So, you’re looking for the cheapest flights to phoenix. Honestly, I get it. Phoenix is that weirdly perfect mix of high-end desert resorts and "hole-in-the-wall" taco spots that just hits right when the rest of the country is freezing. But here is the thing: most people overpay because they follow old-school travel advice that doesn’t really work in 2026.
Prices are wild right now. One day a round-trip from Chicago is $71, and the next, it’s $300. If you’re just searching "flights to PHX" on a random Tuesday and booking the first thing you see, you’re basically leaving dinner money on the table.
Let's break down how to actually find the deals.
The Two-Airport Trap
Everybody defaults to Sky Harbor (PHX). It’s close to downtown, it has the Sky Train, and it’s massive. But if you’re hunting for the cheapest flights to phoenix, you have to look at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA).
It’s about 30 miles southeast of the city.
It’s tiny.
It’s mostly served by Allegiant.
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But sometimes, flying into Mesa saves you $150 per person. I’ve seen flights from Provo or Cedar Rapids for as low as $38 to $53. If you’re staying in Gilbert, Chandler, or even Scottsdale, the drive from Mesa isn’t even that much worse than the traffic-heavy crawl out of Sky Harbor. Just watch out for those Allegiant fees; they’ll charge you for a carry-on, so if you’re a "heavy packer," Sky Harbor on Southwest might actually be cheaper since your bags fly free there.
Timing Your Trip: February is the Sweet Spot
You’d think summer would be the cheapest because it’s 115 degrees and nobody wants to be there. Weirdly, while hotels are cheap in July, the flights don't always drop as much as you'd hope.
According to data from Skyscanner and Expedia for 2026, February is actually the cheapest month to fly to Phoenix. Specifically, mid-week flights—like a Thursday, February 5th departure—are consistently hitting the lowest price points. We’re talking $36 round-trip from places like San Diego or $19 one-way from Los Angeles and Denver on Frontier.
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March is a nightmare.
Spring training.
Spring break.
Everyone wants to be in the sun.
If you have to go in March, you better have booked back in January. The "sweet spot" for domestic Phoenix flights is usually about 40 to 60 days out. If you’re 21 days away and haven't booked, you’re entering the "price hike zone."
The Budget Carrier Roulette
Frontier and Spirit have some of the most aggressive pricing into Phoenix right now. You can grab a $19 fare from Dallas or Seattle if you’re a member of something like Frontier's "Discount Den."
But let’s be real.
Those "base fares" are a bit of a lie.
By the time you add a seat selection and a bag, that $19 flight is $80.
Sun Country is a sleeper hit for Phoenix. They run great routes from Minneapolis (MSP) and Madison (MSN). I’ve seen them offering MSP to PHX for around $12/month on payment plans or roughly $120–$150 cash. They’re a bit more "human" than Spirit but cheaper than Delta.
How to Win the Price War
Don't just use one tool. I usually start with Google Flights because their "Track Prices" toggle is the best in the business. They’ll email you the second the price drops. But Google doesn't always show the full picture for Southwest. Since Southwest is a huge player in Phoenix, you have to check their site separately or use Kayak, which finally started integrating some of their data.
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Another pro tip: look at "nearby airports" on your departure side too. If you’re in Southern California, checking Burbank (BUR) or Santa Ana (SNA) instead of LAX can sometimes shave $50 off the ticket.
What to do right now:
- Set a Google Flight Alert for both PHX and AZA airports.
- Check the Southwest Low Fare Calendar for February and April.
- Book on a Wednesday. It sounds like a myth, but midweek travel is consistently 13% cheaper than weekend flights according to recent 2025-2026 travel reports.
- Avoid Spring Training dates (late February through March) unless you’re okay with paying a premium for the atmosphere.
Basically, if you see a round-trip for under $150 from the Midwest or under $80 from the West Coast, just pull the trigger. Phoenix is popular enough that those seats don't stay empty for long.