Cheap Flights in USA: A Complete Price Guide for Dutch Travelers
Finding cheap flights in USA routes starts before you even cross the Atlantic. If you are flying from Amsterdam Schiphol to New York, Miami or Los Angeles, the transatlantic ticket is only half the story. Domestic flights inside the United States add a second layer of cost, and prices swing wildly depending on when you book, which airline you choose and which airport you fly into. This guide breaks down what Americans actually pay for domestic travel in 2025, what Dutch visitors should expect, and how to keep your total trip budget under control.
What Do Domestic Flights in the USA Actually Cost?
The average domestic round-trip fare in the United States sat around $383 in early 2025, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. That average hides a huge spread. A one-way hop from Orlando to Atlanta on Spirit or Frontier can cost $39, while a last-minute New York to Aspen flight in ski season can easily top $600. Distance matters less than competition: routes with two or more low-cost carriers tend to stay cheap, while monopoly routes stay expensive.
Here is a rough picture of typical one-way fares when booked 3 to 6 weeks ahead:
| Route | Budget airline | Legacy carrier |
|---|---|---|
| New York (JFK) to Miami | $45 to $90 | $120 to $220 |
| Los Angeles to Las Vegas | $30 to $70 | $80 to $150 |
| Chicago to Denver | $55 to $100 | $130 to $200 |
| New York to San Francisco | $130 to $200 | $200 t o $380 |
Prices are in US dollars and exclude baggage fees, which we cover below. Fares spike around Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break, roughly doubling on popular routes.
Which Budget Airlines Should You Book?
Four carriers dominate the low-cost segment in the USA. Southwest, the largest domestic budget carrier, still includes two free checked bags, which saves you $70 to $120 per round trip compared to other airlines. Spirit and Frontier offer the lowest base fares but charge for everything: carry-on bags ($35 to $65), seat selection ($10 to $45) and even water in some cases. JetBlue sits in the middle, with decent legroom and free Wi-Fi on most aircraft.
A Spirit fare that looks like $29 often becomes $110 once you add a carry-on. If you travel light with just a personal item, the ultra-low-cost carriers are genuinely unbeatable. If you check luggage, Southwest usually wins the math. Always compare the final price, not the headline fare.
When Is the Best Time to Book Cheap Flights in USA?
Domestic US flights follow a predictable pattern. Google Flights data from its 2024 travel insights report shows the sweet spot for domestic bookings is roughly 21 to 52 days before departure, with the lowest average fares appearing around 28 days out. Book earlier than 6 months and you usually pay a premium; book within 7 days and prices jump 25 to 45 percent.
- Book domestic flights 1 to 2 months ahead for the best fares
- Fly Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday: these days average $20 to $40 cheaper than Sundays
- Avoid the day before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after, the two most expensive domestic travel days of the year
- Early morning flights (before 8am) are statistically cheaper and less prone to delays
- Set fare alerts on Google Flights or Hopper rather than obsessively checking prices yourself
How Do You Combine Your Transatlantic and Domestic Tickets?
Dutch travelers have an advantage here. KLM and Delta operate a joint venture that lets you book Amsterdam to a smaller US city with a domestic connection on one ticket, often for only €80 to €150 more than a direct AMS to JFK flight. This single-ticket approach protects you if a delay causes a missed connection, which separate bookings do not.
Compare the alternatives. A separate one-way domestic ticket on Southwest might cost $60, but if your KLM flight lands late and you miss it, that $60 is gone and you are buying a new fare at walk-up prices. For tight schedules, book one through-ticket. For relaxed itineraries with a buffer day, separate budget tickets can save real money.
Also consider Norwegian and PLAY-style positioning through hubs like Dublin or Reykjavik, though transatlantic low-cost options have thinned since 2023. Icelandair remains a solid mid-budget choice from Amsterdam with good USA connections under €400 return to the East Coast during sales.
Which Hidden Fees Will Blow Your Budget?
US airlines treat fees as a profit center. Baggage is the big one. Checked bags on the three legacy carriers cost $35 to $40 for the first bag each way. Frontier and Spirit charge similar amounts for carry-ons if you pay at the gate instead of online, where it costs more. Seat selection on basic economy fares ranges from $10 to $60 per seat per flight segment.
Fee comparison at a glance
| Airline | Carry-on | First checked bag | Seat selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | Free | Free (2 bags) | Free (open seating) |
| JetBlue | Free | $35 to $45 | $10 to $40 |
| Delta / United / American | Free | $35 to $40 | $0 to $60 (basic economy) |
| Spirit | $35 to $65 | $30 to $50 | $10 to $45 |
Pay for bags online rather than at the airport; Spirit charges about $20 extra per bag at the counter. And remember that Dutch debit cards with Maestro often fail at US airline checkouts, so carry a credit card or use PayPal when the airline offers it.
Is It Cheaper to Fly Into Secondary Airports?
Often yes. New York has three major airports, and Newark, JFK and LaGuardia prices can differ by $60 or more on the same dates. Boston versus Providence, Chicago O’Hare versus Midway, and San Francisco versus Oakland or San Jose all follow the same logic. Low-cost carriers cluster at secondary airports. Frontier hubs in Denver, Spirit in Fort Lauderdale, and Allegiant, a carrier many Europeans have never heard of, flies from smaller airports like Bellingham near Seattle at fares under $50.
The trade-off is transfer time and transport cost. A fare that saves $45 means little if the airport sits 90 minutes from your hotel and a taxi costs $90. Check the total door-to-door cost before committing.
FAQ: Cheap Flights in USA
How far in advance should I book domestic flights in the USA?
Around 28 days before departure gives you the lowest average fare, with the broader window of 21 to 52 days working well. For peak holiday travel, book 2 to 3 months ahead.
Are US domestic flights cheaper for non-Americans?
No. Fares are the same regardless of nationality. Airlines price by route, date and demand, not by passport. Using a VPN to shop foreign sites rarely saves money on US domestic routes.
Can I transit through a US airport to a domestic flight on an ESTA?
Yes. Travelers under the Visa Waiver Program, including Dutch nationals with an approved ESTA, can connect to domestic flights after clearing immigration and customs at their first US entry point. Allow at least 2 hours for the connection.
What is the cheapest US region to fly within?
Florida and the Southwest. Dense competition between Spirit, Frontier, Southwest and JetBlue on routes like Orlando to Fort Lauderdale or Las Vegas to Phoenix keeps one-way fares regularly under $50.
Conclusion
Hunting cheap flights in USA routes comes down to a few habits: book domestic legs about a month out, compare final prices including bags instead of headline fares, weigh the safety of one through-ticket against the savings of separate budget bookings, and stay flexible on airports and travel days. Do that, and your domestic flying inside the US can cost less than a train ticket from Amsterdam to Paris, leaving more of your budget for the trip itself.
