If you are planning to travel by air in the U.S., you might be wondering which airline to choose. There are many factors to consider, such as price, comfort, service, reliability, and safety. In this post we will compare five popular and low-cost U.S. airlines:
Emirates Airlines
Emirates is best known for luxury and long-haul international routes, but travelers looking to fly cheap within the U.S. may find it less practical. The airline operates primarily out of major U.S. gateways like New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Boston (BOS), Miami (MIA), and a few others, with nonstop service to its hub in Dubai and onward to 150+ destinations worldwide. This means Emirates does not offer extensive domestic U.S. routes the way budget carriers do, so prices for U.S. departures are usually higher than typical low-cost airlines.
That said, Emirates does occasionally run competitive fares from the U.S. to international destinations, especially during off-peak travel seasons. Economy passengers still enjoy perks such as free checked baggage (usually one or two bags depending on the route), complimentary meals and drinks, and the industry-leading ICE entertainment system. Unlike many U.S. airlines, these extras are already included in the ticket price, which can make Emirates feel like a better overall value if you’re comparing it to a domestic airline that charges for every add-on.
For budget-minded U.S. flyers, Emirates is not the first choice for cheap short-haul trips, but it can be an excellent option for travelers seeking affordable comfort on long international journeys when a good fare deal is available.
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is known for its high-quality service, spacious seats, free snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, and live TV and movies on every seatback. Also offers a loyalty program called TrueBlue, which allows you to earn points for every dollar spent on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.
JetBlue has a flexible cancellation policy, which allows you to change or cancel your flight for free up to 24 hours before departure, or for a fee within 24 hours. Also has a price match guarantee, which means that if you find a lower fare for the same flight on another website, JetBlue will match it and give you a $50 credit for future travel. Flies to over 100 destinations, including some major cities like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. However, JetBlue does not fly to some smaller or less popular destinations, and may have limited flight options or higher fares for some routes. JetBlue also charges extra for checked bags, seat selection, and priority boarding.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest is famous for its warm and fun-loving staff, no charge for checked luggage, no fees for changing or canceling flights, and free seating choice, which lets you pick any seat that is open on the plane. Southwest also has a loyalty program called Rapid Rewards, which lets you earn points for every flight, hotel, car rental, and more. Southwest flies to over 100 places, including some big cities like Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. However, Southwest does not fly to some smaller or less popular places, and may have fewer flight options or more expensive fares for some routes. Southwest also does not have seatback entertainment, Wi-Fi, or meals on board, and you may have to board in groups based on your check-in time.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit is known for its extremely low fares, which can be as low as $9 one-way. However, Spirit also charges extra for almost everything else, including carry-on bags, checked bags, seat selection, printing boarding passes, snacks and drinks, and customer service. Spirit also has a strict cancellation policy, which does not allow any changes or refunds after 24 hours of booking, unless you purchase a more expensive flexible fare. Spirit also offers a loyalty program called Free Spirit, which allows you to earn points for every flight, hotel, car rental, and more. Spirit flies to over 70 destinations, including some major cities like Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York. However, Spirit does not fly to some smaller or less popular destinations, and may have limited flight options or higher fares for some routes. Spirit also does not offer seatback entertainment, Wi-Fi, or meals on board, and you may experience frequent delays, cancellations, or poor customer service.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier is similar to Spirit in terms of its low fares and high fees, but it also offers some perks, such as more legroom, animal-themed planes, and a loyalty program called Frontier Miles, which allows you to earn miles for every flight, hotel, car rental, and more. Frontier also has a flexible cancellation policy, which allows you to change or cancel your flight for free up to 60 days before departure, or for a fee within 60 days. Frontier flies to over 100 destinations, including some major cities like Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, Philadelphia, and Seattle. However, Frontier does not fly to some smaller or less popular destinations, and may have limited flight options or higher fares for some routes. Frontier also does not offer seatback entertainment, Wi-Fi, or meals on board, and you may experience frequent delays, cancellations, or poor customer service.
Allegiant Air
Allegiant is known for its cheap fares and nonstop flights to smaller or less popular destinations, such as Asheville, Bellingham, Grand Junction, and Punta Gorda. Allegiant also offers vacation packages, which include flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities. Allegiant also has a loyalty program called myAllegiant, which allows you to earn points for every flight, hotel, car rental, and more. Allegiant has a flexible cancellation policy, which allows you to change or cancel your flight for free up to 7 days before departure, or for a fee within 7 days. Allegiant flies to over 100 destinations, but most of them are small or regional airports, and you may have to drive a long distance to reach them. Allegiant also charges extra for carry-on bags, checked bags, seat selection, snacks and drinks, and customer service. Allegiant also does not offer seatback entertainment, Wi-Fi, or meals on board, and you may experience frequent delays, cancellations, or poor customer service.
How to Choose the Best Airline for Your Next Trip
There is no clear winner among the five airlines we compared. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your preferences, budget, and destination.
Here are some tips on how to choose the best airline for your next trip:
Compare Fares and Fees
The cheapest fare might not be the best deal if you have to pay extra for bags, seats, or other services. Use online tools such as Google Flights, Kayak, or Skyscanner to compare the total cost of your flight, including taxes and fees.
Check the Route and Schedule
Some airlines might not fly to your desired airport, or might have fewer or less convenient flights. Check the airline's website or app to see the available options and choose the one that suits your needs.
Read Reviews and Ratings
You can get a sense of the quality and reliability of an airline by reading reviews from other travelers. You can also check ratings from organizations such as J.D. Power, Skytrax, or AirlineRatings, which rank airlines based on various criteria such as customer satisfaction, safety, and performance.
Consider your Comfort and Preferences
If you value comfort, entertainment, or service, you might want to choose an airline that offers more legroom, inflight amenities, or friendly staff. If you don't mind a basic service, you might want to save money by choosing an ultra-low-cost carrier. If you have special needs or requests, you might want to contact the airline in advance or check their policies online.
Conclusion
Flying cheap in the U.S. comes down to balancing cost with comfort and convenience. JetBlue and Southwest often strike the best middle ground, offering competitive fares with more amenities included. If your main goal is rock-bottom pricing, Spirit and Frontier can get you there, though you’ll want to factor in their extra fees. Allegiant is a strong choice for travelers heading to smaller or regional airports, while Emirates—though not a domestic budget airline—can sometimes surprise with good value on long-haul international trips from the U.S.
The key is to compare total costs, routes, and perks before you book. By knowing what each airline offers and where they cut corners, you can choose the one that matches your budget and travel style. With the right pick, flying cheap in the U.S. doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your entire travel experience.
The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Comments 2 comments
Nice list! I’ve flown Spirit before and learned the hard way about all the extra fees 😅 JetBlue seems like a safer bet for comfort
This is super helpful! I always get confused about which budget airline is actually worth it