How to find cheap flights to Ontario?

✈️ Planning a trip to Southern California and considering Ontario International Airport (ONT)? With its convenient Inland Empire location, less crowding than bigger hubs, and a mix of budget and legacy airlines, Ontario (ONT) can be a great bargain—if you know how to hunt smart deals. This guide walks you through sample fares, airline hacks, booking windows, nonstop routes, baggage-fee savings, travel insurance considerations, airport tips, and more to help you fly into ONT for less.


🚀 Flight Deals to Ontario (ONT)

With flexible dates and a bit of patience, you can often spot great deals flying into Ontario. Sample round-trip prices many travelers find include:

  • 🛫 Seattle (SEA → ONT) — ~$79–$159 round-trip
  • 🛫 Las Vegas (LAS → ONT) — ~$49–$119 round-trip on sale fares
  • 🛫 Phoenix (PHX → ONT) — ~$89–$169 round-trip when fares dip
  • 🛫 Denver (DEN → ONT) — ~$109–$189 round-trip during off-peak periods
  • 🛫 Salt Lake City (SLC → ONT) — ~$99–$179 round-trip on frequent Delta/Alaska routes

Best tools for tracking: Google Flights, KAYAK, or airlines’ own sale pages.


🛫 Nonstop Flights — Airlines & Typical Prices

Ontario International (ONT) is served by several major and low-cost carriers with nonstop or one-stop routing. Typical one-way pricing bands for nonstop/connection flights:

  • ✈️ LAS ↔ ONT — Spirit / Southwest: $49–$119
  • ✈️ SEA ↔ ONT — Alaska Airlines: $79–$159
  • ✈️ PHX ↔ ONT — American / Alaska: $89–$169
  • ✈️ DEN ↔ ONT — United / Southwest: $109–$189
  • ✈️ SLC ↔ ONT — Delta / Alaska: $99–$179

ONS: Route availability varies by season — check aggregators and airline sites for current nonstop schedules.


📆 Best Times to Book Flights to Ontario

  • 📅 Book **3–7 weeks before departure** for lowest fares on domestic flights to ONT.
  • ✈️ Travel days with historically lower demand: **Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday**.
  • ⏰ Browse early morning or late-night — airlines often refresh fares overnight.
  • 🔎 Use flexible-date searches (±3 days) to reveal hidden price dips.

📉 Cheapest Month to Fly to ONT

The most budget-friendly windows for Ontario flights are usually:
– **January–February** (post-holiday lull)
– **Late September–October** (after summer vacation season)
During these months, many routes drop 20–40% below summer or holiday rates.


🧠 Airline Hacks That Save Money

  • 🔁 Try booking two one-way tickets (on different airlines) — often cheaper than a roundtrip.
  • 📍 Compare nearby airports (ONT vs LAX vs BUR) — small savings on airfare may be offset by ground-transport costs.
  • 🕵️ Use private/incognito browsing to avoid fare inflation from repeated searches.
  • 📲 Combine tools: fare alerts + flexible-date grids + airline newsletters for best results.
  • ✈️ Fly red-eye or early-morning flights — usually less expensive and less crowded.

🏟️ Ontario Airport Guide (ONT)

  • 📍 Location: Inland Empire — ~40 min from downtown Los Angeles, easy freeway access.
  • 🛫 Less busy than LAX — shorter security lines and faster baggage claim.
  • 🚗 Ground transport: on-site rental cars, shuttle services, rideshare — convenient for regional travel.
  • 📅 Parking: long-term economy lots available for budget-savvy travelers.
  • ⚠️ Note: Check terminal and airline info carefully — ONT serves both low-cost and legacy carriers.

Official airport info: flyontario.com


💳 Credit Card Travel Tips

  • 💼 Use cards that include **free checked bags** when flying legacy carriers into ONT — packs of savings for travelers with luggage.
  • 🔁 Flexible-points cards (Chase, Amex, Capital One) give freedom to book on different airlines depending on sale fares.
  • 🛡️ Choose cards with **trip delay or cancellation protection** — useful for multi-leg or weather-sensitive itineraries.
  • 🎫 Sometimes booking via card travel portals yields bonus points or slightly discounted fares — worth comparing against base fares.

⏱️ Last-Minute Flights & Strategies

Need to travel soon? Here’s how to maximize your chances of a good fare to ONT within 0–5 days of departure:

  • 📲 Monitor low-cost carrier (Spirit, Southwest) apps late at night — unsold seats often drop in price.
  • 🎯 Search one-way availability first — combining two separate legs may beat last-minute round-trip pricing.
  • 🚗 Consider flying into a nearby airport (LAX, BUR) + ride/rental — sometimes cheaper than paying premium for ONT last-minute.
  • 🧭 Use points if cash fares spike — award inventory can remain even when cash tickets are expensive.

🛡️ Travel Insurance Tips

Because Southern California itineraries often include multiple connections, unpredictable traffic or weather, it’s wise to secure travel insurance covering:

  • ✅ Trip cancellation or interruption
  • ✅ Flight delay and missed-connection protection
  • ✅ Lost or delayed baggage — handy if you travel with surf or outdoor gear

Compare plans on Squaremouth to match coverage to your travel style.


🧳 Baggage Fees & What to Expect

  • 🧾 Legacy carriers typically charge $30–$35 for the first checked bag (one-way).
  • ✈️ Low-cost airlines (Spirit, Frontier) add extra fees for carry-on and checked bags — often $45–$65 per leg.
  • 🎒 If possible, travel with only carry-on — especially on low-cost carriers — to avoid large fees.
  • 💳 Using travel cards that waive baggage fees can save $60–$140 per roundtrip for travelers with luggage.

💡 Final Smart Tip

When searching for flights to Southern California, always run a multi-airport check including ONT, LAX, BUR, and even SNA. Sometimes a slightly higher fare to ONT offers big savings in ground transport and convenience — other times, a LAX or BUR flight plus rideshare might beat total cost. Compare full trip cost (fare + bags + transport + drive time) before booking.