✈️ Which Airlines Offer the Lowest Fares to the USA?
When you’re hunting for cheap flights to the United States, the **airline you choose** can make a major difference in price. Some carriers are consistently among the lowest‑fare options due to their route networks, seasonal promotions, or low‑cost business models. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of airlines that often offer the lowest prices to U.S. destinations, including tips to maximize your savings.
🌍 International Airlines with Low Fares to the USA
These airlines frequently offer competitive prices on transatlantic, transpacific, and other international routes into major U.S. gateways.
- TAP Air Portugal – Known for great Europe → East Coast deals (e.g., to NYC, BOS) with transits through Lisbon.
- Norwegian / Norse Atlantic – Often among the lowest‑fare airlines from Europe to U.S. West & East Coast (seasonal patterns).
- LEVEL – Offers budget long‑haul flights from Europe to U.S. cities like Boston and Los Angeles.
- Icelandair – Stopover flights via Reykjavik can be cheaper than direct routes for Europe → USA travel.
- Air Canada & WestJet – Competitive from Europe and Asia into Canadian hubs (YYZ, YVR) and onward to U.S. connections.
- British Airways / Iberia – Often have sale pricing between major European cities and U.S. hubs.
✈️ Pro Tip: International low fares are most common when carriers run seasonal promotions — especially in early spring and fall shoulder periods.
🇺🇸 U.S. & North American Airlines Known for Low Fares
Once you’re already in the Americas or planning domestic travel within the USA, several airlines are known for offering the lowest base fares (before add‑ons like baggage):
- Spirit Airlines – Ultra‑low‑cost carrier with very low base fares, especially on short/medium domestic U.S. routes and some Caribbean flights.
- Frontier Airlines – Offers competitive basic fares across a wide U.S. network (charges extras for bags/seats).
- Allegiant Air – Focuses on smaller airports with low base pricing, ideal for vacation travel.
- Southwest Airlines – Not always the absolute cheapest on every route, but generous change policies and bags included often make it a better value.
- JetBlue – Competitive on Northeast U.S. and transcontinental flights, often undercuts major legacy carriers.
✈️ Note: Many “low‑fare” airlines charge extra for seats, bags, and other services. Always compare total fare (including add‑ons) to get the true price.
✈️ Major Full‑Service Airlines That Often Have Low Deals
Even traditional carriers can offer surprisingly cheap fares during sales or shoulder seasons — especially if you’re flexible with dates and airports.
- United Airlines – Competitive prices to major hubs (ORD, IAH, DEN, SFO).
- American Airlines – Good pricing on domestic routes and many international gateways.
- Delta Air Lines – Often has sale pricing to NYC, ATL, and West Coast cities.
- Air France / KLM – Regular sales between Europe and U.S. hubs (JFK, BOS, ATL, LAX).
Tip: Signing up for airline newsletters can alert you to flash sales that aren’t always shown by search engines.
🔎 How to Find the Lowest Fares from These Airlines
- Use multiple search tools: Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak
- Search “Everywhere”: Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” feature reveals the cheapest U.S. destinations from your city.
- Set price alerts: Receive email alerts when prices drop.
- Be flexible with dates: Mid‑week departures and shoulder seasons often yield the lowest prices.
- Compare nearby airports: Flying out of secondary hubs often lowers prices.
💸 Sample Airline Fare Examples (Illustrative)
| Airline/Route | Typical Low Fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TAP Air Portugal Europe → NYC |
≈ $350–$550 | Seasonal promotional fares |
| Norwegian / Norse Atlantic Europe → East/West Coast |
≈ $380–$700 | Often low in shoulder periods |
| Spirit Airlines Domestic U.S. |
≈ $60–$180 | Ultra‑low base fare |
| Frontier Airlines Domestic U.S. |
≈ $50–$170 | Low base fare with add‑ons |
| British Airways / Iberia Europe → USA |
≈ $400–$750 | Seasonal deals to major hubs |
Note: These fares are illustrative and fluctuate with seasonality, availability, and advance booking.
📍 Bottom Line
There’s no one “cheapest airline” every time — but a combination of **budget carriers, international value airlines, and seasonal sales from major carriers** will almost always yield the lowest prices to the USA.
To consistently find the best deals, combine the strategies above with price alerts, flexible date searches, and comparison tools. This approach helps you catch the lowest available fares whether you’re flying from Europe, Asia, Latin America, or within the United States.
