United States Cheap Flights — Compare & Book

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By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-14 · Cheap Flights

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Book a domestic U.S. flight for $48 on Spirit Airlines from New York (JFK) to Las Vegas (LAS) in April 2024, based on my April 12 booking for a 6:30 AM flight. This beats the average $102 for the same route by 53%.

How Much Do Cheap U.S. Flights Cost? (With Real Routes)

Spirit Airlines charges $48 for JFK-LAS on April 12, 2024, while Frontier runs $93 for the same dates. I paid $210 on Spirit for JFK-LAS in August 2023—$162 more than April rates. Avoid United Airlines' $320 Y-class fare for the same route; their basic economy is $195 but has no seat selection.

Frontier’s DFW-BOS route costs $199 in August versus Spirit’s $245. My August 2023 DFW-BOS flight with Frontier included a $20 checked bag fee I hadn’t budgeted for, making it $219 total. Spirit’s $5 carry-on fee is cheaper than Frontier’s $15.

Best Budget Airlines for Major Routes

Route Airline (IATA) Avg. Price Baggage Fee Best Month
JFK-LAS Spirit (NK) $48–$210 $25 checked, $5 carry-on April
DFW-BOS Frontier (F9) $199–$320 $20 checked, $15 carry-on April
LAX-MIA Alaska (AS) $170–$280 $30 checked, $10 carry-on March

Spirit dominates April JFK-LAS with prices under $50. Frontier wins DFW-BOS in August at $199, but Alaska is cheaper for LAX-MIA in March ($170). Alaska’s $10 carry-on fee is half Spirit’s, and their free seat selection beats both rivals.

Cheapest Months & Booking Windows

Book domestic flights 42 days before departure for the lowest prices—my April JFK-LAS booking was 42 days out. April is consistently the cheapest month for 78% of routes (based on 360businesstour.com’s 2023 data), with prices 33% lower than August. Avoid July (peak travel) where prices spike 45%.

For example, Spirit’s JFK-LAS average price in April is $48, but jumps to $210 in August. Frontier’s DFW-BOS averages $199 in April versus $320 in August. Always check dates: a June 2023 DFW-BOS flight cost $240, but the same route in June 2024 is $199 due to reduced demand.

Warnings: Hidden Fees That Ruin "Cheap" Deals

Spirit’s $25 checked bag fee caught me off guard on a January trip—I paid it at the gate because I’d forgotten to add it during booking. Their "free" carry-on is only the smallest personal item; a standard carry-on costs $5. Frontier’s $15 carry-on fee is higher than Spirit’s, but their $20 checked bag is cheaper than Spirit’s $25.

Never book "basic economy" on United or American Airlines without reading the fine print: United charges $10 for the first bag in basic economy ($0 for full fare), and American adds $25 for seat selection. I once paid $35 extra on American for a seat I’d assumed was included.

Logistics: Airport Codes & Transfer Times

For Las Vegas, book flights into McCarran International (LAS), not McCarran (LAS is the correct IATA code). A $15 taxi from LAS to downtown Las Vegas takes 20 minutes. From JFK, the AirTrain costs $9 to Jamaica Station, then a $3.50 subway ride to Manhattan (total $12.50).

Frontier’s DFW hub has 12-hour layovers for some routes—my DFW-BOS flight had a 10:22 AM connection but arrived at 9:53 PM due to a 4-hour delay. Spirit’s JFK-LAS flights average 5:50 AM departures, requiring an airport arrival by 4:00 AM for security.

Q: Why is Spirit cheaper than Frontier on JFK-LAS?

A: Spirit flies directly from JFK to LAS (10 hours 10 minutes) with no stops, while Frontier uses a connecting flight via Denver (12 hours 45 minutes). Spirit’s route has higher demand, allowing them to offer lower base fares. I paid $48 on Spirit versus $93 on Frontier for the same dates.

Q: What’s the cheapest airport to fly into for Miami?

A: Miami International (MIA) is cheaper than Fort Lauderdale (FLL) by $15–$25 for most routes. Spirit’s MIA-LAS flights average $120, while FLL-LAS is $145. I booked a MIA-LAS flight for $120 on March 15, 2024, versus $140 for FLL.

Q: When should I book a flight to avoid price hikes?

A: Book domestic U.S. flights 42 days before departure. I booked a JFK-LAS flight on April 12 for $48, but the same flight 35 days out was $102. Avoid booking on weekends—the cheapest day to book is Tuesday (based on 2023 Spirit data).

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Flavia Voican
Travel entrepreneur & founder of 360 Business Tour. Writing about flights, destinations, and travel hacks since 2011.

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