Finding cheap flights has gotten complicated with all the fare comparison sites and conflicting advice flying around. As someone who’s saved thousands by searching secondary airports instead of major hubs, I learned everything there is to know about regional airport codes worth knowing. Today, I will share it all with you.
Every seasoned traveler knows the major hub codes—LAX, JFK, ORD. But the real savings often hide at smaller airports an hour’s drive from the big hubs. These regional airports offer lower fees, less congestion, and sometimes dramatically cheaper fares from budget carriers that avoid crowded primary airports. Knowing which codes to search can save hundreds per ticket.
Why Secondary Airports Cost Less
That’s what makes secondary airport hunting endearing to us budget-conscious travelers—the savings are real and consistent. Airport economics drive pricing differences:
Landing fees: Large hub airports charge airlines significantly more per landing than regional airports. These costs pass directly to ticket prices. Landing at Oakland (OAK) costs airlines less than San Francisco (SFO), and fares reflect this.
Gate availability: When gates are scarce, airports charge premium rent. Budget carriers flock to airports with available gates at lower rates. Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant built business models around secondary airports.
Fuel costs: Airport-provided fuel varies in price. Some airports have competitive fuel markets; others charge monopoly rates. Carriers factor fuel costs into route profitability.
Congestion: Delays at congested airports cost airlines money—crew overtime, missed connections, passenger compensation. Predictable operations at smaller airports reduce these costs.
Northeast Region Secondary Codes
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The Northeast offers the most opportunities for secondary airport savings.
SWF – Stewart International (Newburgh, NY): 60 miles north of Manhattan with budget carrier service. When JFK and LGA prices spike, check Stewart.
PVD – Providence (Rhode Island): Often cheaper than Boston Logan for southern New England travelers. Southwest operates here.
HPN – Westchester County (White Plains, NY): Convenient for suburban New York travelers avoiding Manhattan airport traffic.
ISP – Long Island MacArthur: Southwest’s Long Island presence offers alternatives to JFK congestion.
TTN – Trenton-Mercer (New Jersey): Frontier hub with remarkably low fares to Florida destinations.
California Secondary Codes
OAK – Oakland: The classic LAX/SFO alternative. Southwest’s massive presence means competitive fares. BART connects directly to San Francisco.
SJC – San Jose: Silicon Valley’s airport often beats SFO on price for domestic routes.
BUR – Burbank: Southwest hub avoiding LAX chaos. Easier parking, faster security, often lower fares.
SNA – Orange County (John Wayne): Southern California alternative with less congestion than LAX.
ONT – Ontario: Inland Empire airport that’s often dramatically cheaper than LAX for budget carriers.
Florida Secondary Codes
PIE – St. Petersburg-Clearwater: Allegiant’s Tampa Bay hub with ultra-low fares from smaller cities nationwide.
SFB – Orlando Sanford: Budget carrier alternative to the massive Orlando International.
PGD – Punta Gorda: Allegiant focus city with some of Florida’s lowest advertised fares.
FLL – Fort Lauderdale: Often cheaper than Miami for South Florida access, with Spirit and JetBlue presence.
Midwest Secondary Codes
MDW – Chicago Midway: Southwest’s Chicago hub offers alternatives to ORD’s chaos and prices.
RFD – Chicago Rockford: Allegiant serves this exurban airport with ultra-low fares.
SDF – Louisville: Sometimes cheaper than Cincinnati for Kentucky/Indiana travelers.
MCI – Kansas City: The new terminal has improved experience while maintaining competitive fares.
Search Strategy
Maximize secondary airport savings:
Search multiple codes: When searching, include all airports within reasonable driving distance. Google Flights lets you search multiple origin airports simultaneously.
Check actual drive time: A “secondary” airport 90 minutes away might save $300 on a family trip. That math works out.
Factor parking costs: Secondary airports often have cheaper or free parking, adding to savings versus expensive hub parking.
Consider ground transport: The shuttle or Uber from a secondary airport might cost less than parking at a primary one.
Be flexible on dates: Budget carriers at secondary airports often have limited schedules. Flexibility multiplies options.
When Secondary Airports Don’t Make Sense
Secondary airports aren’t always the answer:
Tight connections: If you’re connecting to international flights, hub airports offer more options and better protection when things go wrong.
Premium cabins: Business and first class seats rarely exist on budget carriers at secondary airports.
Last-minute travel: Hub airports offer more flights, meaning more chances to find available seats.
Complex itineraries: Multi-city trips often route better through major hubs.
The smart approach: search both options and compare total cost including ground transportation. The secondary airport savings are real—but so is the convenience of major hubs when you need it.
