With a staggering 13,513 airports, the United States ranks number one in the world for the number of airports in operation. So, when the time comes to try and book cheap international flight deals, it’s no wonder the abundance of options can leave some scratching their heads, pondering just where to search for those mind-blowing, cheap international flights advertised on social media.
Thankfully, you won’t have to search for the best airports all on your own.
From New York in the northeast to Los Angeles on the west coast, here is a handy, comprehensive list of some of the busiest and most popular airports for international travel and the biggest destinations they offer.
Table of Contents
- Cheap International Flights from Atlanta
- Cheap International Flights from Dallas
- Cheap International Flights from Chicago
- Cheap International Flights from Houston
- Cheap International Flights from Denver
- Cheap International Flights from Los Angeles
- Cheap International Flights From NYC
- Best Time to Get Cheap International Flights
- How to Get Cheap International Flights
Cheap International Flights from Atlanta
If you’re flying out of Georgia and hoping to find cheap flight tickets to international destinations, then Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is your one-stop-shop for booking your dream travel. Offering over 70 international destinations in more than 45 countries, ATL has no shortage of options for a getaway trip out of the country.
As the hub for Delta Air Lines, the majority of traffic out of ATL is through Delta, which also offers some of the most varied destinations, including:
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
- Shanghai, China
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Munich, Germany
From Latin American metropolises to Caribbean island getaways and African cliffs and coves, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson offers direct routes to destinations worldwide, which can help you save big when traveling internationally.
Because of its significant presence, Delta is your best bet for finding great deals on international flights, but you can also keep an eye out for deals from foreign carriers like Air France, Air Canada, British Airways, and more.
Most Popular International Destinations out of ATL
The pandemic shut down a lot of international travel over the past two years. But, if you’re curious what the most popular destinations heading out of ATL were before that—and looking to see where you might be able to score the best deals in the future—check out these top ten spots for travelers leaving Atlanta.
- PARIS, FRANCE
- Fly with Air France, Delta
- AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
- Fly with Delta, KLM
- TORONTO, CANADA
- Fly with Air Canada, Delta
- CANCÚN, MEXICO
- Fly with Delta, Southwest
- LONDON, ENGLAND
- Fly with British Airways, Delta, Virgin Atlantic
- SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Fly with Delta, Korean Air
- MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Fly with Delta, Southwest
- MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
- Fly with Delta
- NASSAU, BAHAMAS
- Fly with Delta
- PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- Fly with Delta
Cheap International Flights from Dallas
Though two major airports serve the Dallas area, only one of them serves up a ton of international destinations to help you plan your next budget trip. (Sorry, Dallas Love Field, still love you for domestic flights, though.)
As the fourth busiest airport globally, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) doesn’t leave much room for competition. DFW has flights departing to 260 destinations in total. More than 65 of those are international, and they come with a broad selection of legacy airlines to get you there.
Additionally, DFW offers some budget options. If you’re looking to book cheap international flights to Mexico, try Spirit and Sun Country, both low-cost carriers.
Pro-tip: When booking with budget airlines, make sure you know ahead of time what all is and is not included in the cost of your ticket purchase, and be on the lookout for any hidden fees.
Even if you don’t book with a budget carrier, keep in mind that having more competition to these destinations from the budget airlines can help reduce prices for major airline tickets too!
Because DFW is the central hub for American Airlines, you’ll find many of the best routes through them.
With direct flights to multiple destinations, including Peru, the United Kingdom, Japan, and more, Dallas Fort Worth stands as a large and bustling gateway for travelers anxious to explore the world.
Most Popular International Destinations out of DFW
Wondering where most travelers flying out of DFW are headed? Turns out, the answer is anywhere they can!
- CANCÚN, MEXICO
- Fly with American, Spirit, Sun Country
- LONDON, ENGLAND
- Fly with American, British Airways
- MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Fly with Aeromexico, America, Volaris
- TOKYO, JAPAN
- Fly with American, Japan Airlines
- SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO, MEXICO
- Fly with American, Spirit
- TORONTO, CANADA
- Fly with American, Air Canada
- FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- Fly with American, Lufthansa
- SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Fly with American, Korean Air
- PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
- Fly with American
- VANCOUVER, CANADA
- Fly with Air Canada, American
Cheap International Flights from Chicago
Chicago is another major city that offers two nearby airports as options for travelers: O’Hare and Midway. If you’re mostly interested in flights across the borders into Canada or Mexico, you can compare prices for cheap flights between the two.
