These U.S. Airports Have Shockingly Cheap Flights Abroad

Ever scored a roundtrip flight to Europe for under $400? I have multiple times. But the secret wasn’t just when I booked. It was where I flew from.

Thanks to updated research from Going.com, Hopper, and the Department of Transportation, we now know which U.S. airports consistently offer the cheapest international flight deals in 2025.

Whether you’re planning a bucket-list getaway or just want to stretch your travel budget, here are the best airports to check first.

Women checking flight tickets on an airport

Quick Highlights

Summer 2025 avg. roundtrip to Europe: $817 (Hopper)
Best days to fly: Tuesdays and Wednesdays can save you up to $166
Top-value airports: JFK, BOS, LAX, IAD, CVG, PIT, MSP, and more

Best Airports for Cheap International Flights

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1. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG)

Why it’s great: CVG consistently ranks as the #1 U.S. airport for international deal frequency per outbound flight. As a hub for Allegiant and Frontier, the airport benefits from intense budget airline competition. Since its post-pandemic route expansion, CVG has added more international routes especially seasonal and promotional European destinations that regularly go on sale.
Example deal: $295 roundtrip to New Zealand, which is almost unheard of from most U.S. cities.
More deals: $375 to Dublin, $415 to Rome, and $398 to Paris.
Local tip: Travel in early spring or September to catch shoulder-season discounts. CVG also offers cheaper parking and shorter security wait times compared to larger airports, which adds to its appeal for budget travelers.

2. Pittsburgh International (PIT)

Why it works: PIT might not be a giant like JFK, but its smaller size often works in your favor. Airlines can price more competitively thanks to lower gate fees and less congestion. The airport maintains a steady stream of Europe-bound flights via Delta, British Airways, and Icelandair.
Notable deals: $350 to Rome, $329 to Reykjavík, $395 to Barcelona.
Best booking strategy: Look 6–8 weeks in advance, and always check Icelandair and PLAY Air for seasonal flash deals.
Bonus: The airport ranks high for on-time performance and has less than half the crowd volume of larger airports, making it faster and less stressful to get through.

3. Cleveland Hopkins (CLE)

Why to consider it: CLE is a sleeper hit for international deals. With fewer outbound flights than most East Coast hubs, CLE still manages to attract deals from Icelandair, Air Canada, and United for transatlantic travel.
Sample deal: $385 to Madrid, $349 to Dublin, and $399 to Amsterdam.
Flexibility tip: Use tools like Going.com or Skyscanner to run flexible searches for “anywhere” from CLE you’ll often find unexpected gems.
Local bonus: TSA lines are generally short, and terminal access is quick. For flexible travelers who don’t mind layovers, CLE offers huge potential savings.

4. St. Louis Lambert (STL)

Why to watch it: STL is quickly gaining recognition as a low-key gateway to Europe and Asia, especially when booking through combo carriers. Air Canada, Lufthansa, and ANA often pair STL with larger hub layovers, resulting in fares up to $200 cheaper than from nearby cities.
Sample deal: $485 to Tokyo (with one layover), $399 to Frankfurt, and $415 to London.
Smart strategy: Don’t skip STL when checking multi-city deals; its position between coasts makes it a solid value hub.
Bonus perk: Easy parking, affordable long-term rates, and less crowded terminals add to the convenience.

5. Raleigh-Durham (RDU)

Top routes: RDU offers direct service to London, Paris, and several Caribbean hubs plus new route additions each year. It’s an ideal jumping-off point for East Coast international travel without the chaos of New York or Atlanta.
Steal alert: $289 to Dublin via Aer Lingus, $398 to Madrid, and $372 to Paris with Air France.
Best booking windows: Deals surface 2–4 months ahead of travel especially around late winter and early fall.
Traveler insight: RDU is one of the most user-friendly airports I’ve flown out of. It’s clean, calm, and consistently cheaper than Charlotte (CLT) by $100–$150 on identical itineraries.

