Save Money by Choosing Alternative UK International Airports

Forget London. Arrive at an alternative UK international airport to save time and money.

Most visitors to the UK head for Heathrow or Gatwick because London is the United Kingdom’s most famous entry point. Furthermore, London’s Heathrow is the world’s busiest international airport.

However, if your ultimate destination is a trip in the Scottish Highlands or a music pilgrimage to Liverpool or one of England’s indie capitals – Birmingham, Manchester, or Newcastle – it could cost you everything you’ve saved on your budget flight for train fare, hotel rooms, rental car mileage, or petrol just to reach your desired location.

A Wide Choice of UK Airports

If you are flying transatlantic, you may have more choices of where to land than you think. The number of airports supporting flights to the USA has increased in recent years, allowing for more competitive pricing. Although they are reaching fewer destinations within the USA, at least 10 airports across the UK have regularly scheduled flights and connecting options to North American destinations. Some airports offer flights to only a few cities, while others feature direct or connecting flights to East and West Coast, as well as Midwestern destinations across the USA and Canada.

Consequently, searching for flights to alternative airports might help you find a bargain. Additionally, if your final destination is far from London, this can also save you on local travel, hotel costs, and time.

How It All Adds Up

Airfares fluctuate, and depending on how and where you purchase yours, prices for the same flight can vary significantly. The best way to determine your potential time and cost savings is to compare the numbers.

For instance, suppose you are heading to the Western Highlands of Scotland for touring, golf, a cruise on Loch Lomond, and visits to some of the islands, perhaps Skye or Islay for the whisky experience. You could fly to London and make connections, or alternatively, you could fly smart and head directly to Glasgow International Airport, which serves cities on the East and West coasts of the USA and Canada.

On December 8, 2017, we searched for the cheapest travel arrangements for a May vacation (typically mild and warm throughout the UK) from May 7 to 21. Here’s how the numbers stacked up:

• Newark Airport to London Heathrow – The cheapest non-stop flight was an Air France flight operated by Delta from JFK to London Heathrow. It cost $601 and took 7 hours and 5 minutes. Flying from Heathrow to Glasgow on British Airways cost $144, adding an additional 1 hour and 25 minutes of travel time without accounting for waiting time between flights, which could be substantial. The total would be $745 and approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes of air time, not including potential airport meals and accommodation costs.
• Newark Airport to Glasgow International Airport – The cheapest non-stop flight was a Lufthansa flight operated by United Airlines for $589, with a travel time of 6 hours and 55 minutes.

This represents a savings of $156 and a time reduction of nearly two hours. If you opted to transfer from London to Glasgow by train, the round-trip fare would be similar, but you could add at least five or six hours of travel time, not including the coordination of air arrival with train departure.

Therefore, for some UK destinations, alternative international airports make a lot of sense. Explore these airports that support transatlantic flights to determine which one suits your travel plans best.

Alternative UK Destination Airports

• Manchester Airport – The gateway to the North and Northwest of England serves 13 North American air travel hubs, including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington. It serves more North American locations than any UK airport outside of London.
• Glasgow Airport – Scotland’s main international airport serves East and West Coast destinations in North America. They’ve recently added direct flights to Montreal and Toronto, while also serving Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Orlando, Las Vegas, Halifax, Calgary, and Vancouver.
• Edinburgh Airport – Fly from New York – JFK, Newark, and Stewart in Orange County, NY – with service to Toronto, Chicago, and Orlando (in travel packages), Providence for Boston, and Washington DC. This airport is convenient for travelers heading to Scotland’s capital and England’s northeast border country.
• Birmingham Airport – Fly from New York JFK or Newark, Boston, or Toronto, providing access to The Midlands and Mid Wales with good onward connections across the UK and Europe.
• East Midlands Airport – Located in Derbyshire, this airport is in the center of England, with several holiday operators offering flights to popular US destinations like New York and Florida.
• Bristol Airport – While lacking direct flights to the USA, it serves as a gateway to England’s West Country and South Wales, with connecting flights from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
• Cardiff Airport – Cardiff features direct flights to Orlando, along with connecting flights to most East and West Coast hubs and Texas destinations.
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport – This Northwest England airport has become a gateway to North America through Dublin since October 2015. Cities accessible via this route include Boston, Chicago, New York, Newark, Hartford, Orlando, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington D.C.
• Newcastle International Airport – Offers connections to New York, Orlando, and Las Vegas.

The London Airports

London has five airports, all of which supported some transatlantic flights in 2016.

• London City Airport – For those who prefer first-class travel, British Airways offers premium flights to New York JFK from this airport. If you are considering incorporating the UK into a longer trip, you can fly into London City from most popular European cities.
• Heathrow – The largest and most well-known option.
• Gatwick – Once a secondary airport, Gatwick now boasts enhanced transport connections to London and a wider selection of scheduled flights, making it convenient for Kent, Sussex, and South Coast destinations.
• Stansted – This small yet rapidly expanding airport northeast of London handles flights from all over Europe. While services to North America are limited, it is possible to fly from Orlando or Las Vegas to Stansted.