San Antonio Spirit

Spirit Airlines soars into San Antonio with ultra low fares this fall

Spirit Airlines is launching nonstop service from San Antonio.

Courtesy of Spirit

As the Texas temps keep soaring, San Antonio residents looking to escape to cooler climates will welcome the announcement of a new budget airline servicing San Antonio International Airport (SAT).

Beginning this fall, SAT will welcome Spirit Airlines to the mix. The ultra-low-cost airline will give travelers an affordable option to visit two of the most popular leisure destinations in the United States, a release says. New daily nonstop routes from San Antonio to Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida will take off this fall.

“Spirit coming to San Antonio International Airport gives our community more family-friendly travel options. They can enjoy the sights and sounds of Las Vegas and have a fun time discovering all Orlando has to offer,” said Jesus H. Saenz, director of airports at the San Antonio Airport System.

“Also, more people in Florida and Nevada can come and see how special and authentic San Antonio is – with affordable fares that are too good to pass up. It’s a win-win because it’s making traveling to far destinations more accessible.”

The announcement makes Spirit Airlines the 13th carrier at SAT. This is the fourth Texas destination for Spirit Airlines, which has one the most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry, with 24 brand-new planes planned for delivery this year, and 33 more projected in 2023.

Spirit is offering introductory fares starting at $89 for one-way travel from November 30 to December 14, 2022 (excluding Fridays and Sundays). All tickets must be purchased 21 days in advance to be eligible. The flights will begin on November 17 to both destinations.

“We are excited to offer our guests affordable access to the Alamo City to experience the attractions, rich history and vibrant culture that have earned it a top vacation destination ranking in Texas, said John Kirby, Vice President of Network Planning at Spirit Airlines.

vacation transportation

santa loves sunshine

San Antonio ranks 11th on list of best warm winter travel destinations

San Antonio Riverwalk Christmas holiday lights

Visit San Antonio Facebook

undefined

Mariah Carey isn't the only one defrosting in preparation for the winter season: San Antonio has warmed up as one of WalletHub's top best warm weather travel destinations for 2024.

Every year, WalletHub's analysts divide nearly 70 of the biggest U.S. metropolitan areas into two categories: the top "warm" and "cold" weather destinations. The study evaluated every metro based on 37 factors, including travel costs, local costs, weather predictions, and safety.

San Antonio-New Braunfels earned a score of 59.92 out of 100 possible points to claim the No. 11 spot nationally in 2024. The metro slipped six spots from its previous 2023 ranking as No. 5, which it first achieved in 2022.

The top five best warm weather winter destinations are Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada (No. 1); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California (No. 2); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (No. 3); Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown (No. 4); and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona.

San Antonio ranked No. 7 in the national "travel costs and hassles" categories, showing major favorability towards the busy yet efficient San Antonio International Airport. The metro's near year-round sunshine earned it No. 12 in the "weather" ranking out of all 69 U.S. metros.

Here's how San Antonio-New Braunfels performed in the remaining four categories:

No. 11 – Attractions rank
No. 14 – Warm weather activities rank
No. 16 – Local costs rank
No. 36 – Safety rank

As in previous years, the highest concentration of top warm weather destinations was in Florida (10 metros), followed by Texas (nine metros), then California (eight metros).

Besides DFW and Austin, the only other Texas metro to earn a spot in the top 10 in 2024 was Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (No. 6).

Atlanta, Georgia ranked No. 1 once again on the list of best cold weather destinations for winter vacations, outdoing New York City, New York (No. 2); Washington, D.C. (No. 3); and Chicago, Illinois (No. 4).

"Whether you love to have a chill in your bones during the winter travel season or prefer to escape to somewhere sunny, the top travel destinations can cost as little as $200-$300 to reach by plane from major U.S. cities, with no connections," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "In addition to being affordable, the top cities also have an abundance of attractions that fit their weather patterns, along with high-quality restaurants and relatively low crime rates."

The top 10 best warm weather destinations for winter vacations are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada
No. 2 – San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
No. 3 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
No. 4 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
No. 5 – Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
No. 6 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California
No. 8 – Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
No. 9 – Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina
No. 10 – Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida

For the purpose of the study, "cold" weather was determined to be less than or equal to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, while "warm" weather was greater than or equal to 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Both guidelines were analyzed based on the 50-year average December temperatures.

The full report and its methodology can be found on wallethub.com.

reports wallethub vacations destinations san antonio new braunfels