Flights

2 of the 5 most expensive domestic flights in the U.S. include Mass., according to study

The flights link a popular summer vacation destination with California.

By Kristi Palma

March 4, 2024

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Certain flights between a Massachusetts summer getaway and parts of California are commanding some of the highest prices in the nation, according to a recent study.

Travel website Upgraded Points released a list of the most expensive domestic flights in the U.S. based on airfare data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and Nantucket made the top 10 list. Twice. Nantucket to San Francisco ranked No. 4 and Los Angeles to Nantucket ranked No. 5.

Researchers calculated the average airfare for more than 6,000 domestic flight itineraries in airports across more than 250 cities. The report covers one-way trips, aggregated as directionless city pairs, and the airfares for each city pair include both nonstop and connecting itineraries.

“The highest-priced itineraries share similar characteristics: they connect major cities to popular resort and vacation destinations,” wrote Upgraded Points.

The top five most expensive flights:

• Aspen, Colo. to West Palm Beach, Fla. — $770.65
• Aspen, Colo. to Miami — $668.64
• Eagle, Colo. to Miami — $661.61
• Nantucket to San Francisco — $651.13
• Los Angeles to Nantucket — $646.23

Average ticket prices for one-way and roundtrip domestic flights booked in the U.S. climbed from a low of $245 in mid-2020 to a record high of $397 in the first half of 2022, according to Upgraded Points, due to a healthy post-pandemic travel demand.

Prices have since decreased, with Americans paying an average of $368 for airfare, noted the report.

Furthermore, the two flights involving Nantucket are less expensive than they were a year ago, according to the study. Nantucket to San Francisco is 5% less expensive and Los Angeles to Nantucket is 6% less expensive.

Boston entered the list at No. 13, with a $583.90 flight from Boston to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum.

Check out the list of the most expensive domestic flights in the U.S.