How Secondary Airports Can Cut Your Fare
Most big cities are served by more than one airport, and the one you search for first is rarely the only option. Low-cost carriers in particular prefer smaller, secondary airports because landing and handling fees are lower, and some of that saving shows up in the fare. But the cheaper ticket isn't always the cheaper trip. This guide shows where it works, how to work out the true cost, and how to compare airports quickly.
Why secondary airports are cheaper
Major hubs charge airlines more and are often congested. Budget carriers base themselves at secondary airports to cut costs and turn planes around quickly, and they compete on price from there. A city with a large hub and a budget-carrier airport often shows a noticeable fare gap for the same dates. The gap varies by route and date, so the only way to know is to check.
Common airport pairs worth checking
- London: Heathrow (LHR) vs. Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN) and London City (LCY).
- New York: JFK vs. LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR).
- Chicago: O'Hare (ORD) vs. Midway (MDW).
- Tokyo: Narita (NRT) vs. Haneda (HND).
- Paris: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) vs. Orly (ORY) and Beauvais (BVA).
- Milan: Malpensa (MXP) vs. Linate (LIN) and Bergamo (BGY).
- Los Angeles: LAX vs. Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB) and Ontario (ONT).
- Washington, DC: Reagan (DCA) vs. Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore (BWI).
Not every pair is cheaper, and in some cities the closest airport is also the best value. Treat this list as places to test, not a promise of savings.
Work out the true cost
A fare that is $40 cheaper can easily end up more expensive. Add up:
- Ground transport. Train, bus or taxi from the airport to where you're actually staying, both ways. A secondary airport can cost more and take much longer to get to.
- Time. An extra hour each way has a value, especially for a short trip.
- Baggage and seat fees. Budget carriers often charge for bags, so compare the all-in price. See our guide to carry-on-only budget airline fees.
- Operating hours. Some smaller airports have early or late flights and limited public transport at those times, so a taxi may be your only option.
- Reliability. A missed last train or bus can mean an expensive night.
A quick rule: add the ground-transport cost and a sensible value for the extra time to the fare, then compare the totals.
When a secondary airport is a good idea
- You're travelling light and flying with a budget carrier that charges for bags you don't need.
- The airport is close to where you're going, not just the named city.
- Good rail or coach links exist and run at your flight times.
- The saving is large compared with the extra transport and time.
When to stay with the main airport
- You have a tight connection or an onward booking on the same ticket.
- You're arriving late at night or leaving very early.
- You're travelling with a lot of luggage, children or limited mobility.
- The difference in fare is small.
Don't mix airports on a connection
If you plan to arrive at one airport and depart from another in the same city, such as flying into one London airport and out of a different one on a separate ticket, build in plenty of time and treat it like any split ticket: no airline will rebook you if the first flight is late.
How to compare quickly
- Search with the city name or "all airports" option on a comparison engine to see every airport at once.
- Note the cheapest fare and which airport it's from.
- Check the distance and transport options from that airport to your actual destination.
- Add the extra costs and compare the real totals.
The FareHacker finder has a checkbox for exactly this, and the comparison links it generates make it quick to flip between airport codes.
Template: compare airports on true cost
Use this for any city and any season. Fill it in from your own searches and from the airport or transport operator's website. (Left blank on purpose, because fares and transport prices change.)
| Airport | Fare | Bags / seats | Ground transport (each way x 2) | Travel time to destination | True total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main airport | |||||
| Alternate airport 1 | |||||
| Alternate airport 2 |
Pick the lowest true total that still fits your arrival and departure times. If two options are close, choose the one with easier transport.
Ready to compare? Try the flight finder and check "I'll consider nearby alternate airports" for a reminder to test this on your route.
Verify with the source
Transport links, operating hours and airport facilities change over time. Check the airport's official website for current rail, coach and taxi options, and the last services of the day, before you book a flight that lands late. For unfamiliar terms, see our flight booking glossary.