Many travelers are laser-focused on winter getaways or spring break vacations. But savvy travelers are already looking ahead for cheap flights in summer 2023.
We've been looking ahead to summer 2023 flights for months. More importantly, we've been finding and sending our Thrifty Traveler Premium members dozens of cheap fares – and Thrifty Traveler Premium+ members have been getting award alerts to lock in a trip for next summer using their points and miles, too.
Last year's surge in flight prices was tough and we're all but certain to see the same this summer – peak-summer travel always sees the highest demand, driving prices higher. But if you plan ahead and know where to look, you can still book a trip for this summer without dipping into your savings.
Whether it's a summer trip to Banff National Park, a cheap fare to Europe, or a lie-flat seat to Dublin using points, here are some of the best deals we've been finding for summer 2023.
The Best Cheap Flights for Summer 2023
Trust us: You don't have to spend a small fortune just to fly somewhere next summer.
Let's start in Alaska, where peak summer airfare can be tricky to find. But if you time it right, you can get deals under $396 roundtrip to our 49th state.
From just $217, you could fly to Anchorage (ANC) – and do it nonstop, in these cases – from June through August to see our nation's widest state. That's cheaper than many quick hops to Chicago or New York City.
But Alaska isn't for everyone. Maybe you're a beach-lover or a scuba diver. In either case, Belize is probably already on your list. If it's not, it should be at these prices.
These cheap fares are gone now – get the next deal in your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium!
This Denver fare to Belize was part of a great deal featuring more than a dozen U.S. cities. Those peak August fares are in a perfect sweet spot between the height of summer travel season and back-to-school season.
Looking closer to home? Why not fly to Jackson Hole (JAC), an ideal jumping off point to explore both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park … and book it for less than half the normal cost.
With international travel restrictions out the window, many travelers are dreaming of a trip to Europe in 2023. Why not start your trip overseas this summer with a bargain like this: Flights across the pond through the whole summer for $537 or less roundtrip!
These peak summer fares to Brussels are the perfect way to start a trip to Belgium or any multi-country jaunt through Europe. At about $500 or less, it's a fraction of what airlines typically charge for summer flights to Europe.
You may already know about Iceland and its peak summer midnight sun, but what you might not have known is how many nonstop routes from the U.S. to Iceland you can fly thanks to Delta and Icelandair … and just how cheap it can be to get there, even in the middle of summer.
There's another Nordic airline driving down prices to the rest of Europe, too. That's right, you can thank SAS for these insanely good flight prices in the $300s roundtrip. From Boston (BOS) to Newark (EWR), down to Miami (MIA), over to Chicago-O'hare (ORD) and all the way to San Francisco (SFO), you could take advantage of these fares from nearly all of SAS's North American outposts!
SAS economy is one thing, but let's look into flying business class for the price many travelers pay for an economy flight to Europe.
Only Thrifty Traveler Premium+ members get discounted business class fares like this one!
TAP Air Portugal Business Class is a comfortable ride that can come at an amazing value, too. Over the last few months, we keep finding great cash business class fares flying TAP, including some spectacular value from Canada!
Using Points & Miles for Summer 2023
When it comes to finding great award tickets, it pays to plan far ahead.
If you want any shot at getting a great deal using your points and miles for summer 2023, you should already be on the prowl for the best ways to put them to use. Finding award availability for flights that you can actually book with miles is no walk in the park … or you could let us do the legwork for you.
We've sent our Thrifty Traveler Premium+ hundreds of award alerts to use their points and miles over the last few months like this chance to fly Japan Airlines business class to Tokyo all year long, including the summer!
Thrifty Traveler Premium+ is the only service that sends both award deals to use points & miles as well as cheap domestic and international cash fares!
Sure, this deal has the always-popular cherry blossom season in Tokyo. But peak summer fares to a high-demand destination like Japan have been rare since it reopened in October. And flying this comfortably for this cheap is even rarer.
Want to get to Tokyo for even less? While it's not business class, we sent this fantastic deal flying Delta to Tokyo this summer recently, too. Every award alert comes with in-depth instructions on the best ways to book and how to secure your tickets.
Let's head the opposite way and cross the Atlantic instead. It's another incredibly comfortable seat in Aer Lingus business class – there's no better way to get to Dublin than this. We alerted Thrifty Traveler Premium+members to wide-open availability on several routes from the U.S. from just 50,000 points each way.
Another stylish transatlantic voyage that cropped up? Flying United Polaris business class for just 60,000 points. The best part? It includes summer 2023 availability into London, when fares are typically sky-high.
The cash rates on these seats would be astronomical, but that's the beauty of using points and miles to book business class.
The same goes for these Iberia business class seats, but we've helped our Thrifty Traveler Premium+ score lie-flat seats to Madrid (MAD) throughout 2023 for as low as just 34,000 miles each way! Even at 50,000 miles for a peak-summer trip, it's a steal.
If flying the sparkling Singapore Airlines Business Class is on your list, you could book it for just 81,000 miles on its quirky Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) to Manchester (MAN) route. We reviewed Singapore Airlines Business Class on the A350 on this route and loved the experience.
We're not just talking about business class flights either. For just 48,000 Delta SkyMiles roundtrip, you could fly nonstop from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Reykjavik (KEF) thanks to one of our favorite Delta SkyMiles flash sales! And this isn't a spring or fall situation, either: We're talking June flights, including during Iceland's famous midnight sun.
Get more Delta SkyMiles flash sales like this one, only with Thrifty Traveler Premium+!
And while we're using up our coffer of SkyMiles, take a look at this recent nationwide sale to Calgary (YYC). A flight to Calgary puts you right on the doorstep of Banff National Park, Lake Louise, and the unspoiled interior of British Columbia. And all you're paying is the taxes and fees!
Award fares for summer 2023 are out there and we are constantly hunting them for our Thrifty Traveler Premium+ subscribers. But let this be your warning: As we get closer to summer, those award alerts for peak summer travel will start to dwindle. Don't wait!
Bottom Line
If you wait too long to book your flights for summer 2023, you'll end up paying for it. But if you start looking and booking cheap summer 2023 flights now, you have way more great options.
Make sure you're subscribed to Thrifty Traveler Premium+ and get all the best summer 2023 flight deals.