Cheapest Airlines for Domestic Travel in the United States

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in the United States over 45,000 domestic flights operate daily. This includes commercial flights, private aircraft, and military operations. When it comes to choosing the cheapest airlines in the United States, multiple low-cost carriers stand out. The list of the most economical alternatives available for domestic travel within the United States are:

1. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is one of the major low-cost carriers in the United States, which started its operation on June 18, 1971. The airline is known for its unique fare structure and customer-friendly policies. Southwest Airlines celebrates its recognition as a top airline for passenger experience in the low-cost carrier category for the APEX Four Star Airline Awards.

Fare Structure

Southwest Airlines provides four major price types:

• Business Select ®: This is the most flexible choice since it includes refundable tickets, priority boarding, and free premium beverages on longer flights. Passengers gain 12 Rapid Rewards points for each dollar spent.
• Anytime: This fare, like Business Select, but at a cheaper price, is refundable and includes priority boarding. It earns ten Rapid Rewards points per $1.
• Wanna Get Away+®: This fare is non-refundable but offers flight credits if canceled. It includes two free checked baggage and earns 8 Rapid Rewards points per dollar.
• Wanna Get Away®: The most affordable option, this cost also includes flight credits for cancellations and two free checked baggage. It receives 6 Rapid Rewards points for every dollar spent.

Recent Changes

• Seating Policy Update: Southwest Airlines wants to adopt assigned seating beginning in early 2026, marking a dramatic departure from its long-standing open seating policy. This move is in response to consumer feedback showing that they want to know their seat allocations before arriving at the airport.
• Cabin Service Adjustments: Southwest will begin preparing for landings at a height of 18,000 feet, up from 10,000 feet before. This improvement attempts to improve passenger safety by lowering the likelihood of turbulence-related injuries during descent.

2. Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines is a low-cost carrier headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It was created in 1994 and now operates flights to over 100 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Frontier is noted for its “Low Fares Done Right” concept, combining economical air travel with optional extras for an extra price.

Recent Updates

• First-Class seats: Frontier will begin offering first-class seats in late 2025. These seats will be in the first two rows, providing extra comfort and room.
• Elite Member Benefits: Frontier is improving its loyalty program by providing complimentary seat upgrades and unlimited companion travel to Elite Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members.
• Miles redemption: Beginning in 2025, members may use Frontier Miles to purchase bundles such as seats and luggage.

Key Features

• Transparent Pricing: No fees for changes or cancellations.
• GoWild! Pass: Offers unlimited flights for a low price, perfect for flexible travelers.
• Frontier Miles: A loyalty program that rewards frequent flyers with miles that can be redeemed for flights, seat bundles, and more

3. JetBlue

JetBlue Airways is a prominent airline in the United States with its headquarters in Long Island City, NY. It was formed by David Neeleman in August 1998 and began operations on February 11, 2000. JetBlue is recognized for its low-cost travel strategy, comparable to Southwest Airlines, but differentiates itself with facilities including in-flight entertainment, TV at every seat, and Sirius XM satellite radio. JetBlue operates approximately 1,000 flights each day and serves more than 100 locations in the Americas and Europe. Its primary hub is New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

• JetBlue’s TrueBlue program rewards regular flyers with points that may be redeemed for free flights, seat upgrades, and other perks.
• JetBlue provides complimentary in-flight entertainment, such as movies, television shows, and music.
• JetBlue offers complimentary Wi-Fi on every flight.
• Comfort: Among US airlines, JetBlue has particularly large legroom in coach.
• Free food and Drinks: On board, passengers may enjoy free brand-name food and drinks.

4. Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air is a low-cost airline headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was founded in 1997 and primarily serves leisure travel from small and medium-sized cities. Allegiant Air maintains a fleet of 127 aircraft and serves 124 locations throughout North America. Some of its most popular locations are Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

Key Features

• Low-Cost airfare: Allegiant is recognized for offering some of the industry’s lowest-fare tickets.
• Allegiant’s make its opeartions on point-to-point bussiness model, which is more likely to cut cost and boost efficiency as compared to traditional hub-and-spoke model.
• Optional Services: Passengers can pick up and pay for extra services such as seat selection, carry-on and checked luggage, and onboard beverages.
• Allegiant Allaways is a frequent flyer program that allows users to earn points for flights and redeem them for future travel.

Business Model

Allegiant Air uses an ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) model with many essential features:

• Point-To-Point Service: Allegiant specializes in direct flights between small and medium-sized cities, which are typically underserved by other airlines. This method enables them to avoid competition on many routes, with only roughly 18% of their routes being supplied by other airlines.
• Minimal Inclusions: The airline’s tickets are cheap because it charges extra for numerous items that other airlines include in their ticket pricing. This covers prices for carry-on luggage, checked bags, seat selection, and on-board beverages.
• Allegiant frequently operates from secondary airports to lower operational expenses. This approach helps to keep ticket prices down while also allowing travelers access to less crowded airports.

5. Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways started its operations in May 2021. It is a low-cost airline that provides comfortable economically viable air traffic services.

Key features

• Its focus is on point-to-point routes, providing air travel service in smaller United States cities and it operates less direct flights.
• It operates the fleet of Airbus A 320 and Embraer aircraft while offering both premium and economy seating.
• It operates with low fares but also offers optional extra legroom and premium services with some extra charges.

Business Model

Breeze Airways works with a hybrid low-cost model. It offers air services with affordable fairs. It also offers premium services with some extra charges. As compared to other ULLC models using air carriers. It focuses on passenger comfort which makes it a great choice for its customers in terms of flexibility and value.

6. Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines is the best to travel in Hawaii. It is the largest established carrier serving Hawaii. They offer both inter-island and mainland routes in the United States. It is famous for its premium travel experience and high customer satisfaction.

Key features

• They provide a full-service experience, including complimentary meal service to its customers on longer routes.
• They provide air travel services in inter-island, transpacific, and between Hawaii and the mainland United States.
• Hawaii Airlines operates with a modern Boeing and Airbus fleet that is optimized for island and long-haul flights.

Business model

It uses a full-service carrier model while ensuring passengers’ comfort. It offers competitive fares to its customers for inter-island and a few mainland routes.

7. Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines operates on the smaller and secondary airports. Its fares are very affordable and offers point-to-point routes for its travelers.

Key features

• It operates in small, secondary airports which reduces its overall cost.
• They operate a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft with only single-class configuration. The use of a single-type fleet makes it easier to handle and maintain a fleet without any high expenditure cost to maintain it efficiently.
• It operates with low base fares. With additional charges for seat selection, baggage, and in-flight services.

Business Model

Avelo Airlines uses the ULCC model. Because of that, their fairs are low and charge separately for additional facilities. They minimize their operating expenses to provide budget-friendly air travel services to their customers.

8. Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines is one of the largest ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCC), offering the cheapest air travel in the United States. It offers budget-friendly air travel on extensive international and domestic routes to its customers.

Key features

• They operate a wide range of domestic and international flights.
• To reduce cost and maximize efficiency the fleet of Airbus A320s with highly density seating configuration is used.
• They use a bare-fare pricing model and customers can customize their experience by adding extra services on extra charges.

Business models

Spirits airline also follows the ULCC ultra-low-cost-carrier model offering low fares to the customers. Mostly they generate revenue by offering ancillary services such as boarding priority, onboard purchases, etc. Due to their efficient turnaround time and high frequency of flight reducing aircraft ground time keeping in the air, this strategy helps the airline to offer cheap tickets to their customers.

Tips for Finding Cheap Flights

To find cheap and affordable requires proper planning and the use of the right tools. Here are some tips for finding cheap flights in the United States.

• If you are flexible with the date and time the mid-week flights are considered cheaper than weekend flights. Also early morning and late night flights are considered cheaper than day flights.
• Compare fares of different airlines by using tools like Sky Scanner and Google Flights to find intended cheaper flights.
• Most flight fares are cheaper if you make a ticket booking one to two months before the flight departure date.
• By using different websites set price alerts to get notifications regarding fares drop.
• If you want cheap air travel and can compromise extra comfort services then choose low-cost carriers like Avelo, spirit, and Breeze like airlines which offer air travel with relatively low fares as compared to other airlines.
• Booking a one-way ticket with different airlines can be cheaper than booking a round trip from an airline.
• You can get cheaper flights from smaller secondary airports. As mostly budget airlines mostly operate from smaller airports.
• Use of frequent flyer programs and airline-specific credit card programs may offer bonuses.
• During public holidays and other special days like Christmas and summer vacations. During such travel seasons airline fares are high so avoid peak travel seasons until due to some specific important reason to travel.

Find out Average Fare Rates in the United States: Average Domestic Airline Itinerary Fares

Comparison of Airlines Revenue Per Seat Miles in the United States.