The secret's out: Flights just keep getting cheaper and cheaper this winter. However, I've had a hard time putting into perspective exactly how widespread inexpensive airfare has become for travel this coming December, January, February, and beyond.
We knew you could fly roundtrip to Europe in the $300s, we've covered that. And we even found some flights in the $300s roundtrip to Morocco and other parts of Northern Africa for this winter, so that's two continents. Of course you can fly within North American under $399 roundtrip easily, and there are usually some good ways to get to South America for low, low fares, too.
But could we find flights across the Pacific in the $300s? No way. Not possible … right?
Hawaiian Airlines would like a word.
Our flight deal analysts at Thrifty Traveler Premium found roundtrip flights from Seattle (SEA) to Tokyo (HND) and Osaka (KIX) for $377 roundtrip, and there were even flights from Las Vegas (LAS) to Tokyo (HND) for $385, too. The fares were jaw-dropping – at least 100% or more off the prices you'll typically find on those routes.
Add it all up, and that's five different continents you can fly to for under $399 roundtrip – unthinkable!
Asia: Tokyo from $377 Roundtrip!
Cheap flights to Japan aren't impossible. In fact, we've seen a pretty good run of deals in the $700s, $600s, and even $500s roundtrip over the past year. If you see fares in that range, you can be confident you got a good deal.
But if you see fares in the $300s … run, don't walk!
This deal scrambled my brain. The prospect of getting to Tokyo for less than $400 makes a positioning flight to the West Coast instantly worth it.
If you live in Seattle (SEA) – or any of these other West Coast cities – it's like hitting the jackpot!
The most improbable continent to find cheap flights to finally showed up. And it only gets easier from here!
Africa: Morocco for $365 RT!
Africa is more likely to see cheap flights than Asia, but still … getting a flight to the African continent for less than $500 is nearly impossible.
That's why these fares in the $300s set off alarm bells at Thrifty Traveler HQ.
Boston (BOS) often benefits from really cheap airfare thanks to some stiff competition at the Northeastern hub, but these fares aren't flying some budget airline – they're on Delta!
One quick connection in Atlanta (ATL) to fly the new route to Morocco for just $365 roundtrip is nearly unbeatable. In fact, it's the cheapest flight to Africa we've ever seen.
Europe: Spain, Greece, Italy and More from $282 RT
Flying to Europe in the $300s roundtrip is something that has become more common over the past few years. Competition to Europe is cutthroat, and the airlines have to offer massive bargains like this to compete in the off-season.
That's how you can fly to Rome (FCO) for $347 roundtrip …
… or Athens (ATH) for $372 roundtrip …
… or Barcelona (BCN) for $281 roundtrip.
It's a feeding frenzy of low fares for this winter, so long as you know where to look.
Of course, places like New York (JFK) often get the best deals, and that's because the competition is particularly fierce there. But if you look around, it's not impossible to find similarly cheap flights to Europe from other areas.
Take this flight deal to Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF), for example. All of these fares are in the $300s (and even some in the $200s) roundtrip for travel this winter.
Check the Northern Lights off your bucket list with one of these low fares – or book a flight to Helsinki (HEL) or Stockholm (ARN) this winter with similarly cheap roundtrip prices.
And don't forget about the OG of cheap flights to Europe: Dublin (DUB). Thanks to Aer Lingus, nonstop flights to Dublin, Ireland, can creep into the $300s roundtrip from time to time as well.
Europe? Check.
South America: Brazil, Colombia, or Peru from $254 RT
The next hardest continent to reach in the $300s is South America. While it's not a slam dunk to get low fares to our Western Hemisphere neighbors, it's entirely possible. We've seen it several times this year already.
This roundup of cheap flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU), for instance, included a stunning nonstop fare from Chicago (ORD) for just $385 roundtrip this winter – peak season in the Southern Hemisphere!
A little closer to home, it's easier to find cheap flights to Colombian cities like Bogotá (BOG) or Cartagena (CTG) in the $300s roundtrip … especially from a competitive market like Miami (MIA). These deals crept down into the $200s roundtrip from the South Florida hub, for instance.
And, of course, there's Peru – the gateway to Machu Picchu. A roundtrip flight to Lima (LIM) from our nation's capital in Washington, D.C. (IAD) could be yours for as low as $372 roundtrip, too!
South America in the $300s? Confirmed.
North America: Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and More
Here's the easiest one of all. Finding a flight on our own continent in the $300s (or less) is practically a walk in the park – and for a flight this winter, you might want an escape to the beach. Well, this is your year to go to the beach, let me tell you that!
Here's a perfect example: A roundup of the cheapest fares we could find to Tulum, Mexico (TQO).
From airports far and wide in North America, you could make your way to Tulum for some outstanding prices, whether you're coming all the way from Halifax (YHZ) for $270 roundtrip or are popping down from Wichita (ICT) for $388 roundtrip.
A similar pattern can be found to several other destinations throughout the Caribbean, too. We explored the best nonstop beach routes to the Caribbean and Central America a few weeks ago and found that prices were holding steady in the $200s and $300s from these cities and others.
And, of course, there's Hawaii. The most popular destination among our members by a wide margin – and for good reason! The always-good weather, stunning scenery, and lack of a passport requirement make a Hawaiian trip both adventurous and easy.
We search for Hawaii flights every day – usually multiple times a day – and routinely find fares in the $300s roundtrip from all over the U.S. This most recent deal we sent included more than 100 cities for winter availability on the islands.
The closer you stay to home, the better the deals get, too. We've also found tons of domestic flight deals to keep you on the mainland U.S. for remarkably affordable prices. Here are the last eight deals we sent our members – including fares from more than 200 U.S. and Canadian cities:
- Seattle, Washington (SEA) under $197 roundtrip
- San Diego, California (SAN) under $249 roundtrip
- Chicago, Illinois (ORD) under $199 roundtrip
- New York, New York (JFK, LGA, EWR) under $249 roundtrip
- Lake Tahoe (RNO) under $199 roundtrip
- Orlando, Florida (MCO) under $249 roundtrip
- Dallas, Texas (DFW) under $199 roundtrip
- Fort Myers, Florida (RSW) under $199 roundtrip
Bottom Line
Seeing the world for less is more in reach than ever this winter. In fact, the budget you set aside for your trip to Florida might be enough to take you to Africa or Japan, instead … seriously!
You can reach five different continents with roundtrip airfare in the $300s this winter if you know where to look.
