Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-06-21
London has six airports, Istanbul two, Milan three — and the fare gap between them is often wider than the gap between airlines. Search only the best-known airport and, frankly, you’re leaving money on the table.
Why it pays to check alternative airports
Low-cost carriers tend to favour smaller airports with lower fees, and that saving usually shows up in the ticket price. London Stansted instead of Heathrow can cut costs by 40–60% on many routes; Milan Bergamo instead of Malpensa is often in a similar range.
Work out the full cost, not just the fare
The only maths that counts is the real kind: how much does the trip into the city cost, and how long will it actually take? Saving €30 makes little sense if the bus transfer is €25 and takes 90 minutes. If the difference is €150, well, that’s another matter.
Istanbul example: IST vs. SAW
The new Istanbul Airport (IST) sits on the European side, while Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side. Staying in the European part? SAW will often save you €30 on the ticket, but you may pay for it in extra time and a higher taxi fare. Our comparison puts both options next to each other, and the choice is yours.
You can mix airports: arrive at one, leave from another
For city combinations, this is the smart move: fly into Stansted, head home from Heathrow, or turn it into an open-jaw trip with a second city straight away. With our multi-city search, you can put the route together in just a few minutes.
Compare flights across all airports