Cheap flights to
Philadelphia (PHL)
Save hundreds on your next flight with deals on highly rated airlines.
Were you looking for
flights from Philadelphia (PHL)?
Flights to Philadelphia (PHL) overview
Going searches for the best fares and sends members deals bookable 1-12 months in advance. Going members save approximately 34% compared to normal flight prices to Philadelphia (PHL).
Cheapest Going deal
Average price roundtrip
Average Going deal price roundtrip
Best month to fly
Going found the most deals with travel dates in May.
Worst month to fly
Going found the least deals with travel dates in July.
Top tips for finding a cheap flight to Philadelphia (PHL)
Book in the Goldilocks Window
There’s no day of the week or specific time of the month when flights are magically cheaper (we wish!), but there is a time period before your trip when you’re mostly likely to find the best deals. We call it the Goldilocks Window because it’s not too close and not too far away from your departure date. For domestic trips, the sweet spot is 1–3 months before a trip. For international flights, it’s longer, from 2–8 months before.
If you plan to travel during peak season, meaning summer in Philadelphia, start looking on the earlier end. If you want to visit the city for 4th of July celebrations, for example, start looking for fares in January. Don’t wait until just before your flight, hoping for a last-minute deal. Fare jumps happen at the 21-, 14-, and 7-day points before departure dates, so be sure to book before then.
Use the Greek Islands Trick
The Greek Islands Trick is one of our favorite tips for getting to the notoriously expensive Greek Islands during peak seasons—but it works all over the world. The idea is to get as close as you can to your final destination for the cheapest price. From there, look for a budget airline flight, train, bus, or other travel option.
If you live in Portland, Oregon, for example, and flights to Philadelphia are prohibitively expensive, try searching for flights to New York or Boston. If you find a great deal, you could take a bus, train, or rent a car to reach Philly. It’s more work and time but, especially during busy travel periods, could save you a bunch of money.
Search alternative departure airports
This is like the Greek Islands Trick but on the departure side of your trip. If you live in Portland, Oregon, chances are you don’t regularly search for flights from other airports. But what if you found a cheap flight from Seattle to Philadelphia? It could be worth the drive or train ride to save a couple hundred bucks to put toward a Philly hotel.
You could even try looking farther afield, like Denver or Chicago. We see amazing deals from airports all over the country, and if you’re only looking out of your home airport you could miss them. If you see a $140 flight from Chicago to Philadelphia, it’s worth checking to see if there’s another cheap flight from Portland to Chicago. The logistics can be a bit of a hassle, but your wallet will thank you.
Fly when it’s cheaper
One of the easiest ways to find cheap flights is to fly during the off season. In Philadelphia, that’s December–February, when the weather is cold and the city doesn’t get many visitors. But if you’re already living in a cold-weather destination, or you plan to spend most of your time in museums and other indoor activities, it’s a great time to visit to save money on flights and hotels.
We love traveling during the shoulder seasons—the periods right on the edge of high and low seasons. In Philadelphia, that’s March to May and September to November. You’ll likely find cheaper fares and fewer crowds than in the summer, but you’ll still have nice weather.
If you’re set on a summer vacation, at least try to book fares on the cheapest days to fly: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Unsurprisingly, Fridays and Sundays are generally the most expensive.
Set alerts for specific trips
You don’t have to tell us twice that tracking airfare can feel like a full-time job. The good news is there are easy ways to make technology do some of the work for you.
Set up fare alerts for your Philadelphia travel dates, being sure to set a few if your dates are flexible. Do this well in advance of your trip, ideally before the Goldilocks Window we talked about above. That way you’ll see the best fares.
Philadelphia is a medium-sized airport served by most major US cities, a handful of European cities, and much of the Caribbean. It’s also the hub for American Airlines in the Northeast. Most travelers in the US and Europe will reach PHL on a nonstop or one-stop flight. Visitors from Asia, Africa, and elsewhere could have two connections.
Frequently asked questions about flying to Philadelphia (PHL)
What is the airport code for Philadelphia International Airport?
The airport code for Philadelphia International Airport is PHL.
When is high season in Philadelphia?
Summer is high season in Philadelphia, like in much of the US. June, July, and August are busy with families on vacation taking advantage of the warm, sunny weather and visitors in town to celebrate the many summer festivals. The Philly Pride Parade and Festival takes place in June, and the city goes all out for the 4th of July. There are also neighborhood food and beer festivals throughout the summer.
When is the best time to visit Philadelphia?
June–August is a great time to visit Philadelphia for weather in the 70s and 80s; there’s also lots to do both indoors and out. It also happens to be the busiest. Shoulder seasons, from March–May and September–October, are great, when prices are cheaper but the weather can still be nice. Philadelphia has beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring and colorful leaves in the fall, making both of these times of year picturesque as well as less crowded times to visit. The cheapest flights are typically found in the winter, from December to February, though those are also the coldest months. Still, there are plenty of museums and other indoor activities in Philadelphia, so if you’re okay with bundling up this is a good time to travel for cheap fares.
