Book Flights to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale — "Venice of America" with 500+ km of navigable waterways — is one of Florida's most vibrant coastal cities: home to the world's busiest cruise port (Port Everglades), 37 km of Atlantic beach, the celebrated Las Olas dining and nightlife corridor, and a 30-minute drive from Everglades National Park. FLL is one of the most competitive flight markets in the US.
Spirit Airlines is headquartered at FLL and operates its largest hub here. Southwest, Delta, American, JetBlue, United, and Frontier all compete aggressively at FLL — keeping fares 15–30% lower than Miami MIA on average.
Flight Deals to Fort Lauderdale
*All above fares are one way/round trip. Fares incl. all fuel surcharges, taxes & fees and our service fees. Displayed fares are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking. See all booking terms and conditions.
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Why Visit Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
From the world's busiest cruise port and 37 km of Atlantic beach to the Everglades, Las Olas Boulevard, and 500+ km of navigable waterways, Fort Lauderdale offers one of Florida's most complete and accessible coastal experiences.
Fort Lauderdale Beach and Las Olas Boulevard
23 Miles of Atlantic Beach — Florida's Relaxed Luxury CoastFort Lauderdale Beach — 37 km of Atlantic Ocean shoreline — is one of Florida's most beautiful and well-maintained beaches. Unlike Miami's South Beach (which attracts a flashier, higher-energy crowd), Fort Lauderdale Beach has a more relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Las Olas Boulevard — the city's premier dining and shopping street — runs east from downtown directly to the beach.
Las Olas Boulevard
Las Olas Boulevard ('The Waves' in Spanish) is Fort Lauderdale's most celebrated street — a 2 km corridor of upscale restaurants, boutique shops, art galleries, and bars running from the New River waterfront to the beach. The permanent collection at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art (on Las Olas) includes an important collection of CoBrA group works and American art. Friday evening art gallery walks and weekend dining make Las Olas the social heart of Fort Lauderdale.
Port Everglades — The Cruise Capital of the World
Largest Cruise Port in the World by Passenger VolumePort Everglades in Fort Lauderdale handles more cruise passengers than any port in the world — over 4 million passengers annually embarking on Caribbean, Bahamas, and international voyages. Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Holland America, and Celebrity Cruises all use Port Everglades as a home port. The port is 8 km from FLL airport — one of the most convenient cruise-and-fly combinations in the US.
World's Busiest Cruise Port
Port Everglades handles 10–14 cruise ships simultaneously at its 12 berths — the largest and most advanced cruise port infrastructure in the world. On a busy weekend morning, more than 20,000 passengers may be embarking or disembarking simultaneously. The port is served by the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport shuttle and taxis; Uber/Lyft connect directly to FLL in under 15 minutes. Pre-cruise hotel packages in Fort Lauderdale with FLL arrival are a popular option.
Everglades National Park
River of Grass — 90 Minutes from Fort LauderdaleEverglades National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, and an International Biosphere Reserve — is 90 minutes from Fort Lauderdale via the Sawgrass Expressway. The 'River of Grass' (a slow-moving freshwater sheet flow 80 km wide and 160 km long, only 15 cm deep) is the most significant subtropical wilderness in North America: home to American crocodiles, manatees, Florida panthers, and 350+ bird species.
Airboat Tours
Airboat tours in the Everglades — departing from Everglades Holiday Park (30 km west of Fort Lauderdale), Billie Swamp Safari, and other operators — provide the most visceral way to experience the River of Grass: flat-bottom aluminum boats propelled by aircraft propellers skimming over sawgrass prairies at 60 km/h, passing alligators basking within metres of the boat. The Everglades are best visited November–April (dry season) when wildlife concentrates around shrinking water sources.
Riverwalk and Downtown Fort Lauderdale
New River Waterfront — Museums, Dining, and WatertaxisDowntown Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk stretches 3 km along the New River, connecting the Museum of Art, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, History Fort Lauderdale, and the Stranahan House (the city's oldest surviving structure, 1901). The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi — a network of water shuttles connecting downtown, the beach, and Las Olas — is both practical transportation and a uniquely pleasant way to explore the city's extensive waterway network.
Water Taxi Network
Fort Lauderdale's Water Taxi operates a network of 12 boats along 40 km of Intracoastal Waterway, New River, and canal routes — connecting downtown, Las Olas, the beach, and multiple restaurants and hotels. Day passes ($28 adults) allow unlimited hop-on/hop-off access. Fort Lauderdale has more than 500 km of navigable waterways — more per capita than any other city in the world — earning the city its nickname 'Venice of America.'
Wilton Manors and LGBTQ+ Culture
One of America's Most LGBTQ+-Friendly CitiesWilton Manors — an independent city completely surrounded by Fort Lauderdale — is consistently ranked one of the most LGBTQ+-welcoming communities in the United States, with the second-highest percentage of same-sex households of any US city. The Wilton Drive corridor is home to dozens of LGBTQ+-owned bars, restaurants, and shops. Fort Lauderdale Pride (June) is one of Florida's largest pride celebrations.
