Dollar Flight Club's latest forecast reveals the top-value cities and offers tips on the best times to book for the lowest fares.
Ready to plan your biggest year of travel yet without breaking the bank?
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The new year often sparks the desire to maximize your experiences and make the next 12 months truly memorable. If you're a frequent reader, odds are your goals include plenty of new journeys. The good news is that, per Dollar Flight Club's data, exploring the world in 2026 can be surprisingly affordable.
At the start of December, Dollar Flight Club published its yearly "Cheap Flight Forecast." This report identifies the 30 most economical places to visit in 2026, split evenly between 15 domestic hubs and 15 international hotspots.
To compile the list, analysts evaluated cities based on their average low costs and how often discounts appear. They also considered factors like ease of access and overall traveler value to highlight reliable, affordable options rather than just one-off price glitches. Finding cheap airport car parking at these major hubs further adds to the overall savings.
The team also monitored price fluctuations by month and day to help travelers identify the ideal booking window. Dollar Flight Club provides specific strategies for every destination – such as flying mid-week or utilizing "one-way stitching" – to help you save. They even prioritized airports with high flight volumes to ensure you have plenty of travel options and manageable airport parking rates.
The data crowned Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as the top budget-friendly domestic city for 2026. With tickets averaging around $95, it stands out for its frequent deals. While a few other cities had lower raw prices, Fort Lauderdale's high volume of discounts earned it the number one spot.
Following closely is Orlando, with typical fares hovering around $105. The remaining top five include Chicago ($94), Pittsburgh ($108), and Dallas ($129). Many travelers find that using a park and shuttle service at these busy airports helps keep their total trip costs even lower.
Seasonal trends also play a major role: winter is ideal for visiting Florida; spring is the best time for Denver; and summer is perfect for Orlando. However, fall is considered the strongest season for bargain hunters overall, as prices tend to drop across most markets during these months.
The main takeaway from Dollar Flight Club is that being flexible with your departure point and timing your purchase correctly is the secret to unlocking lower fares across the globe.
Below are the 15 most budget-friendly domestic destinations for 2026:
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL): ~$95
- Orlando, Florida (MCO): ~$105
- Chicago, Illinois (MDW & ORD): ~$94
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PIT): ~$108
- Dallas, Texas (DFW & DAL): ~$129
- Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT): ~$92
- Detroit, Michigan (DTW): ~$119
- Knoxville, Tennessee (TYS): ~$104
- Pensacola, Florida (PNS): ~$108
- Des Moines, Iowa (DSM): ~$110
- Miami, Florida (MIA): ~$115
- Orlando Sanford, Florida (SFB): ~$95
- Phoenix, Arizona (PHX): ~$115
- Denver, Colorado (DEN): ~$110
- Cleveland, Ohio (CLE): ~$110
