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New Report: These 3 Airlines Offer the Cheapest Fares (Bonus: They Still Allow Free Carry-on Bags!)

It’s no secret that airfare is one of the biggest expenses when it comes to planning any vacation—and that goes double (or triple or quadruple!) if you’re traveling with a family. Over the years, airfare has gotten even more expensive than it already was, and in some cases, it can even be cost-prohibitive when deciding where to take your next trip.

However, when it comes to price, not all airlines are created equal. In fact, there are three airlines that offer great deals on airfare that can make your next vacation significantly more affordable.

Keep reading to find out which three airlines offer the lowest airfare, according to Going.com’s inaugural Flight Deal Awards.

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How did Going.com determine the top airlines for deals?

To determine which airlines offer the best airfare deals and therefore the lowest airfare, Going.com reviewed its proprietary deal data that spans thousands of routes, assigning a “Going Grade” to each deal based on how much lower than expected market prices each fare falls.

Going.com’s travel experts analyzed the results, zeroing in on where travelers are discovering the most affordable and most frequent flight deals. Airlines received their rankings based on the average “Going Grade” for all of their deals, and the Going.com Flight Deal Award Winners had not only frequent deals but also the steepest savings when compared to everyday prices.

Which three airlines came out on top?

When you think of the best airfare deals and the lowest prices, you might immediately start imagining budget airlines, like Spirit or Avelo. But that’s not the case. In fact, two of the top three airlines for deals are actually traditional airlines. Going.com’s top three Flight Deal Award Winners are:

  1. Southwest Airlines
  2. American Airlines
  3. United Airlines

Best of all, at a time when some budget airlines charge you extra for seemingly everything except the air you breathe, these airlines offer plenty of amenities, including free snacks and nonalcoholic beverages, in-flight entertainment and, in some cases, free Wi-Fi. Plus, you can carry on two bags, including a carry-on to stow in overhead bins as well as a personal item to stow under the seat in front of you, at no extra charge, even when you book an economy flight.

What other categories were featured in Going.com’s Flight Deal Awards?

Going.com researched more than the top airlines for the lowest airfare prices. The team also uncovered the airports with the best value, which offered the lowest “Going Grade” on average to domestic destinations in the last 12 months. The top three large airports offering the best value for domestic travel are:

  1. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  2. Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  3. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

“These airports have consistently offered some of the best-priced flights for a variety of reasons,” said Going.com travel expert Katy Nastro in a press release. “With Salt Lake City’s rapid growth and new airline additions, Tampa’s billion-dollar expansion and growing low-cost carrier competition at the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, they’ve all helped get people going more affordably.”

Going.com also determined the airports with the most flight deals for domestic travel. The top three large airports with the most flight deals for domestic travel are:

  1. Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  2. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  3. Denver International Airport (DEN)

To put it simply, the airports offering the best value have the deepest discounts, while the airports with the most flight deals offer the highest volume of deals. While you can’t always choose which airport you fly out of, you can often choose which airport you fly to. The next time you want to get away to … anywhere, but aren’t sure where to start or what you can afford on a budget, give one of these airports and destinations a look for cheaper flights.

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Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Going.com: “Going 2025 Flight Deal Awards: Best and Worst Airports and Airlines for Great Fares”
  • PR Newswire: “Going Unveils First-Ever 2025 Flight Deal Awards”

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