USA flights
Best student & youth fares right now in the US
Ready to book tickets back to school, home for the holidays or to a new city for a weekend trip? Wherever or whenever you need to travel, we’ve got student discounts on domestic flights to get you there for less. Scroll down to see some of the latest deals on flights in the US.
Student flights in the US
We get it: you’re a student and you’ve got places to go. Get back to school or away for spring break for less with our student discounts on flights. Hang out on the beach in LA or Miami—great for anytime of year, not just spring break—or see the lights of the city in New York or Chicago. Looking for somewhere a bit more off the beaten path? Head to Austin, Asheville, Portland or Boulder—or check a few National Parks off your list! There’s endless opportunities for amazing places to travel in the US. Not ready to book yet but want to stay posted? Sign up for our email newsletters and get our best deals sent right to your inbox.
Keep reading for more tips on how to find the cheapest flights, our favorite cities to visit in the US, best festivals and events and more!
What are the main US airport hubs?
Though you can fly almost anywhere in the US—there’s over 500 airports in the country!—certainly some airports are bigger and have more flight options than others. The busiest airports in the US include Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago (CHI) and New York (JFK). You’ll find tons of flights to and through these airports, whether you’re just flying within the US or looking to go international as well.
Best US Airlines
There are so many airlines in the US to choose from, it may feel hard to know which to choose. The good news is, most US airlines are great and offer a variety of perks and services for students and travelers. Some of our most popular US airlines include American, United, Alaska Airlines, and Jetblue. Even better, you can get a discount on all of these airlines when you book with us, just by being a student!
Don’t care which airline you fly? We partner with 220+ airlines and you can search them all at once on our website, so you can easily find the best price and route for you.
How to find cheap student flights
Finding cheap student flights requires some searching and a bit of patience and luck—but it’s a lot easier when you search with StudentUniverse. You can easily search 220+ airlines at the same time and find the itineraries and prices that work best for you. Plus, get student discounts on your tickets when you book! Some more ways to find the cheapest flights:
- Be flexible! If you can be flexible with your dates and times—even your destination!—you can save a lot.
- Know how to search. Set up price drop alerts on your favorite itineraries, sign up for flight deal emails and watch for sales and promo codes from us and from the airlines. It pays to keep checking back to see when prices drop, but it’s even easier to sign up for alerts!
- Start looking early. The sooner you start looking, the better chance you’ll have of finding a good deal or being able to take advantage of a flash sale. At the very least, you’ll know what the average prices are and will be able to hop on a cheaper price when you see one.
When is the cheapest time to book domestic flights?
Prices based on bookings made 21-30 days prior to departure.
What to know for domestic travel
There’s so much to see and do in the US that even staying in the states means an endless amount of cities and places to see and explore—no visas or passports needed. Before you go, make sure you have a REAL ID-compliant driver's license (or other acceptable identification)—beginning in October 2021, standard driver’s licenses won’t be an acceptable ID for flying.
Popular US cities
Not quite sure where you want to go yet? Our most popular cities for student travelers include New York, LA, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, and Seattle—and any of these cities makes for an amazing weekend trip, spring break or vacation. Head to New York or Chicago for a dose of the big city life. Or fly out to San Francisco or Los Angeles for some time in the Californian sunshine. If you’re looking for something long-term, Boston and Seattle are both great places to be a student: whether you’re just coming for a vacation or choosing a university to study at, either of these cities offers tons of universities and opportunities for students.
US festivals and events
The US has no shortage of incredible events and festivals that are worth traveling for! If you need an excuse to get away for a long weekend, make plans to visit one of these festivals:
- Mardi Gras, New Orleans: for one of the biggest celebrations in the US, head to NOLA for the annual Mardi Gras festival! The festival features parades, floats, costumes, music, tons of food and drinks, and yes, colorful beads. It takes place in the two weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, typically in mid- to late-February.
- Coachella, Southern California: this massive music festival draws crowds from all over the world and is typically held in April in Southern California. Get ready for a week-long celebration of music and food with some of the top artists from around the world, in a variety of genres.
- South by Southwest (SXSW): Head to Austin, TX for the SXSW festival which brings together the best in film, music and comedy for a week of media you’ll never forget. Austin is known for being an amazing place for food and music already, so it’s a great opportunity to visit a hip city during one the most exciting events of the year.
Exploring the US on a student budget
It can be easy to explore the US on a student budget, depending on when and where you go! Traveling during off-season (aka, not summer) can save you a lot on flights, hotels and more. Snag some cheap flights with our student discounts or see what deals we have on budget airlines like Spirit or Frontier. If you’d rather make it a road trip, we can also hook you up with some deals on rental cars.
Save some cash while you’re traveling in the US by staying in hotels outside of the main downtown areas of cities, using public transport when you can and eating at smaller local places rather than fancy restaurants!
Frequently asked questions about domestic flights
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