Before booking that next flight from Houston, you may want to double check those ticket prices: A new report has revealed George Bush Intercontinental Airport is one of the most expensive airports in America in 2025.
IAH climbed into the 11th spot in travel magazine LocalsInsider's rankings of "The Most and Least Affordable U.S. Airports," published March 4. The report ranked 50 of the busiest U.S. airports based on average ticket prices for domestic flights using the latest available data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
The average price of a domestic flight at IAH came out to $391.86, which is the 11th priciest fare nationwide. That's also higher than the national average airfare.
"In 2025, airline ticket prices have increased by 7.1 percent year-over-year, and the average airfare is $365.64, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics," the report said.
William P. Hobby Airport also appeared among the top 50 priciest airports, ranking 34th. The average price for a domestic flight at HOU is $341.28, the report found.
Unfortunately for travelers booking flights in Washington, D.C., Washington Dulles International Airport is the No. 1 most expensive U.S. airport in 2025. Average airfares at IAD come out to $472.61, which is 1.4 percent more expensive than last year.
All major Texas airports
IAH wasn't the only expensive Texas airport that appeared in LocalsInsider's top 15 least affordable American airports.
Dallas/Fort Worth Internatinal Airport ranked one spot above Houston, appearing as the 10th least affordable airport nationally, with airfares soaring to $392.31on average.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and San Antonio International Airport weren't too far behind, landing in the No. 14 and No. 15 spots, respectively. Average ticket prices in Austin are just 12 cents cheaper than San Antonio's, at $384.64 versus $384.52 in the Alamo City.
However, Austin airport ticket prices have skyrocketed higher than nearly every other U.S. airport. Year-over-year BTS data found AUS airfare has risen nearly 8 percent. Only John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California eclipsed Austin with a near 12 percent price increase since 2024.
Popular travel hack
With flights becoming more expensive, many travelers are turning towards an unusual method of getting to their destination.
The report unveiled "skip-lagging" – the process of booking a flight with a layover and exiting during the layover rather than continuing to travel to the final destination – is becoming more popular in three major Texas cities.
Houston, Dallas, and Austin all appeared among the report's list of top 25 U.S. cities where "skip-lagging" is gaining popularity, since flights with layovers are often more affordable than nonstop flights to the same city.
Even though travelers may save money using this "hack," the report warns that they may get in trouble for it.
"Although skip-lagging provides travelers with the opportunity to bypass higher fares, it’s important to keep in mind that airlines discourage this travel hack, and they may even impose penalties on repeat offenders," the report said.
Instead, LocalsInsider suggests travelers book midweek flights one to three months in advance that depart on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (which tend to be cheaper than weekend flights), and search for any regional airports that may offer more affordable airfare than major travel hubs. Google Flights also offers a helpful feature to help budget-savvy travelers track their flight pricing.
The top 10 most expensive American airports are:
- No. 1 – Washington Dulles International Airport
- No. 2 – John Wayne Airport–Orange County Airport
- No. 3 – San Francisco International Airport
- No. 4 – Salt Lake City International Airport
- No. 5 – Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport
- No. 6 – Newark Liberty International Airport
- No. 7 – Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- No. 8 – John F. Kennedy International Airport
- No. 9 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- No. 10 – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
