travel woes

Houston's IAH Airport ranks among priciest American airports in 2025

Flights at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston will run travelers about $392 on average.

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 $392.31 on 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

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REVIVING THE ALAMO

Texas landmark the Alamo reclaims historic cannon from private ownership

Photo by Gower Brown/ Unsplash

A 90-pound cannon used in the Battle of the Alamo is returning to its San Antonio home.

It turns out the Alamo's original 1836 cannons are good for more than just defense — they also make a sturdy birdbath. After serving as a garden ornament for Samuel Maverick’s descendants, an authentic piece of San Antonio history is finally returning home to the revered mission.

According to an Alamo announcement, the swivel cannon weighs 90 pounds and is approximately three feet long. The relic was originally found in 1852 when Maverick built a home near the northwest corner of the battle’s site.

The lawyer and land baron was saved from death when he was urged by William Barret Travis to ride to the Texas Declaration of Independence convention in Washington-on-the-Brazos to send reinforcements. Returning to the Alamo’s grounds, he found a cache of cannons buried where the Hotel Gibbs sits today.

From there, the cannon wound up at the Maverick family’s Sunshine Ranch on the Northwest Side, where it was eventually incorporated into the garden DIY project. In 1955, the cannon was removed from the ranch, and the current location remained a mystery until the Alamo received a call from a Maverick relative in Corpus Christi.

Alamo cannon This Alamo artifact gives an idea of what the cannon will look like once restoration is complete.Photo courtesy of the Alamo.

“The relative graciously donated the cannon to the Alamo,” wrote a rep from the mission. “Alamo Senior Researcher and Historian Kolby Lanham and Head Conservator Pam Jary Rosser drove down the very next day to take this piece of history home to the Alamo.”

Although the artillery is mostly intact, it is missing its trunnions (the pivot-point protrusions on the sides of the barrel) and cascabel (the knob and neck assembly at the rear of historic muzzle-loading cannons). The parts were removed by the Mexican army to make the cannon inoperable.

Once preservation is complete, this cannon and the Alamo Collection’s other battle cannons will make their way to the upcoming Visitor Center and Museum, where they will be joined by rocker Phil Collins' collection of Alamo artifacts. The Alamo is in the midst of a $550 million preservation project, which includes conserving the Alamo Church, Long Barrack, and the mission’s original footprint. The museum is on track to debut in late 2027.

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