The 10 cheapest long-haul flights from the United States in 2026: routes, typical prices, best airlines, and when to book for the lowest fares.
Long-haul doesn't have to mean expensive. Several international routes from the US consistently offer surprisingly affordable fares thanks to intense competition, budget carrier entry, and strategic airline positioning. These 10 routes regularly deliver round-trip fares under $400 — sometimes well under.
Icelandair and PLAY compete fiercely on this route, driving fares to astonishingly low levels. Sub-$200 round-trips appear regularly in winter. The 5-hour flight makes it the most accessible European gateway from the East Coast. Bonus: Icelandair allows free stopovers in Reykjavik on connecting flights to Europe.
Avianca, Spirit, and JetBlue compete aggressively. Spirit regularly offers sub-$150 round-trips from Fort Lauderdale. The 3h40m flight time makes Colombia remarkably accessible. Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena are all major affordable destinations.
Zipair (JAL's budget subsidiary) disrupted this route with fares from $400 round-trip. ANA and JAL run sales bringing full-service fares to $500-600. The 11-hour flight is the gateway to Japan — and with the weak yen, Japan is more affordable than it's been in decades.
The world's most competitive transatlantic route. Norwegian, JetBlue, French Bee, and legacy carriers battle constantly. Sub-$300 round-trips are common in January-March and October-November. JetBlue's Core economy includes free Wi-Fi, which many legacy carriers charge for.
LATAM and Spirit compete on this route. Peru is incredibly affordable once you arrive — Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu await. Shoulder season fares (April-June, September-November) are cheapest.
New York to Lisbon (TAP, Norse Atlantic: from $280), New York to Paris (French Bee, Norse: from $290), Miami to Mexico City (Volaris, Aeromexico: from $150), Los Angeles to Cancún (Spirit, Volaris: from $180), New York to Santo Domingo (JetBlue, Spirit: from $200). All of these routes benefit from heavy competition between budget and legacy carriers.
Put these insights into action — compare prices from 100+ airlines:
The cheapest long-haul flights from the US consistently originate from hub airports — JFK, MIA, LAX, and SFO — where multiple carriers compete on the same routes. Positioning flights to these hubs can save more than the cost of the extra segment.
Long-haul budget carriers exist but often charge separately for meals, entertainment, and baggage. Compare the all-in cost before assuming they are cheaper than a full-service carrier with sales fare.
Put these ideas to work on your next booking. Use the search widget above to check current fares, compare across a couple of other platforms, and see how much difference these strategies make on your specific route and dates.
Use these rankings to narrow your options, then compare 2–3 finalists on your actual dates and route. Performance varies by corridor, season, and aircraft — a carrier that tops our rankings may not be the best on every single flight.
If you are deciding between two closely ranked options, go with whichever has the more generous change and cancellation policy. Travel plans shift, and flexibility has real value that does not show up in a ranking score.
Rankings shift as airlines update their products and new competitors enter the market. We refresh this list regularly, but always cross-reference with recent reviews if you are making a significant booking — a carrier may have upgraded (or downgraded) its service since our last update.
For route-specific advice and current pricing, use the search tools on this page and check our tips and guides section for booking strategies.
US to Mexico (Cancún, Mexico City) and US to the Caribbean (San Juan, Santo Domingo, Montego Bay) consistently offer the cheapest international fares, often under $200 round-trip. For long-haul, Reykjavik and Bogotá regularly appear under $200-250 round-trip.
January (New Year sales), Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Travel Tuesday, and September (end-of-summer sales) are the best times for long-haul fare sales. Error fares appear year-round. Set price alerts on Google Flights for your target routes and book when the price drops.