Southwest Airlines, you have to use their website because they don’t show up in aggregated travel sites.
But there are also many travel sites out there—so many that it can be a bit overwhelming. Clark Howard, a well-known travel guru, recommends Kayak and Google Flights. Other options, to name a few, include:
Uncover the best tips to find the cheapest flights with our comprehensive guide. From utilizing flexible travel dates and booking in advance to exploring alternative airports and leveraging fare comparison tools, we’ve got you covered with insider strategies to help you score the best deals.
Conclusion
When it comes to flying, the journey isn’t the destination. Not many of us find air travel to be the highlight of a vacation or the central point of our trip photos! You’ve got to get to where you’re going, so why not get there as quickly and cheaply as you can? If you are flying for long hours and getting boared then you might interested in checking out fun things to do on flights guide.
If you can, plan your trip to take advantage of the cheap flights at any of these five airlines. Saving money on getting there leaves more money in your wallet to enjoy all that your actual vacation destination has to offer. On the other hand if you wanna experience the epitome of luxury by flying first class to Hawaii, and explore the opulent perks and comfort in our comprehensive guide.
Planning a trip to New Orleans on a budget? Check out our article on cheap flights to New Orleans, where we share valuable tips and insights on airlines with the best deals, helping you save money on your journey to this captivating city.