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Booking a flight can drain your wallet, but there’s one hack that can save money and reduce travel stress.
Smaller, alternative airports typically offer lower fares, have shorter security lines and tend to make for a more laid-back travel experience, Dollar Flight Club reported.
These airports, typically located within 30-100 miles of a major hub, often host a variety of budget airlines — such as Avelo, Allegiant, Spirit and Frontier — which charge up to 50% less on fares than at major hubs.
Secondary airports have lower landing fees, facility charges, and per-passenger taxes compared to major airports, so airlines operating at these airports can charge lower fares thanks to the money they’re saving.
Additionally, when airlines introduce new routes at smaller airports, they will often promote them with introductory fares for a limited time.
Especially during the first six to 12 months of service, airlines are able to price their tickets at a more discounted and competitive rate in an attempt to attract customers to their new routes.
For example, Dollar Flight Club pointed out that Orlando Sanford International Airport offers average round-trip fares of $116.79, in comparison to $269.61 at Orlando International.
Price variations can vary by region, so it’s important to check all options when booking flights.
Sometimes, the alternative airport might be closer to your destination, too, and if you live in a metro area with multiple airports, your scope of options reach even further.
In New York City, flyers can look at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, as well as regional airports like Islip (ISP) and Newburgh (SWF).
Those in Los Angeles can compare LAX with Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB) and Ontario (ONT), while San Francisco Bay Area residents can compare SFO to Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC).
However, travelers will also have to taken hidden costs into consideration, such as additional travel time, parking fees and ground transportation costs.
If the smaller airport is located further away from home or from your destination, you might be spending more on rideshare services, parking or gas.
Additionally, budget airlines often separate costs for a ticket, baggage fees and seat selection, so you’ll want to take that into consideration as well.
To make the best financial decision, Dollar Flight Club recommends making a quick spreadsheet to compare airfare, baggage, parking, rideshare costs and estimated travel time. This way you can calculate the total cost for each option and figure out which works best for you and your wallet.