But if you’re looking for more destinations outside of North and Central America, then you’re going to want to look at booking your tickets out of O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
As one of the top five busiest airports in the United States, ORD will allow you to fly almost anywhere. With 50 international destinations, it serves direct flights to some amazing spots around the world:
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Delhi, India
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Reykjavik, Iceland
O’Hare serves as a central hub for United Airlines and American Airlines and as a focus city for Frontier and Spirit.
While you’ll find some short-distance international flights available through those budget carriers, most long-haul destinations fly through O’Hare’s two major domestic airlines and a slew of international carriers like Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Emirates, Icelandair, Lufthansa, and more.
Air New Zealand also operates direct flights out of O’Hare, meaning you can fly round trip between Chicago and Auckland. It also means more opportunities for you to rack up savings on your next flight to New Zealand.
Most Popular International Destinations out of ORD
If O’Hare is your choice for departure, here are some of the top spots travelers are flying to and where you’re likely to find those cheaper international flight deals.
- LONDON, ENGLAND
- Fly with American, British Airways, United
- TORONTO, CANADA
- Fly with Air Canada, American, United
- CANCÚN, MEXICO
- Fly with American, Frontier, Spirit, United
- FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- Fly with Lufthansa, United
- MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Fly with Aeromexico, Interjet, United, Volaris
- TOKYO, JAPAN
- Fly with All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, United
- DUBLIN, IRELAND
- Fly with Aer Lingus, American, United
- MUNICH, GERMANY
- Fly with Lufthansa, United
- ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- Fly with Turkish Airlines
- VANCOUVER, CANADA
- Fly with Air Canada, American, United
Cheap International Flights from Houston
Flying out of Houston? Only one airport will take you nonstop to five different continents, and that’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Recently ranked the number one best and cleanest airport in the US, George Bush Intercontinental has a lot to offer its patrons, and not just in terms of a pleasant airport experience. As mentioned, Houston offers direct flights to multiple continents:
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
- North America
- South America
Among those continents, routes out of Houston will take travelers to 69 total destinations.
IAH serves as a hub for United Airlines, so you’ll find the bulk of your international flight deals available through them. However, 25 other airlines operate international flights including Air China, All Nippon Airways, KLM, and Singapore Airlines, so you’ll find no shortage of carriers to choose from.
Like O’Hare in Chicago, Houston is another hub for Air New Zealand, so you’ll find nonstop flights over the Pacific to Auckland. You can also search flights for direct hookups to Dubai, Istanbul, and Amsterdam, among many others.
Most Popular International Destinations out of IAH
Can you believe you’ll find half of the top ten destinations out of Houston in Central America?
Maybe it’s due to the close proximity, the gorgeous beaches, or maybe because of the rich culture and history that color these destinations. Whatever the reason, if you’re flying out of George Bush Airport, you can’t go wrong with a quick skip down south.
- MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Fly with Aeromexico, United, VivaAerobus
- CANCÚN, MEXICO
- Spirit, United, VivaAerobus
- LONDON, ENGLAND
- British Airways, United
- FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- Lufthansa, United
- CALGARY, CANADA
- Air Canada, United, WestJet
- MONTERREY, MEXICO
- United, VivaAerobus
- AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
- KLM, United
- TORONTO, CANADA
- Air Canada, United
- SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR
- Avianca, Spirit, United
- SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
- Spirit, United
Cheap International Flights from Denver
As the 3rd busiest airport in the United States in 2020, Denver International Airport (DEN) doesn’t have the widest selection of destinations, but it stands as the largest airport in the country, bigger even than the entire city of San Francisco.
With space to expand, it could accommodate more airlines and offer new routes down the road. No doubt exciting news to all the avid travelers out west!
For now, this behemoth of an airport serves 28 international destinations in 14 countries:
- Japan
- Canada
- Mexico
- The Bahamas
- Belize
- The Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Iceland
- England
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Switzerland
Denver International’s central location in the west makes it a great choice of airport to fly from, especially if you’re coming from nearby states like the Dakotas, Kansas, or Nebraska where your options for booking round trip tickets out of the country are more limited.
Most Popular International Destinations out of DEN
Even though Denver offers nonstop flights to several destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, and even a stop in Asia, that doesn’t keep lots of flyers from visiting places somewhat closer to home.
