OpinionAugust 24, 2026 — 5:00amMajor airports such as London Heathrow and New York JFK may be well connected, but they’re not the only runways in town. Seeking out smaller alternatives can mean flying for less.For instance, everybody knows Heathrow, and many also know Gatwick, but did you know that four other major airports also serve the British capital? London’s City Airport, Southend, Stansted and Luton are all at your disposal – and choosing one airport over another could cut your airfare in half.Western Sydney Airport will create an alternative departure point from the city, and you may find it easier to find reward seats on flights from the new airport.That’s partially because smaller airports play host to lower-cost airlines that shun the bigger hubs and their correspondingly higher fees. But some airlines also serve multiple airports in the same city, opening the door to savings – if you’re savvy enough to search.Taking a London-Berlin flight? You could board British Airways from Heathrow or City Airport, Eurowings from Heathrow, Ryanair from Stansted, or EasyJet from Gatwick, Luton or Southend.In November 2026, British Airways’ economy fares start at £90 ($172) from Heathrow but £80 from City Airport. In business class, Heathrow flights begin at £225, versus lead-in fares of £207 departing from City Airport. Even on the same airline, picking one airport over another can trim almost $35 from the ticket price. With the whole family in tow, it adds up.Sign up for the Traveller newsletterThe latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.When hunting down your next airfare bargain, the best move is to browse for your origin and destination by city name, not by airport.Fixed on Heathrow? Eurowings’ fares start at £59.99 in economy and £99.99 in business class on comparable dates. But broadening your search to Luton gains the option of EasyJet from £46.99. Ryanair goes one better from Stansted with starter fares from £32.79, which EasyJet trumps from Gatwick at £31.99. But on this route, Southend Airport wins the price war, with EasyJet flights from just £24.49 – all to the same destination (checked baggage not included).The pattern is clear. Shopping around by airport, not only by airline, can make a big difference.Sydney will get its own taste of the airport price wars when Western Sydney Airport (WSI) starts passenger operations from October 2026. By early 2027, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, QantasLink, Singapore Airlines and VietJet Air will all fly from WSI.Those spending frequent flyer points also have a reason to consider both airports when making plans. Flights from one of Sydney’s airports may have reward seats available when those from the other airport do not. Even before launch, Singapore Airlines’ flights from WSI are proving easier to nab with points than those from Mascot – including those coveted seats in business class. The same can also be true of other airlines serving multiple airports in the same city.Convenience can be the biggest trade-off with an airport swap. Secondary airports don’t always share the same transport links as the larger hubs, and often reside further away from the city centre, adding to travel times and taxi fares.Western Sydney Airport is about 44 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD, compared with about nine kilometres for Sydney International (Kingsford Smith) in Mascot. But Western Sydney Airport chief executive Simon Hickey expects that other efficiencies will balance things out for city-bound travellers.“From wheels down [at WSI] to the CBD, it’s about the same time as it would be coming from wheels down through Kingsford Smith Airport because we’ve got faster taxiways,” Hickey says. “So, less taxiing time, an easier process through the airport, and then you’re just onto a motorway with no traffic lights.”The appeal of WSI will also grow as its route map expands, creating more competition for transit travellers connecting between flights. After all, when the goal is to move from one aircraft to the next, it’s the fare price and flight timings that matter, not proximity to the city.In Melbourne, Avalon Airport is the alternative to Tullamarine, but not to the same extent as WSI will be for Sydney. Jetstar is the sole passenger airline serving Avalon, and with a comparatively smaller route network than is available from Tullamarine, the potential savings from switching airports are limited.Brisbane’s nearest alternative is Gold Coast Airport – often a haven for cheaper flights compared with its capital city counterpart. But at about 100 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, it can take as long to get to the airport as the flight itself. Secondary airports have much stronger appeal overseas, often feeling less like a downgrade and more like the norm.In New York, Newark is a popular alternative to JFK. While it resides in the neighbouring state of New Jersey, a convenient train service links Newark with New York Penn Station, just a few blocks from the Empire State Building. LaGuardia Airport’s proximity to Manhattan also makes it worth comparing for shorter flights within North America (it doesn’t host longer routes).When hunting down your next airfare bargain, the best move is to browse for your origin and destination by city name, not by airport. “Tokyo (all airports)” covers Narita and Haneda, while “London (all airports)” covers all six. Once you’re in the habit of mixing and matching airports, the savings speak for themselves.More:Air travelOpinionFor subscribersAirportsTravel tipsMelbourne-based journalist and columnist Chris Chamberlin enjoys maximising his points to travel the world in comfort and, as a points coach, helping others to do the same. From showering on a plane to stretching out in a double bed in the sky, Chris knows all the tips for flying in style without breaking the bank. His adventures have taken him on almost 1000 flights aboard more than 80 airlines, earning lifetime frequent flyer status along the way. Follow him on Instagram @chris_chamberlin.Connect via email.From our partners