PRICE GAP

Why flying in the U.S. can seem like either a bargain or an indulgence

- STORY BY GEORGE GOMEZ

FLYING ACROSS THE U.S. can feel like grocery shopping where the same loaf of bread costs twice as much in the next aisle. According to NetCredit's 2025 U.S. Flight Cost Index, that pricing gap is widening in unexpected places. Using data from federal transportation and labor agencies, the study ranked states by both raw fares and affordability relative to income—and the results reshuffle the travel map.