Six of the top ten destinations for travelers departing from Denver sit just over the borders in Canada and Mexico.
- CANCÚN, MEXICO
- Fly with Frontier, Southwest, United
- FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- Fly with Lufthansa, United
- LONDON, ENGLAND
- Fly with British Airways, United
- TORONTO, CANADA
- Fly with Air Canada, United
- VANCOUVER, CANADA
- Fly with Air Canada, United
- CALGARY, CANADA
- Fly with Frontier, United, WestJet
- MUNICH, GERMANY
- Fly with Lufthansa, United
- SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO, MEXICO
- Fly with Southwest, United
- PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
- Fly with Frontier, Southwest, United
- TOKYO, JAPAN
- Fly with United
Cheap International Flights from Los Angeles
If you’re wondering how to get cheap international flight deals out of Los Angeles, then your answer is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Though several other nearby airports serve the Greater Los Angeles Area, none come close to the number of flights, destinations, or passengers of LAX.
Serving as a hub for several airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines, LAX ranks first as the busiest and largest airport on the west coast. In 2019, it ranked number two as the busiest airport in the US.
Travelers here have their hands full with an abundance of airlines to fly with, almost 70 carriers, and numerous destinations to fly to, more than 80 cities in over 40 countries.
Acting as the US’s western gateway to the world, LAX offers up many unique opportunities to fly direct to some fantastic destinations:
- Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- Moscow, Russia
- Nadi, Fiji
- Manila, Philippines
- Osaka, Japan
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
There are even plans to add routes between Ho Chi Min in Vietnam and LAX and SFO airports later this year.
If you live anywhere near L.A.—or near an airport that has cheap round trip flights to LAX—definitely consider flying out of this airport to score some of the cheapest airline tickets leaving the west coast.
Most Popular International Destinations out of LAX
With so many unique destinations available to travelers departing from LAX, it’s no surprise the top destinations for this airport are pretty varied. But that also means you can score more great international flight deals to spectacular locales.
- LONDON, ENGLAND
- Fly with American, British Airways, Delta, United, Virgin Atlantic
- PARIS, FRANCE
- Fly with Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Delta
- MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Fly with Aeromexico, American, Delta, VivaAerobus, Volaris
- SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Fly with Asiana Airlines, Korean Air
- GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
- Fly with Aeromexico, Alaska, VivaAerobus, Volaris
- VANCOUVER, CANADA
- Fly with Air Canada, American, United, WestJet
- SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
- Fly with American, Delta, Qantas, United
- HONG KONG, CHINA
- Fly with Cathay Pacific
- TOKYO, JAPAN
- Fly with All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, United
- SHANGHAI, CHINA
- Fly with China Eastern, Delta, United
Cheap International Flights from NYC
A lot of major cities in the US have two or more international airports to support the large air traffic demand. But it’s only in New York that you see both of those airports ranking among the top twelve busiest and serving international destinations around the world.
You’ve probably already guessed which airports we’re talking about: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International. (Okay, Newark Liberty isn’t technically in New York, but its proximity and ease of access make it an NYC staple anyway.)
Between these two airports, travelers have the world at their feet—at their feet, a flight away, you get the idea. It’s not hard to snag some jaw-dropping international flight deals out of these airports!
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
The bigger and better of New York’s two international airports, JFK ranks sixth among the United States’ busiest airports with over 61 million passengers traveling through its doors and terminals annually.
A hub for American Airlines and Delta, JFK also serves 68 other carriers to give travelers a large variety of airlines. Because of this multitude of airlines, John F. Kennedy airport is able to offer nonstop flights to all six continents (those with airports that actually support large passenger planes anyway—looking at you Antarctica).
JFK is a gateway to more than 110 international destinations.
With so many routes open through this airport to the rest of the world, JFK offers the most options of any airport in the US. And that means you’ll often find the best deals and cheapest flight tickets from here as well.
Many people may have a love-hate relationship with JFK, but the destinations and deals speak for themselves.
So if you live within flying, driving, train taking, or taxi-hailing distance, it’s worth checking the deals from JFK and seeing if you can’t depart for your journey from the airport that never sleeps.
Most Popular International Destinations out of JFK
Knowing that JFK is a dominant hub for intercontinental activity, you might have guessed the top ten destinations for travelers range all over. In that case, you’d be right, with top destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.
