Sometimes it makes sense to fly into a major airport, and in a lot of cases, it’s your only feasible option.
However, there are other situations where booking a flight into the smaller, secondary airport is a much better option.
For instance, visitors to San Francisco could fly into SFO, but Oakland (OAK) is a smaller airport that isn't much further away with a train that goes straight into town. And flying into Fort Lauderdale (FLL) instead of Miami might be the better swing for a Florida beach break, depending on your needs.
I’ve learned this (often the hard way) over the years, defaulting to the big airport only to later find myself commuting longer-than-necessary distances, navigating overwhelmingly massive airport layouts, or dealing with horrendous traffic.
As a result, I've become more airport savvy, and figured out when it’s easier to fly into the smaller vs. major airport.
In this article
1. Some Smaller Airports Are Much More Efficient
Raise your hand if you’ve ever spent way too much time clearing airport security, getting your luggage, or walking from one end of the airport to another.
Smaller airports naturally have less traffic, commotion, and square footage simply because they service fewer flights.
For example, in the New York City area, you may find yourself with a 3-to-5-minute wait in a security line at a secondary airport like Westchester County Airport (HPN) versus a 30+ minute wait at major hubs such as JFK and Newark (EWR).
“It is also important to note that secondary airports are generally more compact,” says Chris Harrington, a travel expert at hoppa, an airport transportation company. “Instead of navigating the sprawling terminals of Denver International Airport or O’Hare, which involve miles of walking and confusing shuttle trains, secondary airports are generally smaller.”
2. Secondary Airports Can Help You Save on Airfare
It’s always worth comparing costs between flying into the major vs. secondary airport.
Often, lower-cost airlines fly into smaller airports, which can translate to significant savings, Harrington notes.
For instance, you can use Southwest Airlines to get into Midway versus O’Hare in Chicago, and budget airliner Allegiant flies into Mesa Gateway versus Sky Harbor in Phoenix. And according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Domestic Air Fare Report for Q4 2025, fare differences sometimes even exceeded $300 per trip.
“It’s important to remember this only works with careful planning,” he adds. “Check[ing] total travel costs, including transport to [your destination], booking as early as possible, booking directly with the airline to monitor potential delays, and allowing extra time for transit.”
3. Smaller Hubs Often Have Less Surrounding Traffic
Often, secondary airports naturally have less surrounding traffic.
For example, one of my least favorite airports to fly into is Los Angeles (LAX), and not because of the airport itself, which I actually find to be quite lovely. What I dread is the traffic getting into the airport and out of it, which is notoriously terrible.
There was one instance, while in deadlock traffic approaching the airport entrance, I thought about hopping out of my Uber and just walking the last mile, as I genuinely thought it would be faster.
I’ve since learned to fly into Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), which is smaller and sees far less traffic for a substantially less stressful journey, or even John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, which is about 40 minutes to an hour away from LA, depending on, you guessed it, traffic.
4. A Secondary Airport Might Place You Closer to Your Destination
Depending on where you’re headed, flying into a secondary airport could get you much closer to your final destination.
“Secondary airports frequently serve specific regions or suburbs and can put travelers more directly near their destination than a primary hub,” Harrington says.
For example, if you want to explore southern Arizona, flying into the Tucson International (TUS) versus Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) can save driving time. Sure, you might need a layover en route, but you’ll save significant time in traffic.
Likewise, travelers heading to Colorado ski towns can cut down hours of mountain driving by flying into Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) or Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) instead of Denver (DEN). While the layovers add time, so do busy mountain roads that can periodically close in bad weather.
The Shortcut
The savviest travelers know that the “best” airport isn’t necessarily the busiest one.
Choosing a smaller airport can sometimes make your overall travel experience smoother or travel time shorter.
From convenience to cost to location, there are a few key scenarios where choosing the secondary vs. major airport often pays off.
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