Wilton Drive
Wilton Drive — Wilton Manors' main commercial street — is a 2 km stretch of LGBTQ+-owned and welcoming bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques. The Stonewall National Museum and Archives (Fort Lauderdale) holds one of the largest LGBTQ+ archive collections in the US, including materials dating to the Stonewall uprising era. Fort Lauderdale's combination of beaches, warm weather, and LGBTQ+-welcoming culture makes it one of the top LGBTQ+ travel destinations in the world.
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
1920s Artist's Estate on Fort Lauderdale BeachBonnet House Museum and Gardens — a 14-hectare historic estate on Fort Lauderdale Beach — preserves the 1920s winter home of artists Frederic Clay Bartlett and Evelyn Fortune Bartlett. The property, donated to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation in 1983, features extraordinary subtropical gardens (orchid collection, orchid house, cypress swamp, shell museum), a working art studio, and the original Everglades-cypress-and-coral-rock house.
Winter Retreat of Artists
Frederic Clay Bartlett's Bonnet House — a sprawling Arts and Crafts-style main house with a dramatic 'Barrel Room' arcade, hand-painted murals throughout, and rooms filled with folk art collected from around the world — is one of Florida's most charming historic house museums. The surrounding subtropical gardens include a seasonal colony of South American squirrel monkeys (a remnant of Evelyn Bartlett's 1940s purchase of two pet monkeys whose descendants still roam the estate).
Booking Tips for Fort Lauderdale Flights
Spirit Is Based at FLL — Check Total Cost Including Bags
Spirit Airlines' home airport is Fort Lauderdale FLL. Spirit consistently offers the lowest base fares to FLL, but charges for carry-on bags ($39–79 at gate), seat selection, and all snacks. A Spirit carry-on bag + seat fee can add $70–100 to the stated fare. Compare the total cost with Southwest (free bags) before booking Spirit.
Southwest Offers Free Bags and No Change Fees — Book Direct
Southwest Airlines' two free checked bags and no-change-fee policy make it the best value for travelers checking luggage. Southwest fares only appear on Southwest's own website (not on Google Flights, Kayak, or Expedia), so always check southwest.com directly when comparing FLL fares.
FLL vs MIA — Fort Lauderdale Usually Cheaper Than Miami
Fort Lauderdale FLL and Miami MIA are 40 km apart (35-40 min by car or Tri-Rail train). FLL typically has cheaper fares due to greater ultra-low-cost carrier competition (Spirit, Frontier, Southwest). For South Florida trips, check both airports — sometimes Miami has better deals, but FLL is usually 15–30% cheaper on average.
Peak Season Is December–April — Book 6–8 Weeks in Advance
Fort Lauderdale's peak travel season (December through April) brings snowbirds, spring breakers (March), and cruise passengers. Book 6–8 weeks ahead for winter travel. June–August is hurricane season and the off-peak bargain window — fares and hotel rates drop significantly. September and October are the cheapest months to fly to FLL.
Airlines Flying to Fort Lauderdale
Spirit Airlines
Spirit's Headquarters Hub — Ultra-Low FaresFort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is Spirit Airlines' headquarters city and one of its largest hubs. Spirit operates the most departures from FLL of any carrier, with ultra-low base fares across 70+ routes. Spirit's unbundled model (bag fees on everything including carry-ons, no seat selection included) keeps base fares very low but requires careful ancillary fee accounting. Spirit headquartered in Miramar, FL, 18 km from FLL.
Routes
Spirit operates 70+ nonstop routes from FLL across the US, Caribbean, and Latin America: FLL to New York LaGuardia LGA, Chicago O'Hare ORD, Atlanta ATL, Dallas DFW, Los Angeles LAX, Detroit DTW, Philadelphia PHL, Washington DCA, Boston BOS, Denver DEN, and 60+ others including Caribbean and Latin America
Southwest Airlines
Southwest's Florida Hub — Free Bags, No Change FeesSouthwest Airlines operates a major presence at FLL with extensive nonstop service across the US. Southwest's model — two free checked bags, no change or cancellation fees, and loyalty points that never expire — makes it particularly attractive for leisure travelers to Fort Lauderdale. Southwest operates out of Terminal 1 at FLL, separate from other airlines.
