Choosing flights from your nearest airport may seem like the most convenient option when planning a trip – but it could be costing you more than you think. 

While proximity can save time, narrowing your airport options can lead to higher costs, limited flight options, and potential hassle along the way. 

However, a growing number of savvy Brits are slashing their airfare costs without relying on promo codes or last-minute deals – thanks to a genius flight hack. 

According to tour operator Ski Vertigo, holidaymakers are now saving up to £200 per return ticket simply by expanding their search and choosing alternative airports, both in the UK and at their destination.

In many regions across Europe and beyond, multiple airports serve the same city. 

London, for instance, is home to six major passenger airports – each with its own pricing structures and airline partnerships – while Milan, Paris and New York also have multiple entry points. 

A flight from London Gatwick to Barcelona might cost £120, but the same route from Stansted or Luton could be as little as £68 on the same day.

Travellers flying from Birmingham to Berlin, Manchester to Rome, or Edinburgh to Amsterdam have all reported substantial savings by considering alternative airports. 

According to tour operator Ski Vertigo, holidaymakers are now saving up to £200 per return ticket simply by expanding their search and choosing alternative airports

According to tour operator Ski Vertigo, holidaymakers are now saving up to £200 per return ticket simply by expanding their search and choosing alternative airports

Ski Vertigo says the trick is to expand the search radius by including all airports within 60 to 90 minutes of both your location and arrival destination.

Flight comparison tools are making this even easier by offering a single-click option to search multiple airports in one go. 

For instance, someone looking to fly to Venice might check only Venice Marco Polo, but including Treviso, just 40 minutes away by shuttle, could unlock fares that are 30 per cent cheaper.

A spokesperson for Ski Vertigo said: ‘It’s still the same holiday, same country, same city in most cases. But you could spend that leftover money on accommodation upgrades, excursions or a meal out instead.’

The strategy works especially well for short city breaks, ski weekends, and peak holiday travel – times when airfare tends to spike. 

In some cases, families travelling during half-term and the school holidays have saved hundreds by using less obvious airport pairings. 

Travellers are also combining this method with flexible travel dates, finding that shifting their flight by 24 hours and choosing a different airport can lead to both better schedules and lower fares. 

The expert added: ‘It’s not about flying cheap – it’s about flying smarter. No one wants to wake up at 4am for a connection, but if you can cut £150 off your trip just by landing 30 minutes further out, most people are willing to make that choice.’

Experts at Ski Vertigo say the trick is to expand the search radius by including all airports within 60 to 90 minutes of both your location and arrival destination

Experts at Ski Vertigo say the trick is to expand the search radius by including all airports within 60 to 90 minutes of both your location and arrival destination

Meanwhile, a frequent flyer has revealed a travel hack that enables air passengers to easily share their flight details with family and friends.

Posting on TikTok, @nicoletravelandlife said she wanted the little known trick to be shared with anyone ‘who needs it’.

The 20-second clip on the social media platform begins by showing the TikToker boarding a Ryanair flight, and putting her luggage into the overhead lockers.

Before take off, and while the messenger connection on her iPhone is still connected to the internet, she reveals that she always taps in her flight number and sends it to those who might wish to track her flight while she’s airborne – and after landing.

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