MINNEAPOLIS — You're not imagining things when it feels like you're paying significantly more to fly out of the Twin Cities.
Research released Monday by USA Today says the average airfare at MSP International Airport was $422 in 2023, a bump of $136 from 2021. That's a 48% increase, the highest percentage of any airport in the country, according to USA Today.
USA Today said Spokane International in Washington was second at 46%, followed by Chicago O'Hare International and Philadelphia International (43%) and Pensacola International (42%). Overall, the cost of flights at America’s 100 busiest airports is up 29% since 2021, but things are trending better in the short term: between 2022 and 2023 most flight prices leveled off and even slightly dropped.
If you're looking for the cheapest airports to fly in and out of, major tourist destinations like Orlando and Las Vegas are usually the ticket. Of the top 100 busiest domestic airports, Orlando-Sanford is the cheapest airport to fly out of with an average airfare price of $144.
The most expensive place to fly out of is our border-sharing neighbor to the east. Taking off from Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin costs an average of $548.
Surveys of 2,000 people across the nation who have flown in the past year show that the bottom line has become the biggest factor in how people decide whether to fly or drive. More than 40% of travelers say cost was the lead determining factor, followed by travel time and flight availability.
For more on the research, check out the USA Today website.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more from Take KARE of your Money:
Get the latest money-saving tips from Take KARE of your Money in our YouTube playlist:
