Why New Airline Routes Matter to All Travelers

Image: The flight board at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (photo by Eric Bowman)
Image: The flight board at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (photo by Eric Bowman)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 2:11 PM ET, Sat February 25, 2023

There used to be a recurring skit on the old Saturday Night Live called, 'You can't get there from here.'

Ostensibly, it was to poke fun at New Englanders who often gave circuitous routes well traveling in their state.

But when an airline introduces a new route, don't necessarily dismiss it just because you're not going there or going through one of those cities, according to the travel website Going.com.

There are a variety of reasons why, the most important of which is the price of the fare.

It's a simple formula tried and true in the business world. More competition on a route typically means lower fares. If you had the money, and you were just looking for the shortest distance between two points, more power to you. If you don't mind a layover or a longer flight, this is for you. Flights with layovers are generally less expensive.

More competition, more options for travelers…it's all a good thing for the traveler's bank account.

As. Going.com points out by way of example, if you want to get to Europe from LAX you can choose from 23 different airlines, while from Atlanta there are only 15. So you're going to see more deals out of LAX.

Going.com also points to the Greek Islands trick, "which involves focusing on getting to your continent of choice as cheaply as possible."

More routes available help make this travel hack much more feasible.

How does it work?

Going.com says: You can do this by looking for the best deal from a nearby airport to your final destination (and then adding a short flight to get to that departure spot) or by nabbing a cheap flight from your destination across the ocean (and then connecting from your arrival spot to your final destination on a cheap regional flight).

So don't dismiss new routes until you have a chance to check out their advantages.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Related Videos

Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ice: Explore the Poles the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Way.Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Darrell Wyatt, Regional Sales Director, and Kevin Rattue, Naturalist, to discover what makes...
Upcoming Webinar
Journey to HawaiiWednesday, September 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 as we take a virtual journey to the islands of Hawaii....
Upcoming Webinar
The Return of Grand VoyagesThursday, October 1, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
As luxury travelers seek deeper, more immersive ways to explore the world, demand for extended voyages...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ice: Explore the Poles the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Way.Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Darrell Wyatt, Regional Sales Director, and Kevin Rattue, Naturalist, to discover what makes...
Upcoming Webinar
Journey to HawaiiWednesday, September 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 as we take a virtual journey to the islands of Hawaii....
Upcoming Webinar
The Return of Grand VoyagesThursday, October 1, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
As luxury travelers seek deeper, more immersive ways to explore the world, demand for extended voyages...