Those of us shopping around for overseas flights this summer are experiencing sticker shock and the endless wondering of when—or even if—airfare will come down. We may have to shift gears and explore the U.S. instead, with its incredible national parks, Gulf Coast beaches, and towns that remind us of Europe. Added benefit: we’ll feel less guilty about our carbon footprint. So, if we’re now on the hunt for affordable domestic airfare, the team at Netcredit has analyzed prices to create the U.S. Flight Index, which spotlights the cheapest airports and states.
Here are a few of the facts that can be gleaned from the study. Our cheapest airport is Orlando Sanford International in Florida, where the average flight costs $143.56. That means you’ll be close to the Universal and Disney offerings. The second cheapest is St. Pete-Clearwater ($150.98) and the third is Punta Gorda ($158.97), both in Florida. It looks like palm trees and seafood are our budget-friendly futures!
On the other hand, if you want to spend more and feel luxe, the most expensive airport is Yeager Airport, near Charleston in West Virginia, where the average flight costs $578.37. The second most expensive is Huntsville International in Alabama ($577.47) and third most is Jackson Hole, Wyoming ($569.18).
If we want to focus on the entire state rather than a singular airport, Hawai’i offers the lowest domestic airfare ($272.50), while West Virginia is the highest ($578.37). And if we want to tweak the data a little, the state with the most affordable flights (given that we compare the rates to the cost of living in the state) is New Jersey. There, it takes 8.63 hours of work at the average local wage to afford the average flight from a local airport. That ought to help with clock-watching! Take a leisurely saunter to the water cooler and think about how much closer you are to flying now. But in West Virginia, which remains the highest on this scale as well, it will take 24.47 hours of work to earn a ticket.
Let’s give West Virginia a break for being so expensive and look at Wyoming instead, where flight prices have risen the most. Jackson Hole’s change in average domestic fare from Q2 2022 to Q2 2023 was $58.74. At New York’s Westchester County Airport, prices have dropped in the same period by $58.18.
Whatever the cost, it’s worth it to travel and see something different. Maybe this year, you’ll choose a road trip or train ride instead!