If traveling more is on your 2026 wish list, good news: a new airfare forecast has identified the cheapest places to fly next year—and some fares are shockingly low. If $95 flights to Florida, sub-$200 fares to Central America and multiple chances to hop to Europe for under $450 sound good, this list is for you.
Using tens of thousands of data points from historical fares, live pricing and deal-frequency patterns, Dollar Flight Club’s 2026 Cheap Flight Forecast surfaced destinations that consistently offer low airfare—not one-off unicorn deals. The result: 15 domestic and 15 international spots where airfare reliably dips, plus the best times to go.
The result is a list of 15 international and 15 domestic destinations where travelers can stretch their budgets without sacrificing the experience. Some top performers include San Salvador, where fares hover around $198; Lisbon, where Dollar Flight Club is seeing repeat deals under $500; and Medellín, which comes up often in the drier winter months. Domestically, cities like Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Orlando, Charlotte and Denver deliver consistently low fares, especially if you’re flexible with dates.
Seasonality plays a major role, too. Europe and U.S. national parks are favored in spring, fall produces some of the softest airfare across the board and winter rewards sunny budget breaks—if you can time your trip just right. Flying on holidays—the actual day—can also bring deep savings.
Below, you’ll find the full list:
Related: Delta’s New Flight Will Make History With First-of-Its-Kind Route
Top 15 Cheapest U.S. Destinations for 2026
(Average roundtrip prices)
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) — $95
Chicago (ORD/MDW) — $94
Pittsburgh (PIT) — $108
Dallas (DFW/DAL) — $129
Des Moines (DSM) — $110
Orlando Sanford (SFB) — $95
Top 15 Cheapest International Destinations
(Average roundtrip prices)
San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) — $198
Madrid, Spain (MAD) — $438
Guatemala City (GUA) — $221
León/Guanajuato (BJX) — $241
San José, Costa Rica (SJO) — $239
Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) — $239
Santo Domingo (SDQ) — $261
All this means 2026 is shaping up to be one of the best-value travel years in recent memory. With dozens of destinations pricing well under the national average, the cheapest places to fly next year may also become your new favorite places to explore.
Related: American Airlines Is Quietly Raising Bag Fees on Certain Flights
Sources: Dollar Flight Club “30 Cheapest Places to Fly in 2026” Report
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.