The 10 Most Expensive Airports for Airfare
If you’re looking for low airfare—and who isn’t?—avoid these US airports that are known for being a factor in pricey plane tickets
You've likely come to expect high airfare prices if you fly on the busiest days of the year, like if you’re heading out to visit family just before Thanksgiving, or to Rome in the summer or to Miami for spring break. But flying during peak season isn’t the only factor that affects airfare. Everything from your departure time to the number of stops on your itinerary to the airport location could impact the price of your plane ticket. Oftentimes, some of these factors are within our control, including avoiding the most expensive airports.
What are the most expensive airports in the US?
Using data from the US Department of Transportation’s 2023 Average Domestic Airline Itinerary Fares report, FinanceBuzz analyzed average domestic airfares from the “45 busiest airports in the US.” The findings show that the 10 most expensive airports to fly out of in the US are as follows (from most to least expensive):
- Dulles, Washington, D.C. (IAD)
- San Francisco, CA (SFO)
- Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
- Charlotte, NC (CLT)
- Detroit, MI (DTW)
- Dallas, TX (DFW)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Those airports in the first, second, fifth, and sixth spots held the same rankings in 2023 and 2022. In fact, for the third consecutive year, Dulles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport have the country’s highest average fares.
Average airfares vary widely from airport to airport
The average airfare at the most expensive airport, Washington Dulles, was $488.40, down $6.38 from 2022. Fares at Washington Dulles were also considerably higher than at San Francisco International, which typically saw airfares of $444.59.
For comparison, the least expensive airport in the US is Florida’s Orlando International Airport (MCO), where average prices came in at $265.58.
Why costs are high at these airports
Fares at Washington Dulles seem to match what the market will support. IAD offers an extensive international route network and is near the US Capitol. It also offers passengers some of the newest and nicest lounges in the country, such as the newly revamped Etihad Lounge.
Other airports on the most-expensive list also offer a nicer experience in exchange for higher fares. A recent survey by J. D. Power ranked Minneapolis-St. Paul International as having the “highest in passenger satisfaction among mega airports.” Out of a possible score of 1,000, MSP earned 671. Meanwhile, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County took second place, with JFK and Dallas Fort Worth International appearing in the top five.
For its part, Dulles was ranked in the large airport category as it serves fewer passengers than Minneapolis-St. Paul. Out of 25 airports on that list, Dulles came in at number 20, scoring 611 out of 1,000 points.
How to find a deal at an alternative nearby airport
If one of the 10 most expensive airports is your home airport, try pricing flights from a different nearby airport the next time you need to travel. For example, if you live in Washington, DC, you can reach two other airports relatively easily: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, and Baltimore/Washington National Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Baltimore, where average fares were $384 and $358, respectively.
Trains connect all these airports to the DC area. If that's not the case where you live, factor in driving and parking expenses to ensure you're saving money on the overall flight costs.
If there is no suitable secondary airport in your market, use Google Flights or another airfare price tracker to ensure you get the best price possible. After booking your flight, set an alert for that route. You'll get an email if the price drops, and then you can rebook your ticket to take advantage of the savings. Since legacy air carriers waived change fees, you may be eligible to receive a travel voucher for use on a future trip for the difference in fares.