Which Los Angeles airport is cheapest?

Which Los Angeles Airport is Cheapest?

Planning a trip from Los Angeles on a budget? You have several airports to choose from, each with its own set of prices and destinations. We're looking at one-way fares to help you decide which Los Angeles airport offers the best value for your next two-day getaway.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the largest, offering flights to 97 destinations with 26 nonstop options. Bob Hope Airport - Hollywood Burbank (BUR) serves 48 destinations with 12 nonstop flights. John Wayne Airport - Santa Ana (SNA) also has 47 destinations and 13 nonstop routes. Ontario International Airport (ONT) offers flights to 47 destinations, with 8 nonstop choices.

Comparing Fares and Nonstop Flights

When it comes to one-way fares, LAX often has the lowest prices, especially for popular routes. For example, a one-way fare to Las Vegas from LAX or ONT can be as low as $18 with Frontier Airlines, while BUR is $61 and SNA is $30. Similarly, to San Francisco, LAX and ONT offer $18 one-way fares via Frontier Airlines, compared to $92 from BUR and $28 from SNA.

For destinations like Seattle, LAX has the cheapest one-way fare at $74 with Alaska Airlines, and it's a direct flight. ONT is also a good option at $86 with Frontier Airlines, also direct. BUR and SNA are considerably more expensive at $148 (United Airlines, not direct) and $147 (Alaska Airlines, direct) respectively.

If you're heading to New York, ONT offers the lowest one-way fare at $106 with Southwest Airlines, though it's not a direct flight. LAX and BUR both have one-way fares starting at $115 with Alaska Airlines, also not direct. SNA is the most expensive at $174.

For other popular routes:

• Phoenix: LAX is cheapest at $30 (Frontier Airlines, direct).
• Denver: ONT is cheapest at $46 (Frontier Airlines, direct).
• Dallas: LAX is cheapest at $55 (Frontier Airlines, not direct), with ONT close behind at $63.
• Atlanta: ONT is cheapest at $63 (Frontier Airlines, not direct), with LAX at $70.

When to Choose a Further Airport

While LAX often has competitive prices, especially for direct flights, it's worth checking ONT for certain destinations. For example, for New York, ONT offers a slightly lower one-way fare than LAX. For Denver, ONT is also slightly cheaper than LAX. For Dallas and Atlanta, ONT offers the lowest one-way fares among all Los Angeles area airports.

However, for destinations like Las Vegas and San Francisco, LAX and ONT are equally cheap. For Seattle, LAX is significantly cheaper. Consider the trade-off between a potentially lower one-way fare and the extra travel time to a further airport. If the savings are substantial for your two-day trip, the extra drive to ONT might be worthwhile. Otherwise, LAX often provides a good balance of price and direct flight options.