Nestled in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley, West Valley City offers easy access to some of the most affordable flights in the Intermountain West. While the city itself doesn’t have a commercial airport, it sits just a short drive from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), a hub that budget airlines use to connect travelers with destinations across the United States and beyond. Whether you’re planning a quick weekend escape, visiting family, or looking for a cheap one-way ticket to start a new adventure, the low-cost carriers operating out of SLC make it possible to fly without breaking the bank.

The best budget airlines serving West Valley City are Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Allegiant Air. Each has carved out a niche by stripping fares down to the essentials and letting you decide which extras are worth paying for. If you understand their fee structures and booking quirks, you can regularly find round-trip fares under $100. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about these airlines, where they fly, and how to squeeze the most value out of your trip.

Why Budget Airlines Thrive from Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City International Airport has undergone a massive redevelopment in recent years, adding new gates and modern facilities that appeal to ultra-low-cost carriers. The airport’s location within a day’s drive of several major national parks and its role as a gateway to the Mountain West have attracted airlines looking to serve both leisure travelers and residents who want affordable links to larger metro areas. For people living in West Valley City, the proximity to SLC means you can be through security and at your gate within an hour of leaving home—a convenience that makes those early-morning budget flights much easier to stomach.

Low-cost carriers also benefit from the region's tourism draw. Inbound travelers seeking ski vacations, outdoor adventures, or convention trips often book the cheapest possible flight and spend their savings on experiences. Airlines like Spirit and Frontier capitalize on that demand by offering rock-bottom tickets and then selling extras like baggage, seat assignments, and food separately. The result is a fare structure that rewards travelers who pack light and plan ahead.

Spirit Airlines: The Bare-Bones Option

Spirit Airlines is the carrier most people think of when they hear “ultra-low-cost.” From SLC, Spirit operates flights to a range of major hubs and sunny leisure destinations. The base fare you see on the website covers only a seat and a personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. Everything else—carry-on bags, checked luggage, seat selection, drinks, and snacks—comes with a fee. While that sounds punishing, the math often still works out in your favor if you travel light.

Spirit’s route network from Salt Lake City includes cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. The airline also operates seasonal service to other popular spots, giving you a chance to hit the beach during spring break without spending a fortune. Flights are frequent, and because Spirit keeps its planes in the air for many hours per day, you can often find departures at off-peak hours that are priced even lower than usual.

If you’re willing to join the Free Spirit loyalty program, you can earn points on every dollar you spend, including on bags and seat fees. These points add up to discounts or free flights, and members occasionally get early access to fare sales. A key tip: buy your bags online when you book your ticket rather than at the airport. The difference can be $20 or more per bag, per flight segment.

Frontier Airlines: Low Fares with a Side of Flash Sales

Frontier Airlines runs a similar model, and competition between Frontier and Spirit on overlapping routes often drives prices even lower. Frontier’s base fare includes only a personal item, and you’ll pay extra for a carry-on, checked bag, or advance seat assignment. However, the airline constantly runs promotions, including “$19 one-way” sales that go live on social media and through its email list.

From Salt Lake City, Frontier serves destinations such as Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Chicago. Denver, being a major Frontier hub, frequently tops the list of cheapest routes, with one-way fares sometimes dipping below $40. For families or groups, Frontier’s Discount Den club—a paid membership—pays for itself quickly if you fly more than a couple of times a year. Members get exclusive access to lower fares and can even share the savings when booking multiple tickets on the same reservation.

Be aware that Frontier’s seats are designed to be light and compact, so if you’re tall or value extra legroom, you’ll likely want to pay for an upgraded seat. The upgrade fee is usually modest compared to what you’d pay on a legacy carrier. And like Spirit, buying bags online in advance is substantially cheaper than paying at the gate.

Allegiant Air: Vacation-Focused Nonstop Flights

While Spirit and Frontier focus on connecting major cities, Allegiant Air takes a different approach. It specializes in nonstop flights from smaller regional airports to popular vacation destinations. From Salt Lake City, Allegiant offers limited but strategic routes, often to sunny spots like Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Service is less frequent—sometimes only a few flights per week on a given route—so you’ll need to be flexible with your travel days.

Allegiant’s fares can be remarkably cheap, but the airline bundles some things differently. For example, you’ll often see vacation package offers that combine airfare and hotel at a deep discount. If you’re planning a package getaway, it’s worth comparing Allegiant’s bundled price against booking a la carte with another airline. Luggage rules are equally strict, with fees for carry-on and checked bags that climb quickly if you wait to pay at the airport.