Routes
Fort Lauderdale FLL to Chicago Midway MDW (Southwest, multiple daily); FLL to Baltimore BWI (Southwest, multiple daily); FLL to Dallas Love Field DAL (Southwest, multiple daily); FLL to Nashville BNA (Southwest, multiple daily); FLL to Denver DEN (Southwest, multiple daily); FLL to 60+ US cities (Southwest, nonstop)
Delta, American, JetBlue, Frontier & United
Full Airline Competition at FLL — Strong Fare CompetitionFLL is one of South Florida's most competitive airline markets: Delta (hub connections through ATL, JFK), American (connections through MIA and hub cities), JetBlue (New York JFK, Boston BOS), United (Newark EWR, Houston IAH), and Frontier (Denver DEN, low-cost leisure) all compete aggressively at FLL. This competition keeps fares low across the board.
Routes
Delta FLL to Atlanta ATL, Minneapolis MSP, New York JFK; American FLL to Charlotte CLT, Dallas DFW, Chicago ORD; JetBlue FLL to New York JFK, Boston BOS; United FLL to Newark EWR, Chicago ORD, Houston IAH; Frontier FLL to Denver DEN, Chicago O'Hare ORD, Philadelphia PHL
Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Essential Info for Your Fort Lauderdale Trip
State
Florida (FL) — Broward County Seat; Spirit Airlines HQ city
Currency
USD — US Dollar
Time Zone
EST (UTC-5) / EDT (UTC-4) — Eastern Time
Airport Code
FLL — Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (5 km SW of downtown)
Port Everglades
World's busiest cruise port — 8 km from FLL; Caribbean & Bahamas
Miami MIA
40 km south (35-40 min) — compare fares; FLL usually 15-30% cheaper
Best Season
Dec–Apr (dry season, snowbirds) — book 6-8 weeks ahead; Sep–Oct cheapest
Emergency Number
911
Most Popular Airlines
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Frequently Asked Questions on Flights to Fort Lauderdale
Everything you need to know about flying to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
What airport serves Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (IATA: FLL) is located 5 km southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale and 30 km north of Miami. FLL is served by Spirit Airlines (hub), Southwest Airlines (major base), Delta, American, JetBlue, United, Frontier, and international carriers. FLL is the 21st busiest airport in the US.
What airlines fly to Fort Lauderdale FLL?
Spirit Airlines (FLL is Spirit's headquarters hub), Southwest Airlines (major base, free bags), Delta Air Lines (Atlanta, Minneapolis hub connections), American Airlines (Charlotte, Dallas connections), JetBlue (New York JFK, Boston), United Airlines (Newark, Houston), Frontier Airlines (Denver, Chicago), and international carriers (Avianca, Azul, Copa, WestJet, etc.) all serve FLL.
Is Fort Lauderdale cheaper than Miami for flights?
Generally yes. Fort Lauderdale FLL typically has 15–30% lower average fares than Miami MIA because FLL has stronger ultra-low-cost carrier competition (Spirit headquarters, Southwest, Frontier). For South Florida trips, check both airports — sometimes MIA has better deals on specific routes. FLL and MIA are 40 km apart (35-40 minutes by car or Tri-Rail).
What is Port Everglades?
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is the world's busiest cruise port by passenger volume — handling over 4 million passengers annually. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, and Norwegian Cruise Line all use Port Everglades as a home port. The port is 8 km from FLL — making Fort Lauderdale one of the most convenient fly-and-cruise destinations in the US.
How far is the Everglades from Fort Lauderdale?
Everglades National Park's Shark Valley entrance is about 90 km west of Fort Lauderdale (45-60 minutes via I-75 Alligator Alley or Sawgrass Expressway). Everglades Holiday Park, which offers airboat tours, is only 30 km west of Fort Lauderdale — about 30 minutes by car. November through April (dry season) is the best time to visit the Everglades from FLL.
What is Fort Lauderdale like compared to Miami?
Fort Lauderdale is often described as a more relaxed, family-friendly, and locally authentic alternative to Miami. Miami has world-famous nightlife, Art Basel, and a cosmopolitan vibe; Fort Lauderdale is calmer, more boat-oriented (500+ km of navigable waterways — 'Venice of America'), and typically less expensive. Fort Lauderdale has excellent beaches, a vibrant Las Olas restaurant scene, and strong LGBTQ+ culture (Wilton Manors).
When is the cheapest time to fly to Fort Lauderdale?
September and October are the cheapest months (hurricane season, lowest demand). June–August is also off-peak with significantly lower fares and hotel rates compared to winter. The most expensive period is December through April (snowbird season, spring break). Book 6–8 weeks ahead for December–April travel; September–October flights can often be found 2–4 weeks out.
How do I get from FLL airport to downtown Fort Lauderdale?
Options from FLL to downtown Fort Lauderdale: Uber/Lyft ($15–25, 10-15 min); Broward County Transit Bus Route 1 ($2, 30-45 min); Tri-Rail commuter train ($2.50-5, connects to downtown Fort Lauderdale and Miami); taxi ($25-35, metered). The Water Taxi operates from the Riverside Hotel dock — 10 min Uber from FLL — for scenic canal routes to the beach and Las Olas.
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