- LONDON, ENGLAND
- Fly with American, British Airways, Delta, Virgin Atlantic
- PARIS, FRANCE
- Fly with Air France, American, Delta, Norwegian Air Shuttle
- MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Fly with Aeromexico, Delta, VivaAerobus
- AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
- Fly with Delta, KLM
- MADRID, SPAIN
- Air Europa, American, Delta, Iberia
- SANTIAGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- Fly with Delta, JetBlue
- ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- Fly with Turkish Airlines
- SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- Fly with Delta, JetBlue
- MILAN, ITALY
- Fly with Alitalia, American, Delta, Emirates, Neos
- FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- Fly with Delta, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
First opened in 1928, Newark Liberty International (EWR) is one of the United States’ oldest airports. It’s also the first major airport to serve the New York metropolitan area.
So, in a war of siblings, Newark at least has age on its side.
This airport may not offer the same abundance of options as its younger, more connected counterpart. Still, it holds its own as one of the busiest airports in the US, with an impressive catalog of destinations, over 70 international ones, to make your getaway.
Newark is a hub for United Airlines while offering flights with over 30 other carriers. This helps keep competition in the Newark airline market high and the prices low.
If JFK is the kind of airport that sends you screaming in the other direction, from the unending lines in and around JFK to the sheer size—JFK has twice as many terminals as Newark—then Newark may be the answer to your prayers.
And if you’re part of a loyalty program with United and want to use points/miles to fly, then definitely think about departing from Newark to reduce the cost of your flight even further.
Most Popular International Destinations out of EWR
Only 32 miles separate these two airports, yet their distinctions stand out. That is to say, even where people travel differs. Check out these differences for yourself in the top ten destinations people fly out of Newark Airport.
- LONDON, ENGLAND
- Fly with British Airways, United, Virgin Atlantic
- TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Fly with El Al, United
- TORONTO-PEARSON, CANADA
- Fly with Air Canada, United
- FRANKFURT, GERMANY
- Fly with Lufthansa, United
- TORONTO-BILLY BISHOP, CANADA
- Fly with Porter Airlines
- SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- Fly with JetBlue, United
- CANCÚN, MEXICO
- Fly with Frontier, JetBlue, United, VivaAerobus
- DUBLIN, IRELAND
- Fly with Aer Lingus, United
- MUMBAI, INDIA
- Air India, United
- MUNICH, GERMANY
- Lufthansa, United
Best Time to Get Cheap International Flights
Timing is everything.
It’s widely considered that booking your travel dates 4-6 months in advance is best. Any later than that, you’ll see prices start to rise, which could lead to rescheduled trips or spending way more money than you planned to secure your tickets.
Neither of those options sound very appealing, so be sure to plan accordingly.
As for what time of year it’s best to travel, the answer will differ based on your destination and its peak travel season.
Peak season for tourist hotspots always see the busiest crowds and highest prices. To avoid both, it’s best to book in the shoulder season, the time between peak and off-season, or in the off-season itself.
Generally, anytime outside of peak season is best for finding international flight deals and getting the most bang for your buck.
Pro-tip: There are potential downsides to booking in the off-season, such as fewer open attractions and places to stay. Some businesses close during the off-season or have reduced operating hours. Do your research beforehand to ensure you can still enjoy your trip in the off-season.
To find the best prices available throughout the year, a search engine like Google Flights can help, as it allows you to search flights on several airlines at once and get alerts for price drops on specific destinations. If you’re not sure where to get started in your search, our Secret to Cheap Flight Fares will show you the way.
Above all, it’s best to keep your finger on the pulse, as the travel industry is constantly in flux, and airlines are often unpredictable when it comes to price drops and great savings on international flight deals.
With this in mind, starting your search early and regularly check airline offerings for the best chance at success!
How to Get Cheap International Flight Deals
With so many options available, we know it can be completely overwhelming planning a trip, from finding the right airport to booking the right deal. But here’s where the good news starts—Next Vacay takes the guessing and legwork off your shoulders and lets you relax while the deals come to you.
Once you sign up, you have the freedom to choose from the airports closest to you or the ones you like best. Live in Omaha, Nebraska, but open to flying out of Chicago or Denver? Customize your account to fit your needs, and our team will cater the deals to your preferences, keeping you alerted to the best prices from those airports, so you never miss a chance to take the dream vacation you’ve been waiting for.
From Buenos Aires to Athens to Istanbul, if you’re dreaming of taking the international trip of a lifetime, sign up for Next Vacay and let us help you land your next dream getaway!
