The Best Cities For Frequent Fliers To Call Home

Even the most dedicated frequent flier needs a home base to return to. As remote work continues to thrive and digital nomadism grows in popularity, most of us still find ourselves constrained by vacation days. But where should those who love to travel consider settling down when they’re not jet-setting? Which cities provide the best access to international adventures while also allowing for quick getaways during long weekends?

We analyzed the data to identify the best cities that offer direct flights to a variety of destinations at reasonable ticket prices.

Summary of the Best Cities for Frequent Fliers

Florida boasts four of the top ten cities for travelers, making it an ideal state for frequent fliers.
While smaller cities may offer lower living costs, they can’t match the extensive flight options available in larger metropolitan areas.
Major hubs like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles provide the most direct international flight options.
For budget-conscious travelers, Long Beach, California is a great choice for affordable tickets.
According to our findings, Fort Lauderdale, FL ranks as the top city for frequent fliers.
On the other hand, cities like Birmingham, Alabama, Dayton, Ohio, and Burlington, Vermont fall to the bottom of the list.

The Best Cities for Frequent Fliers

Continue reading to discover how we determined the best cities for frequent fliers and where your city ranks.

How We Determined the Best Cities for Travelers

We evaluated 88 cities based on three key factors:

Number of Direct Flight Locations
Number of International Destinations
Average Ticket Cost

Cities were categorized into three groups: those with 50 or more direct flight options, those with 10 or more direct flight options, and those with fewer than 10 direct flight options. Our data on direct flights was sourced from Flight Connections. International flight data was obtained from Flight Connection, with additional insights from NonstopFrom. A greater number of direct destinations enhances a city’s appeal for frequent fliers, accounting for 80% of our ranking.

Average ticket pricing was referenced from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, contributing the remaining 20% to the overall score. Lower ticket prices indicate a more favorable city for frequent travelers, as the costs can accumulate quickly.

We based our analysis on the busiest airport in each city to compile the aforementioned data.

Final Thoughts on the Best Cities for Frequent Fliers

In conclusion, the cities listed here represent the best options for frequent fliers, offering a wide range of destinations and competitive ticket prices.

Ultimately, the choice of where to live is subjective. If your travel frequency includes trips to a remote Alaskan village, the value of a direct flight there can be immeasurable. Likewise, those with ample vacation time might find layovers or longer travel distances to be manageable.

Best (and Worst) Cities for Frequent Fliers

Rank	City	Average Ticket Cost	International Destinations	Direct Destinations
1	Fort Lauderdale, FL	250	64	50+
2	Orlando, FL	242	49	50+
3	Miami, FL	330	104	50+
4	Chicago, IL	327	64	50+
5	Los Angeles, CA	343	84	50+
6	Boston, MA	329	56	50+
7	Denver, CO	289	26	50+
8	Las Vegas, NV	236	23	50+
9	Tampa, FL	307	16	50+
10	San Jose, CA	296	10	50+
11	New York, NY	368	111	50+
12	San Francisco, CA	344	47	50+
13	Atlanta, GA	362	69	50+
14	Seattle, WA	328	24	50+
15	Baltimore, MD	321	11	50+
16	Oakland, CA	297	6	50+
17	Durham, NC	311	6	50+
17	Raleigh, NC	311	6	50+
19	Minneapolis, MN	345	27	50+
20	Austin, TX	324	7	50+
21	Houston, TX	377	65	50+
22	San Diego, CA	322	6	50+
23	New Orleans, LA	283	4	50+
24	Portland, OR	332	8	50+
25	Washington, DC	364	43	50+
25	Detroit, MI	360	30	50+
27	Philadelphia, PA	354	26	50+
28	Cincinnati, OH	314	5	50+
29	Dallas, TX	378	51	50+
30	Newark, NJ	394	75	50+
31	Sacramento, CA	333	4	50+
32	Cleveland, OH	307	2	50+
33	Ontario, CA	335	4	50+
34	Salt Lake City, UT	366	8	50+
35	Nashville-Davidson, TN	331	3	50+
36	St. Louis, MO	365	6	50+
37	Charlotte, NC	398	36	50+
38	San Antonio, TX	352	4	50+
39	Palm Beach, FL	332	1	50+
40	Pittsburgh, PA	353	3	50+
40	Charleston, SC	336	1	50+
42	Indianapolis, IN	360	3	50+
43	Columbus, OH	358	1	50+
44	Kansas City, KS	360	1	50+
45	Long Beach, CA	235	0	10+
46	Pasadena, CA	280	0	10+
47	Buffalo, NY	319	0	10+
48	Jacksonville, FL	328	0	10+
49	Milwaukee, WI	346	2	10+
50	Hartford, CT	377	4	10+
51	Reno, NV	350	1	10+
52	Providence, RI	333	0	10+
53	Savannah, GA	338	0	10+
54	Boise, ID	344	0	10+
55	Phoenix, AZ	349	0	10+
56	Spokane, WA	349	0	10+
57	Syracuse, NY	350	0	10+
58	Albuquerque, NM	363	0	10+
59	Rochester, NY	367	0	10+
60	El Paso, TX	369	0	10+
61	Memphis, TN	388	1	10+
61	Omaha, NE	371	0	10+
63	Portland, ME	374	0	10+
64	Louisville, KY	377	0	10+
65	Fresno, CA	410	3	10+
66	Grand Rapids, MI	377	0	10+
67	Knoxville, TN	383	0	10+
68	Colorado Springs, CO	385	0	10+
69	Santa Ana, CA	386	0	10+
70	Des Moines, IA	386	0	10+
71	Oklahoma, OK	389	0	10+
72	Richmond, VA	390	0	10+
73	Albany, NY	391	0	10+
74	Wichita, KS	392	0	10+
75	Manchester, NH	392	0	10+
76	Norfolk, VA	393	0	10+
76	Virginia Beach, VA	393	0	10+
78	Tucson, AZ	396	0	10+
79	Tulsa, OK	401	0	10+
80	Pensacola, FL	404	0	10+
81	Greenville, SC	405	0	10+
82	Harrisburg, PA	406	0	10+
83	Greensboro, NC	406	0	10+
84	Little Rock, AR	418	0	10+
85	Madison, WI	439	0	10+
86	Birmingham, AL	441	0	10+
87	Dayton, OH	445	0	10+
88	Burlington, VT	385	0	<10

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Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.

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