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Travel demand to Asia continues to surge in 2026. Tokyo sits at the top of many travelers’ bucket lists, Seoul has become a must-visit for its food scene and global pop culture influence, and many countries across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, draw visitors in record numbers.
But flights to Asia are meaningfully more expensive than comparable routes to Europe right now, with prices climbing since 2025. Fuel costs add up on 12-plus hour flights, and airlines are still operating fewer routes to Asia than to Europe, which limits competition and keeps fares elevated. That said, deals do exist — particularly if you depart from the West Coast.
Dollar Flight Club, which tracks hundreds of thousands of airfare routes annually, analyzed prices for 3,267 flights departing between April 18, 2026, and Jan. 8, 2027, focusing on round-trip economy fares from the 10 largest U.S. airports. The data was pulled in March 2026.
While Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) offered some of the best prices, other airports also offered solid deals.
The cheapest flights between the U.S. and Asia in 2026
Here are the lowest fares Dollar Flight Club identified from major U.S. airports:
| U.S. airport | Asian city | Lowest fare |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Tokyo, Japan | $750. |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Manila, Philippines | $850. |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Tokyo, Japan | $900. |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Bangkok, Thailand | $900. |
| Chicago (ORD) | Delhi, India | $900. |
| Denver (DEN) | Tokyo, Japan | $920. |
| Atlanta (ATL) | Tokyo, Japan | $950. |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Hong Kong | $950. |
| Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) | Seoul, South Korea | $980. |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Seoul, South Korea | $980. |
| Atlanta (ATL) | Seoul, South Korea | $980. |
Fares represent the lowest round-trip economy prices identified during Dollar Flight Club's March 2026 analysis.
While actual fares vary by departure airport and travel dates, this list can help you decide where to fly into — or out of — before connecting to your final destination.
Keep in mind that low airfare doesn’t necessarily correlate to lower travel prices across the board. Tokyo and Seoul, for example, consistently offer low airfares but tend to have higher on-the-ground costs for travelers compared with other Asian cities.
LAX offers some of the lowest fares
Of the five cheapest airfares identified by Dollar Flight Club, three were from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Perhaps that’s not surprising since it offers some of the shortest flight times to Asia among major mainland U.S. airports, and has a high volume of nonstop flights to Asia.
Airlines at LAX are also adding flights to Asia this year, which could increase competition and put downward pressure on prices. American Airlines, for example, added two more daily flights to Tokyo, which began at the end of March. On June 6, 2026, Delta Air Lines is launching daily service to Hong Kong (HKG) from LAX.
Still, the deals weren’t limited to Los Angeles. Several other major U.S. airports posted competitive fares, too. The list of cheapest flights from the U.S. to Asia also included three flights from Las Vegas, and two flights from Atlanta.
» Learn more: My favorite tools for booking cheap travel
Cities with cheap flights — and cheap costs on the ground
A few cities stand out not only for offering cheap flights from the U.S., but also for budget-friendly hotels, meals, and attractions.
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok consistently ranks among the most affordable gateway cities, delivering big-city energy at a lower cost than other major Asian hubs like Singapore or Hong Kong.
Cheap attractions include Wat Pho, famous for its massive gold-plated Reclining Buddha. Admission is less than $10. It’s home to some of the world’s most impressive shopping malls with both high-end retailers and local flair. Take, for example, Icon Siam, a mall with both luxury designer shops and its own floating market, a type of marketplace common in Southeast Asia where vendors sell goods from boats on a river. (Yes, the mall has a man-made river.)
Speaking of floating markets, the more traditional ones outside the city can be visited by taxi or as part of a tour.
Manila, Philippines
Manila offers a mix of history and modern energy — and because of a favorable exchange rate, it’s one of Southeast Asia's most affordable major cities.
Intramuros, the centuries-old walled city, offers a glimpse into colonial history. Fort Santiago, a citadel within Intramuros, charges less than $2 for admission.
The Makati district, known for its nightlife and art, is the modern counterpart. Like Bangkok, Manila has serious mall culture: SM Mall of Asia is one of the largest malls in the world, complete with its own Ferris wheel and ice rink (the only one in the Philippines, according to the mall’s website).
Food is where Manila's value really shines. A full meal of Filipino staples such as adobo (a type of marinated meat considered the unofficial national dish in the Philippines) or sinigang (a popular Filipino soup) at a local carinderia, an open-air food stall, can cost about $2. Night markets are also popular for cheap eats.
Both the Philippines and Thailand made NerdWallet’s list of 16 cheap places to travel in 2026.
Tips for saving on Asia flights in 2026
- Consider multiple airports for departures. West Coast hubs often have lower fares on flights to Asia. Even if you don’t live on the West Coast, taking a positioning flight to one of these hubs could trim your costs.
- Fly to a gateway city. One strategy Dollar Flight Club says it's seeing more travelers use: Fly into a cheaper gateway city, then book a separate intra-Asia budget flight to your final destination — often for under $100. (Just keep in mind that booking two separate tickets means you might face some logistical challenges if you miss your connection.)
- Set price alerts. Use Google Flights, Skyscanner or a deal service like Dollar Flight Club to track fares. The best prices can disappear quickly.
- Book with points or miles. An award search tool like PointsYeah could help you find a good deal.
- Book refundable early, then watch. Locking in a standard economy fare lets you monitor prices and rebook if fares drop. With the exception of basic economy fares, many major airlines now allow free changes.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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