6. Baltimore/Washington (BWI)

Why it’s worth flying from here: BWI offers an appealing combination of low fares, easy access from both Baltimore and Washington D.C., and low-cost carriers like PLAY and Norse Atlantic. It’s one of the most reliable hubs for flash deals to Europe, especially Portugal and Iceland.
Sample deal: Roundtrip to Lisbon for $250, Reykjavík for $329, and even under $400 to London.
Bonus: The airport is smaller and more manageable than Dulles, with shorter security lines and affordable parking.
Pro tip: Sign up for TAP Air Portugal’s promo alerts and track BWI deals in Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” tool.

7. Philadelphia (PHL)

Why it’s great: PHL competes aggressively with NYC airports for transatlantic traffic. As a hub for American Airlines, it frequently features price drops on direct flights to Europe, particularly Paris, London, and Madrid.
Sample deal: Paris for $350 RT, London for $375, and Milan for $389.
Smart flyer tip: Weekday departures and basic economy fares often sneak under $300, especially during shoulder seasons.
Bonus: Because it’s less chaotic than JFK or Newark, flying from PHL can mean less time in line and more savings.

8. Boston Logan (BOS)

What you’ll find: BOS is a fantastic hub for affordable direct flights to Western Europe, thanks to competition between JetBlue, Aer Lingus, TAP Portugal, and Delta. New routes to Paris, Amsterdam, and Milan have pushed prices down even further.
Example fares: $289 to Paris, $355 to Amsterdam, $312 to Lisbon all roundtrip.
Airline tip: JetBlue’s Mint business class often goes on sale from Boston, making luxury travel more accessible.
Local insight: Book during the fall for some of the cheapest and most beautiful European escapes.

9. Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)

Value: $500 RT to Seoul or Paris, sometimes lower during winter fare wars.
Why it shines: MSP ranks among the top for airport satisfaction and on-time performance. It’s a Delta hub, but international routes also include Icelandair and Condor.
Seasonal note: Nonstop seasonal service to Reykjavík and Amsterdam ramps up in late spring and early fall.
Local bonus: The airport’s smaller size, quick TSA process, and light traffic make it a hidden gem for outbound international travel.

10. Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

Why it’s worth it: As one of the busiest airports in the world, ORD gives you the advantage of dozens of competing airlines. You’ll regularly find deep discounts to Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Example deals: Rome for $399 RT, Tokyo for $550 RT, and Casablanca for $475 RT.
Tip: Use Chicago Midway (MDW) for cheaper flights to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean via Southwest.
Travel hack: Combine outbound from ORD with return to MDW (or vice versa) for surprisingly affordable open-jaw itineraries.

11. New York (JFK & EWR)

Volume = value: JFK and Newark (EWR) offer a massive number of international departures daily, which translates to more competition among airlines and more frequent sales. With direct flights to nearly every continent, you’re likely to find routes on budget carriers like Norse Atlantic, PLAY, and TAP, plus major airlines like Delta, American, and Emirates.
Sample deal: Morocco for $290 RT, nonstop; Paris under $350; and off-season Europe flights often dipping below $400 RT.
Smart tip: Use tools like Google Flights and Hopper to compare JFK and EWR prices; the two airports often alternate who has the cheaper fare by route. JFK frequently ranks as one of the worst for delays, so give yourself extra buffer time.

12. Los Angeles (LAX)

Global reach: LAX is the busiest international airport on the West Coast and offers unparalleled reach to Asia, Australia, South America, and beyond. It’s a top hub for airlines like Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Emirates.
Example deal: Bali for $480 RT, Tokyo under $500 RT, and Buenos Aires around $550 RT.
Pro tip: If you can’t find a deal from LAX directly, try nearby airports like Ontario (ONT), Long Beach (LGB), or even San Diego (SAN) and compare fares. LAX’s sheer volume of flights often means better competition but also long security lines and traffic, so plan accordingly.

13. Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)

Top route: SEA has become one of the most reliable gateways to Asia and the Pacific Northwest, with nonstop service to Tokyo, Seoul, and increasingly, Southeast Asia.
Deal highlights: $350 RT to Tokyo; $389 to Seoul; and occasional sales to Bangkok under $600 RT.
Airlines to watch: Japan Airlines, ANA, Delta, Korean Air, and Air Canada. SEA’s international terminal has also recently undergone upgrades, making travel smoother.
Bonus: Because SEA isn’t as congested as LAX or SFO, you’re likely to experience shorter wait times and smoother flight operations.

