Flight Forecast 2026: Surprisingly Affordable Destinations Revealed
Despite ongoing volatility in air travel pricing, savvy travelers can still find remarkable deals. A new analysis of flight data from Skyscanner reveals the most affordable domestic and international destinations for departures in March 2026, offering a glimmer of hope for budget-conscious adventurers. According to travel trends, flexibility remains paramount, with travelers benefiting from open dates, alternative routes, and even considering nearby airports.
The Shifting Landscape of Airfare
Flight prices have become increasingly unpredictable in recent years, but value hasn’t vanished entirely. As a global travel trends expert at Skyscanner notes, “Flexible travel dates and off-peak seasons can lead to significant savings on flights.” To pinpoint the best opportunities, Skyscanner analyzed data from the largest airport in every U.S. state, identifying the cheapest options for both domestic and international travel. While many of these flights are direct, some may involve short connections, all representing the most affordable choices for stretching travel budgets. It’s important to remember that prices are subject to change.
State-by-State Breakdown: Cheapest Flights for March 2026
Here’s a look at the most affordable flight options from major airports across the United States:
Alabama
- Airport: Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
- Domestic: Nashville, TN — $130
- International: Cancun, Mexico — $247
Alaska
- Airport: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
- Domestic: Las Vegas, NV — $135
- International: Vancouver, Canada — $234
Arizona
- Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Domestic: Los Angeles, CA — $41
- International: Calgary, Canada — $75
Arkansas
- Airport: Little Rock / Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
- Domestic: Denver, CO — $114
- International: Athens, Greece — $274
California
- Airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Domestic: Las Vegas, NV — $38
- International: San Salvador, El Salvador — $110
- Airport: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Domestic: Seattle, WA — $50
- International: Guatemala City, Guatemala — $147
Colorado
- Airport: Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Domestic: Phoenix, AZ — $45
- International: Merida, Mexico — $230
Connecticut
- Airport: Bradley International Airport (BDL)
- Domestic: Richmond, VA — $56
- International: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — $159
Delaware
- Airport: Wilmington Airport (ILG)
- Domestic: Nashville, TN — $262
- International: London, United Kingdom — $245
Florida
- Airport: Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Domestic: New York, NY — $42
- International: San Salvador, El Salvador — $112
Georgia
- Airport: Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport (ATL)
- Domestic: Orlando, FL — $38
- International: Vancouver, Canada — $102
Hawaii
- Airport: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
- Domestic: Miami, FL — $39
- International: Guatemala City, Guatemala — $217
Idaho
- Airport: Boise Airport (BOI)
- Domestic: Seattle, WA — $61
- International: Manzanillo, Mexico — $153
Illinois
- Airport: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Domestic: Minneapolis, MN — $48
- International: Toronto, Canada — $90
Indiana
- Airport: Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
- Domestic: Savannah, GA — $75
- International: San Jose, Costa Rica — $210
Iowa
- Airport: Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
- Domestic: Houston, TX — $106
- International: Paris, France — $281
Kansas
- Airport: Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
- Domestic: Los Angeles, CA — $93
- International: Cancun, Mexico — $220
Kentucky
- Airport: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Domestic: Charleston, SC — $47
- International: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — $216
Louisiana
- Airport: New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY)
- Domestic: Fort Lauderdale, FL — $49
- International: San Pedro Sula, Honduras — $130
Maine
- Airport: Portland International Jetport (PWM)
- Domestic: Salt Lake City, UT — $41
- International: Istanbul, Turkey — $193
Maryland
- Airport: Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)
- Domestic: New Haven, CT — $46
- International: Guatemala City, Guatemala — $113
Massachusetts
- Airport: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Domestic: Miami, FL — $50
- International: Dublin, Ireland — $171
Michigan
- Airport: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- Domestic: Tampa, FL — $50
- International: Cancun, Mexico — $157
Minnesota
- Airport: Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Domestic: Chicago, IL — $104
- International: Dublin, Ireland — $179
Mississippi
- Airport: Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- Domestic: Nashville, TN — $183
- International: Madrid, Spain — $360
Missouri
- Airport: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
- Domestic: Denver, CO — $121
- International: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — $160
Montana
- Airport: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
- Domestic: New York, NY — $86
- International: Nassau, Bahamas — $370
Nebraska
- Airport: Eppley Airfield (OMA)
- Domestic: Tampa, FL — $91
- International: Cancun, Mexico — $203
Nevada
- Airport: Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Domestic: Fresno, CA — $40
- International: Vancouver, Canada — $56
New Hampshire
- Airport: Manchester–Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
- Domestic: Charleston, SC — $50
- International: Dublin, Ireland — $276
New Jersey
- Airport: Newark International Airport (EWR)
- Domestic: Atlanta, GA — $49
- International: Milan, Italy — $161
New Mexico
- Airport: Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Domestic: Seattle, WA — $75
- International: Querétaro, Mexico — $198
New York
- Airport: LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Domestic: Chicago, IL — $56
- International: Edinburgh, Scotland — $210
North Carolina
- Airport: Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Domestic: Houston, TX — $60
- International: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — $216
North Dakota
- Airport: Hector International Airport (FAR)
- Domestic: Phoenix, AZ — $94
- International: Vancouver, Canada — $230
Ohio
- Airport: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Domestic: Philadelphia, PA — $65
- International: Rome, Italy — $335
Oklahoma
- Airport: Will Rogers International Airport (OKC)
- Domestic: Las Vegas, NV — $100
- International: Dublin, Ireland — $218
Oregon
- Airport: Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Domestic: Salt Lake City, UT — $41
- International: Mexico City, Mexico — $124
Pennsylvania
- Airport: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Domestic: Fort Lauderdale, FL — $39
- International: Guadalajara, Mexico — $137
Rhode Island
- Airport: Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- Domestic: Charleston, SC — $51
- International: Montego Bay, Jamaica — $186
South Carolina
- Airport: Charleston International Airport (CHS)
- Domestic: Providence, RI — $55
- International: Cancun, Mexico — $134
South Dakota
- Airport: Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)
- Domestic: Fort Lauderdale, FL — $86
- International: Lisbon, Portugal — $261
Tennessee
- Airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Domestic: Minneapolis, MN — $61
- International: Nassau, Bahamas — $208
Texas
- Airport: Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Domestic: Washington, D.C. — $82
- International: San Luis Potosi, Mexico — $84
Utah
- Airport: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- Domestic: Portland, OR — $41
- International: Vancouver, Canada — $178
Vermont
- Airport: Burlington International Airport (BTV)
- Domestic: Orlando, FL — $100
- International: Montego Bay, Jamaica — $252
Virginia
- Airport: Richmond International (RIC)
- Domestic: New Orleans, LA — $86
- International: San Pedro Sula, Honduras — $123
Washington
- Airport: Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Domestic: Phoenix, AZ — $44
- International: Dublin, Ireland — $176
West Virginia
- Airport: West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW)
- Domestic: Tampa, FL — $68
- International: Bogotá, Colombia — $281
Wisconsin
- Airport: Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA)
- Domestic: Fort Myers, FL — $369
- International: Madrid, Spain — $291
Wyoming
- Airport: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)
- Domestic: San Diego, CA — $120
- International: San Jose, Costa Rica — $204
Planning for 2026: Flexibility is Key
These findings underscore the importance of flexibility when planning travel in 2026. By remaining open to different dates, routes, and even airports, travelers can unlock significant savings and experience the world without breaking the bank.
