If you’re flying out of Tempe, Arizona, you’ve got a few solid airline choices. Frontier, Spirit, Southwest, and American all serve the area, each bringing their own perks.
Frontier and Spirit usually have the lowest fares. American, on the other hand, offers the most flight options from nearby Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Many of these airlines run nonstop flights to popular spots, so you can skip those annoying layovers. Prices bounce around depending on the time of year and how early you book.
Knowing which airlines fly from Tempe helps you balance cost and convenience. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit more for a direct flight, right?
Choosing the right airline really depends on what matters to you—are you chasing the lowest price, the best flight times, or just want decent service? Let’s break down your options so you can pick what fits best for your next trip.
Key Takeaways
- You’ve got multiple airline options flying from Tempe, including budget and major carriers.
- Nonstop flights and good connections are out there for a bunch of popular destinations.
- Booking early and knowing your airline choices can help you snag better prices.
Major Airlines Serving Tempe Arizona Airport
You’ll find several major airlines serving the Tempe area, mainly through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. These airlines range from budget-friendly to full-service, connecting you to a ton of destinations across the U.S. and beyond.
Overview of Leading Airlines
Phoenix Sky Harbor is the main airport for Tempe travelers, hosting over 24 airlines. The most popular carriers include American Airlines, Southwest, Delta, and Frontier Airlines.
These airlines offer nonstop flights to more than 120 domestic locations. You can pick between low-cost or premium services, depending on your budget and mood.
Many of these airlines offer frequent daily flights to big hubs like Dallas, Chicago, and Denver. That makes connections pretty painless if you’re heading farther.
Worth noting: Tempe doesn’t actually have its own major commercial airport. Most flights are out of Phoenix Sky Harbor, which is just a quick drive away—maybe 20 minutes if traffic’s kind.
American Airlines Route Options
American Airlines is one of the biggest carriers flying from the Phoenix area. They run plenty of nonstop routes to cities like Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
If you want a wide network and solid schedules, American’s hard to beat. You can also catch connecting flights through their hubs, so international travel’s on the table.
They offer multiple daily flights, so you’ve got some flexibility with your times. Economy or premium cabins—take your pick.
Frontier Airlines Services
Frontier Airlines is a budget carrier at Phoenix Sky Harbor, which is the closest airport to Tempe. They focus on low-cost fares, mainly to smaller and mid-sized cities.
Frontier keeps ticket prices low by charging separately for things like seat selection and checked bags. If you’re all about saving money and don’t need frills, Frontier’s worth a look.
They fly to places like Denver, Las Vegas, and a handful of Midwest and East Coast cities. Just keep in mind, their flights aren’t as frequent as the big airlines, so double-check schedules before you book.
Popular Nonstop and Connecting Flight Routes
You can reach a bunch of key destinations quickly from Tempe, thanks to the nearby airports. Both direct and connecting flights are available, depending on where you’re going.
Knowing where to catch these flights can make planning way easier.
Direct Flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
Tempe itself doesn’t have a big commercial airport, but Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is close—about 20 minutes away. That gets you nonstop flights to over 120 cities across the U.S. and Mexico.
Sky Harbor’s got nonstop service from major airlines like Southwest, American, Delta, and United. These flights hit big hubs like Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, and Mexico City.
If you want a ton of route options, Phoenix Sky Harbor is the place to start.
Key Destinations From Tempe Arizona Airport
While Tempe doesn’t have direct commercial flights, nearby airports cover the popular routes. From Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA), which is a short drive from Tempe, you can catch nonstop flights to spots like Las Vegas, Denver, and Dallas.
Most routes from these airports focus on leisure and business cities around the western U.S. and Mexico. Southwest, Frontier, and Alaska Airlines run a lot of these flights.
Travel times are usually under three hours to those popular beach and city locations. Not bad if you just want to get away for a weekend.
Nearby Airports Serving Tempe
You’ve got three main airports near Tempe:
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) — The biggest and busiest, with tons of nonstop and connecting flights both in the U.S. and internationally.
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) — East of Tempe, this one’s for low-cost carriers with nonstop flights to select U.S. cities.
- Phoenix Scottsdale Municipal Airport (SDL) — Mostly for private and corporate jets, not commercial flights.
Depending on your needs, Sky Harbor is usually the top pick for nonstop routes. Mesa Gateway works if you want budget options on certain flights.
Scottsdale? Well, that’s not for commercial airline travel, so you can probably skip it.
How to Find the Best Fare From Tempe
Finding the best fare from Tempe takes a little strategy and the right tools. Compare different travel providers and use apps to track prices—it really helps.
Watching flight calendars and setting price alerts can help you jump on deals before they’re gone.
Using Skyscanner and Other Travel Providers
Skyscanner is a handy tool for comparing flight prices from Tempe. You can search a bunch of airlines and travel providers all in one spot.
The Skyscanner app makes it easy to check prices from your phone and find the best Tempe fare without much hassle.
Besides Skyscanner, try sites like Orbitz or Kayak. Sometimes they have unique deals or special discounts you won’t see everywhere.
They list multiple options, including Spirit Airlines and Frontier, which often have cheap roundtrip flights from Tempe.
Pay attention to the flight booking experience too. Some sites have flexible filters for times, stops, and prices, which can really help narrow down your search.
Price Alerts and Calendar Tools
Using price alerts is a smart move when you’re watching flights from Tempe. Set alerts on Skyscanner or other sites, and you’ll get a heads-up when prices drop.
This saves you from checking every single day. Flight calendars show prices for each day, so you can spot the cheapest dates to fly.
If your travel dates are flexible, this is a game changer. Combine alerts with calendar tools to snag deals early.
Some airlines, like Spirit and Frontier, offer fares as low as $70 if you book at the right time. Sometimes it’s just about being in the right place at the right time, isn’t it?
Tips for the Cheapest Time to Book a Flight
The sweet spot for booking flights from Tempe? Usually about one to three months before you go. Too far out or last minute, and prices creep up.
Midweek flights—think Tuesday or Wednesday—are often a better deal than weekends. Airlines seem to know when we all want to leave.
Try to avoid holidays if you can. Flights during those times just get expensive, fast.
If you’re flexible, check out early morning or late-night departures. These odd hours can sometimes save you a surprising amount.
Keep an eye on prices with tools like Skyscanner’s flight calendar. Watching those fare changes helps take some of the mystery out of snagging a cheap ticket.