A unique perk: Allegiant flies out of the smaller Provo Airport (PVU) as well, about an hour’s drive south of West Valley City. If SLC prices are high on your preferred dates, check Provo. The smaller airport can be a less stressful departure point, and budget-conscious travelers willing to make the drive often score lower fares.

Domestic Destinations Within Easy Reach

With three aggressive ultra-low-cost carriers competing for your business, West Valley City residents enjoy remarkably cheap access to a wide slice of the country. As of 2025, you can routinely find round-trip tickets for $80–$140 on many routes, provided you book ahead and avoid peak holiday weekends. Here are a few examples of what you can expect:

  • Las Vegas, NV – The most hotly contested route. One-way fares often start around $25, and round-trips under $60 are not unusual.
  • Los Angeles, CA – A quick hop for theme parks or beach trips. Prices commonly drop to $48 one-way on off-peak days.
  • Denver, CO – With Frontier’s hub presence, round-trips hover around $80–$100 if you grab a sale.
  • Dallas/Fort Worth, TX – Ideal for connecting with family or business; Spirit frequently has round-trips near $100.
  • Phoenix/Mesa, AZ – Allegiant and Frontier duel on this route, pushing prices to around $50–$70 each way outside of winter holidays.
  • Orlando, FL – A longer flight but still accessible for under $150 round-trip if you watch for sales and pack light.

These fares don’t include bags or seat selection, so factor in another $30–$60 each way if you need those. Still, when compared with legacy carriers that might charge $250 or more for a similar itinerary, the savings are clear.

International Options from Salt Lake City

Budget airlines don’t typically fly wide-body jets across oceans, but that doesn’t mean international travel is out of reach from West Valley City. The key is to use the ultra-low-cost carriers to reach a gateway city like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or Fort Lauderdale, and then switch to another low-cost international airline or a full-service carrier’s basic economy ticket.

From SLC itself, you can find direct flights on legacy airlines to Mexico City, Cancun, and Vancouver. However, the cheapest path to international destinations often looks like this: book a Spirit or Frontier flight to Los Angeles (LAX) or Las Vegas (LAS), then grab a separate ticket on a budget-focused international carrier like Volaris, Viva Aerobus, or Flair Airlines. For example, you could fly SLC to LAX for $48 on Spirit, then catch a Volaris flight from LAX to Guadalajara for as little as $80 each way. Layering tickets this way takes more planning and carries some risk if flights are delayed, but it can slash your total cost by hundreds of dollars.

If you’re heading to Canada, similar logic applies. Fly to a U.S. border city on a budget airline and then take a short connector flight or ground transportation into Canada. Always leave plenty of connection time—ideally several hours—when booking separate tickets, as you’ll be responsible for any missed connections.

Decoding Baggage and Fee Policies

Flying on a budget airline is a game of understanding exactly what you’ll pay before you click “purchase.” Here’s a quick comparison of the key fees travelers should expect on Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant when departing from SLC:

Fee Type Spirit Airlines Frontier Airlines Allegiant Air
Carry-on bag (online) $37–$57 $39–$60 $25–$45
Checked bag (online) $33–$49 $34–$55 $25–$45
Seat assignment $5–$60 $8–$50 $7–$45
In-flight beverage $3–$5 $3–$5 $3–$6
Airport bag fee surcharge +$25 each +$25 each +$20–$25 each

Note: Fees vary by route and date; always check the airline’s website for exact numbers before booking.

The takeaway is clear: to score the absolute lowest price, you need to travel with only a personal item—a small backpack or bag that fits under the seat. If you must bring a larger bag, weigh it at home and pay for it at the time of booking. And skip the soda on board; hydrate beforehand and bring an empty bottle through security to fill after the checkpoint.

Booking Tactics That Save You More

Beyond simply choosing the right airline, how you book matters just as much as what you pack. Follow these strategies and you’ll routinely beat the average fare.

Book 30–60 days out. Budget airlines price their inventory using a demand curve that climbs steeply about two weeks before departure. Locking in your seat four to eight weeks ahead of time typically yields the lowest prices, especially on routes where multiple carriers compete.

Travel midweek or on Saturdays. Flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are almost always cheaper than Fridays and Sundays. If you can shift your trip by a day or two, the savings can be dramatic.

Set fare alerts. Use comparison tools like Google Flights or Kayak to monitor prices for your preferred route. When a price drops into your target range, you’ll get an email and can book immediately before the fare disappears.

Check nearby airports. West Valley City residents have access not only to SLC but also to Provo (PVU) and even Ogden (OGD) for some charter and limited scheduled service. While these smaller airports don’t have the same breadth of budget flights, Allegiant and occasionally Frontier serve them seasonally. A 45-minute drive could save you a bundle.

