Which New York airport is cheapest?

Which New York Airport is Cheapest?

New York City has three major airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). When planning a trip on a budget, knowing which airport offers the best one-way fares can make a big difference. We've looked at the lowest one-way fares from each airport to popular destinations to help you decide.

Comparing One-Way Fares

For many destinations, LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR) often offer similar, and sometimes lower, one-way fares compared to JFK. For example, if you're flying to Miami, LGA has one-way fares starting at $88 with Frontier Airlines, and EWR is just $87 with Frontier Airlines. JFK's lowest one-way fare to Miami is $141 with jetBlue. Similarly, for Las Vegas, LGA offers one-way fares from $101 (Frontier Airlines) and EWR from $92 (Frontier Airlines), while JFK starts at $135 (jetBlue).

For flights to Chicago, both LGA and EWR have one-way fares from $86 with Frontier Airlines, while JFK's lowest is $99 with jetBlue. Atlanta sees LGA as the clear winner with a direct one-way fare of $46 on Frontier Airlines, compared to EWR at $68 (Frontier Airlines) and JFK at $89 (jetBlue).

However, JFK can be more competitive for certain routes. For Buffalo, JFK offers a direct one-way fare of $65 with jetBlue, significantly lower than LGA's $110 (American Airlines) and EWR's $137 (Frontier Airlines). The same $65 direct one-way fare from JFK with jetBlue applies to Raleigh and Rochester, where other airports may have higher prices or no direct options.

When considering flights to Los Angeles, the prices are quite close across all three airports: JFK at $119 (Alaska Airlines), LGA at $122 (Southwest Airlines), and EWR at $120 (Frontier Airlines). This is a route where the difference in one-way fare might not be the deciding factor.

When to Choose a Further Airport

Sometimes, traveling to a slightly more distant airport like Newark (EWR) can save you money, especially if you're looking for the absolute lowest one-way fare. For destinations like Miami, Las Vegas, and Chicago, EWR often matches or beats LGA's lowest prices, and both are frequently cheaper than JFK. For example, a one-way flight to Las Vegas from EWR costs $92, which is $43 less than from JFK. These savings can be worth the extra travel time to EWR, especially for a budget-conscious trip.

However, if your destination is one where JFK offers a significantly lower direct one-way fare, such as Buffalo, Raleigh, or Rochester, sticking with JFK makes sense. The convenience of a direct flight and a lower price often outweighs the potential for a slightly cheaper but indirect flight from another airport. Always check the specific one-way fares and whether the flight is direct, as transfers can add travel time and potential complications to your trip.