Finding Affordable Summer Travel

Summer travel is nearly in full swing — and summer prices are, unfortunately, rising too. However, there are still deals to be found, especially if vacationers are strategic about which airports they fly out of.

Cheapest Airports for Domestic Flights

New Jersey happens to be the cheapest state to fly out of nationally, with an average domestic flight price of just $205.60, according to a study by loan company NetCredit shared with iBestTravel. The Garden State also boasts the cheapest airport in the United States: Atlantic City International Airport, which is often served by budget carrier Spirit Airlines and where flights average only $109.43. In comparison, New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport averages more than $300 per flight.

State Comparisons of Flight Costs

Following New Jersey, Florida offers an average domestic flight price of $257.36. The state also features five of the top 10 cheapest airports in the country, including several in the Orlando area.

The study utilized statistics from the Bureau of Transportation alongside local salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, examining the average ticket prices for 142 airports.

Affordability Based on Salaries

While certain airports were not as inexpensive as others, they remained affordable, especially when compared to local salaries. For instance, California’s Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport had an average ticket price of $306.53; however, Californians only need 3.94% of their average monthly paycheck to fly.

On the other end of the spectrum, Alabama’s Huntsville International Airport emerged as the most expensive airport hub in the country, with average ticket prices exceeding $456.17.

Vermont, despite having the second-highest average ticket price in the country (over $413), ranks seventh for affordability due to higher local salaries.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for iBestTravel.