Use private browsing. While evidence is mixed, clearing cookies or using an incognito window can sometimes prevent dynamic pricing algorithms from raising fares on repeat searches. It costs nothing and is worth a try.

Loyalty Programs and Credit Card Perks

Even if you fly only twice a year, joining the loyalty programs of Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant is a no-brainer. Membership is free, and it gets you a line-item on the airline’s email list that unlocks flash sales and promo codes. You’ll also earn points on every flight—and points keep your future travel costs down.

For more frequent travelers, each airline has a branded credit card. Spirit’s card, for example, offers sign-up bonuses that can be worth a couple of free round-trips, plus ongoing perks like priority boarding. Frontier’s card similarly accelerates your point earning and often waives certain fees. Allegiant’s card ties directly into its vacation-package model, sometimes providing statement credits for travel purchases.

If you’re not ready for an airline-specific card, look for a general travel rewards card that lets you transfer points to a flexible program. Some of these programs partner with low-cost carriers indirectly, allowing you to offset the cost of a ticket at a fixed value. For instance, the Capital One Venture card lets you wipe a $100 Spirit charge off your statement using 10,000 miles. That kind of flexibility makes budget travel even cheaper.

Packing for a No-Frills Flight

Traveling light is the ultimate money saver on budget airlines. Instead of paying for a carry-on bag, master the art of fitting everything into a backpack that meets the airline’s personal item dimensions. Most carriers allow a bag roughly 18 x 14 x 8 inches—about the size of a school backpack. Invest in packing cubes to compress clothing and organize your gear. Choose a soft-sided bag that can squish into the sizing bin at the gate.

Wear your bulkiest shoes and jacket onto the plane so they don’t consume bag space. Layer up and then strip off once you’re seated. Place your phone, charger, and travel documents in a small pouch that you can pull out quickly during the flight.

If you absolutely need more luggage than a personal item allows, pay for it online when you book. Adding a checked bag at the airport can cost $65 or more each way—enough to erase all your fare savings. Weigh your bag at home with a portable luggage scale so there are no surprises. Overweight fees on budget airlines can be punishing.

Making the Most of Your Budget Flight Experience

Flying on a bare-bones airline doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. Bring your own entertainment—download movies or shows to your phone or tablet before leaving home, since in-flight Wi-Fi is often spotty or expensive on these carriers. Pack noise-canceling headphones to drown out cabin chatter and engine noise. And bring your own snacks; a sandwich and some trail mix from a local West Valley City grocery store will taste better and cost less than anything on board.

Seat selection is another area where you can compromise to save money. If you don’t mind potentially sitting in a middle seat, skip the seat assignment fee entirely. At check-in, the system will assign a seat, and if you’re traveling alone, you’ll often end up in an aisle or window anyway. For couples or families, paying to sit together might be worth the peace of mind, but for solo travelers, the gamble usually pays off.

Lastly, stay flexible. The biggest advantage of budget airlines is that they allow you to rebook or cancel far more easily than they once did, especially if you have a flexible fare or a small credit. Spirit and Frontier both introduced more customer-friendly change policies in recent years, so if a better deal pops up after you’ve booked, you might be able to switch and pocket the difference in travel credit.

Real-World Example: A Weekend Trip to Las Vegas

To put everything together, imagine a West Valley City resident planning a three-day trip to Las Vegas. Checking options six weeks out, they find:

  • Spirit: $49 round-trip with a personal item, $98 if adding one checked bag each way.
  • Frontier: $52 round-trip personal item only, $110 with a checked bag.
  • Allegiant: $67 round-trip with a personal item; package including two nights at a mid-Strip hotel for $230 total.

If traveling with just a backpack, the solo traveler picks Spirit at $49 and uses the savings for entertainment. A couple wanting to check a suitcase might opt for Frontier to save a few dollars, while a group of friends who need a hotel anyway finds the Allegiant bundle irresistible. In every case, the total spend stays under $250 for flight and lodging—an amount that would easily exceed $400 on a full-service carrier.

Closing Thoughts on Affordable Travel from West Valley City

Budget airlines have transformed the way residents of West Valley City think about flying. No longer is air travel reserved for special occasions; at these prices, spontaneous getaways become realistic. The key is to understand the system, pack light, and stay flexible. Sign up for loyalty programs, monitor fare sales, and don’t be afraid to mix carriers for each leg of your journey.

West Valley City’s location near Salt Lake City International Airport gives you access to a robust low-cost network that stretches from coast to coast and beyond. With a little planning, you can reach most major U.S. cities for under $150 round-trip. As the airport continues to expand and airlines add more routes, the opportunities for cheap travel will only grow. Next time you feel the urge to explore somewhere new, check the budget carriers first—your wallet will thank you.