Shoulder season — those weeks tucked between high-demand holidays and peak vacation months offer some of the best deals on airfare. With fewer crowds and moderate weather, airlines often reduce fares to encourage bookings. The report below from Dollar Flight Club highlights off-peak deals from the 10 largest U.S. airports. Listed fares may fluctuate based on demand, but these round-trip economy prices and average price points provide a useful benchmark for planning.
Methodology
To create this Shoulder Season report, our team analyzed airfare data from multiple sources, including publicly available data from airline partners, online travel agencies, and major flight search engines along with Dollar Flight Club’s own internal deal data. We track and compare hundreds of thousands of airfare routes each year, evaluating price trends, historical averages, and seasonal fluctuations to identify the best-value shoulder season destinations. For this report, we focused on round-trip economy fares departing from the 10 largest U.S. airports by passenger volume (based on the latest FAA data). Our analysis considered fares for travel during typical shoulder season months (e.g., mid-April to May, and mid-September to October). All listed fares represent the lowest round-trip economy prices found during our research, though actual prices may fluctuate based on demand and booking dates.
Off-Peak (Shoulder Season) Deals by Airport
Below are the 10 busiest U.S. airports and three off-peak destination deals for each, including the months when fares tend to be lowest.
From Atlanta (ATL)
- New York (LGA) – From $140 (Avg. Price: $420)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, mid-September–October
- New Orleans (MSY) – From $130 (Avg. Price: $400)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–October
- Punta Cana (PUJ) – From $400 (Avg. Price: $550)
- Off-Season Months: Late April–May, mid-September–mid-October
From Charlotte (CLT)
- Boston (BOS) – From $120 (Avg. Price: $360)
- Off-Season Months: Late April–May, mid-September–October
- Philadelphia (PHL) – From $110 (Avg. Price: $350)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, mid-September–October
- Orlando (MCO) – From $140 (Avg. Price: $410)
- Off-Season Months: May (post-spring break), early September–October
From Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
- Las Vegas (LAS) – From $170 (Avg. Price: $450)
- Off-Season Months: Mid-April–May, mid-September–October
- Denver (DEN) – From $180 (Avg. Price: $480)
- Off-Season Months: April–May (before summer tourism), September–October
- Mexico City (MEX) – From $340 (Avg. Price: $600)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–early November
From Denver (DEN)
- Los Angeles (LAX) – From $150 (Avg. Price: $410)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, mid-September–October
- Houston (IAH) – From $160 (Avg. Price: $460)
- Off-Season Months: Late April–May, September–October (excluding hurricane peaks)
- Cancún (CUN) – From $390 (Avg. Price: $620)
- Off-Season Months: May–early June, September–October
From Chicago (ORD)
- Miami (MIA) – From $190 (Avg. Price: $400)
- Off-Season Months: Mid-April–May (post-spring break), September–October
- Phoenix (PHX) – From $200 (Avg. Price: $460)
- Off-Season Months: Mid-April–May (after peak spring), September–October (before winter visitors)
- San Juan (SJU) – From $480 (Avg. Price: $700)
- Off-Season Months: Mid-April–May, mid-September–October (except peak hurricane windows)
From New York (JFK)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – From $170 (Avg. Price: $390)
- Off-Season Months: Mid-April–May, September–October
- Toronto (YYZ) – From $200 (Avg. Price: $480)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–October
- Barcelona (BCN) – From $580 (Avg. Price: $950)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–mid-October
From Los Angeles (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO) – From $130 (Avg. Price: $380)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, mid-September–October
- Denver (DEN) – From $150 (Avg. Price: $420)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–October
- Mexico City (MEX) – From $370 (Avg. Price: $570)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–November
From Miami (MIA)
- Atlanta (ATL) – From $140 (Avg. Price: $380)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–October
- San Diego (SAN) – From $190 (Avg. Price: $460)
- Off-Season Months: April–May (before summer rush), mid-September–October
- Bogotá (BOG) – From $440 (Avg. Price: $690)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–November
From Las Vegas (LAS)
- Los Angeles (LAX) – From $90 (Avg. Price: $300)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, September–October
- Salt Lake City (SLC) – From $140 (Avg. Price: $380)
- Off-Season Months: April–May (post-ski season), September–October
- Cancún (CUN) – From $410 (Avg. Price: $650)
- Off-Season Months: May–June, September–October
From Orlando (MCO)
- Washington D.C. (DCA) – From $150 (Avg. Price: $340)
- Off-Season Months: April–May (before summer tourism), September–October
- Houston (IAH) – From $170 (Avg. Price: $440)
- Off-Season Months: May, September–October (hurricane season can affect travel; check forecasts)
- San Juan (SJU) – From $430 (Avg. Price: $690)
- Off-Season Months: April–May, mid-September–October (avoiding peak storms)
Top Spring Shoulder Season Destinations
Spring, typically mid-April to May, is prime time for scoring cheap flights before the summer rush. Based on our data, here are the standout deals for travelers looking to fly in the spring:
- Los Angeles (LAX): Starting at $90 with average fares near $300
- Washington D.C. (DCA): Starting at $150 with average fares near $340
- San Francisco (SFO): Starting at $130 with an average fare of roughly $380
Top Fall Shoulder Season Destinations
Fall, generally from mid-September to October, brings cooler weather and fewer crowds, along with its own set of unbeatable deals. Here are the top fall routes from our report:
- New York (LGA): Starting at $140 with an average fare of $420
- Las Vegas (LAS): From $170 with an average price of $450
- Miami (MIA): Starting at $190 with an average of $400
Why Off-Peak Travel Leads to the Best Flight Deals
- Less Competition: Fewer travelers on the move means airlines often drop fares to fill planes.
- Flexible Booking Windows: Because shoulder season doesn’t coincide with major holidays or peak vacation months, you have more flexibility to lock in deals.
- Fewer Weather Extremes: Shoulder season typically avoids the most extreme weather periods, reducing the risk of cancellations and enabling better pricing from airlines.
How 2025 Shoulder Season Fares Compare to Last Year
- Early 2025 data suggests fares are trending around 3–8% lower compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to:
- Ongoing Airline Competition: Low-cost carriers are expanding routes, especially domestically, keeping fares lower.
- Mild Fuel Price Fluctuations: Stable fuel costs over the past year have helped airlines maintain or reduce base fares.
- Flexible Fare Bundles: Airlines continue to embrace basic economy and short-term fare sales to fill off-peak seats.
Tips for Scoring the Best Shoulder Season Flight Deals
- Set Fare Alerts: Services like Dollar Flight Club, Google Flights, and Skyscanner will alert you when prices drop.
- Book in Advance: Booking 2–3 months ahead often locks in the best deals for shoulder season.
- Be Flexible with Travel Dates: Mid-week departures and returns often get you lower prices.
- Leverage Rewards & Points: If cash fares aren’t ideal, use airline miles or credit card points to reduce costs.
- Check Nearby Airports: A short drive to a secondary airport can score you major savings.