14. Washington D.C. Dulles (IAD)

Great for: Dulles is a major East Coast hub for United Airlines and serves 50+ international destinations. It offers direct flights to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, often at prices under $500 RT.
Example fares: Reykjavík for $320 RT, Frankfurt for $380 RT, Madrid under $400.
Extra tip: Keep an eye on PLAY and Norse Atlantic they frequently launch limited-time sales out of IAD. Additionally, fares from IAD can be $100–$200 cheaper than from nearby Reagan National (DCA) for international travel.

15. Orlando International (MCO)

Deals to: MCO isn’t just for theme park vacations it’s also a growing international hub. You’ll find budget flights to Europe (especially the UK and Spain), as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.
Example deals: $329 RT to London Gatwick, $289 to Bogotá, and $350 to Madrid.
Tip: Because MCO is served by many low-cost carriers like Norse Atlantic, Frontier, and Avianca, it’s ideal for finding deals especially on one-way or basic economy tickets. Try searching alternate return airports if you’re flexible for open-jaw itineraries.

16. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)

Why fly from here: As one of the busiest and most centrally located airports in the U.S., DFW offers extensive international connections through American Airlines and dozens of global carriers. With high flight volume and overlapping competition, fares from DFW often drop lower than neighboring southern hubs.
Example fares: $350 RT to Lima, Peru; $398 to Madrid; $299 to Cancún; and occasional deals to Tokyo for under $600.
Best features: DFW is well-connected with public transportation and offers ample parking, multiple terminals, and plenty of lounges making it an efficient starting point for international trips.
Travel tip: Search flights from both DFW and nearby Dallas Love Field (DAL) to compare deals, especially if you’re flexible on routing or airline alliances.

17. Miami International (MIA)

Ideal for: MIA is the premier U.S. hub for flights to Latin America and the Caribbean. With nonstop service to over 70 international cities and budget airlines like Avianca, Viva Air, and Frontier, the airport is ideal for low-cost travel to tropical destinations.
Sample fares: Colombia or Panama for under $200 RT, Lima from $360, and Costa Rica for around $280.
Bonus insight: Flights to Europe are also competitive from MIA, especially to Spain and Portugal fares can fall below $400 during shoulder seasons.
Local tip: Consider flying out mid-week for even steeper discounts. MIA is busiest on weekends, and lower crowds often mean better prices and smoother travel.

How We Ranked These Airports

To help you make smart travel decisions, we based this list on publicly available 2023–2025 data from trusted travel sources including Going.com, Hopper, MoneyDigest, and flight fare examples found through Google Flights and Skyscanner.

What we considered:

Deal Frequency: How often cheap international fares show up per 100 outbound flights from each airport (Going.com).
Volume of Deals: Total number of roundtrip international flight deals reported annually.
Sample Roundtrip Fares: Verified examples of real ticket prices to Europe, Asia, South America, and Oceania.
Flight Competition: Whether the airport is a hub or has strong low-cost carrier presence.
Airport Experience: Delay rates, traveler convenience, and availability of alternate airports nearby.

Please note: Rankings may shift slightly each year depending on airline competition, economic trends, and new route openings. All fares listed were accurate at time of writing and are subject to change.

Tips for Booking Cheap International Flights

Fly midweek (Tues/Weds) to save $100+ vs. weekend
Avoid peak travel (late June, late Dec); fly in shoulder seasons like September or February
Use tools:
Sign up for deal alerts and track 3+ nearby airports

Bonus: My Favorite Cheap Flight Finds

$295 roundtrip to New Zealand (from CVG)
$329 to Iceland (from PIT)
$289 to Paris (from BOS)
$480 to Bali (from LAX)

Some of my best travel memories started with a cheap flight alert. Whether you’re flying from a major hub like JFK or a budget-friendly spot like RDU, knowing where to start can save you hundreds.

So next time you plan a trip, check the flight deals from these airports first. You might just stumble on your next big adventure for less than dinner for two.