Does PHL have its own on-site hotel?
The Philadelphia Airport Marriott is connected to Terminal B of PHL. It has soundproof windows, work areas, a fitness center, room service, and free wifi. Rooms start at $180.
What lounges are available at PHL?
- Terminal A: American Airlines Admirals Club (one location near gate A4 and one near A15); American Express Centurion Lounge (near A14); British Airways Galleries Club Lounge; Minute Suites
- Terminal B: American Airlines Admirals Club
- Terminal C: United Club (between concourses C and D); Be Relax Spa
- Terminal D: Delta Sky Club (between concourses D and E)
There are four American Airlines Admirals Clubs at PHL. They have full-service bars, fresh food throughout the day, and free wifi. The Club near gate A14 is a new flagship lounge, which has specialty cocktails, additional dining options, more seating, and shower suites. Admirals Club members, first and business class passengers, qualifying AAdvantage Executive Platinum members, Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, and Citi/AAdvantage Executive Card holders can access the lounge. Day passes are available at some locations for $79.
The American Express Centurion Lounge in Terminal A has floor-to-ceiling windows, showers, a menu created by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov, cocktails by award-winning mixologist Jim Meehan, and L’Occitane bath products. Centurion card members have access to the lounge.
In Terminal C, the United Club has a full-service bar, snacks, flight monitors, internet terminals, and wifi. It is available for United Polaris business and regular business class passengers, first and business class passengers on a Star Alliance airline, those with Star Alliance Gold membership, United Club membership, or a valid day pass.
The Delta Sky Club in Terminal D has snacks, spirits, beer and wine, flight monitors, TVs, and free wifi. Delta Sky Club members with a same-day boarding pass; Delta One passengers, first or business class passengers; Delta Diamond, Platinum and Gold members; SkyTeam Elite Plus customers and Diamond Medallion members can use the lounge.
What are the rules for traveling with pets to PHL?
The Philadelphia International Airport recommends checking with your airline on whether your pet is eligible to fly. In the airport, pets that are not service animals must be in a carrier. Those traveling from outside the US with a pet will need to follow USDA regulations, which include specific vaccinations and obtaining a health certificate before departure.
How far is PHL from Philadelphia?
The airport is about 10 miles from Downtown Philadelphia and takes around 20 minutes via car with light traffic. If you’re flying into Wilmington, Delaware, you might also fly into PHL. The drive from PHL to Wilmington is about 40 minutes.
What are the transportation options for getting from PHL to Philadelphia?
There are a number of options to get from PHL to Philadelphia.
- By rideshare or taxi: The roughly 10-mile trip from the airport to the city takes about 20 minutes with light traffic, but plan for extra time if traveling during rush hour. The rideshare pickup is outside baggage claim in Zone 7. The average cost is $25–30. Taxis have a flat rate to the city center of $32.
- By public transportation: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) provides service on the Airport Regional Rail Line. Trains run every 30 minutes on weekdays and hourly on weekends. Trains pickup at all terminals and stop at several places near the center of the city. From those stops, you can transfer to regional rail to reach Boston, New York, or elsewhere. The fare is $6.75 with a SEPTA card or $8 with a credit card. There are also three bus routes from the airport, all leaving from Zone 1 outside baggage claim. The fare is $2.50.
How long is the flight to Philadelphia?
If you’re traveling from around the Northeast, your flight time will be around an hour. From Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, and elsewhere in the Southeast, as well as from the Midwest, it will be 1.5–3 hours. From Texas and Denver, it’s about 3–4 hours; from the West Coast, it’s closer to 5 hours. There are nonstop flights from many Caribbean islands, with flight times of 3.5–5 hours. From Europe, a nonstop flight is 8–9 hours.
There are direct flights to Philly from about 25 countries and numerous US cities. From much of the US, Europe, and the Caribbean, you can reach Philadelphia on a nonstop flight. From elsewhere in the world, you’ll make a connection, likely in California, Atlanta, or somewhere in Europe, depending where you’re coming from.
Going helps you find flight deals to Philadelphia (PHL) and save big. Try Going Premium today.
Number of deals
Total to Philadelphia (PHL) in the last month
Total Mistake Fares
Airline slip-ups we've caught to Philadelphia (PHL)
Never overpay on flights again.
40-90% off flights.
Most members save an average of $550 on international economy flights and $200 on domestic.
Destinations across the globe.
We send flight alerts to over 180 airports in the US for over 900 destinations around the world.
Deals for highly rated airlines.
We prioritize the best itineraries on the best airlines. If it's not an amazing deal, we won't send it.
Become a cheap flight expert
* Prices are per person and include all taxes & fees in USD. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing, however, prices are not guaranteed, as airline pricing can change by the minute. Average Going fares are based on average prices of deals found by Going.