Why you should check the airport code before you book
Many cities have two or more airports. To avoid a nasty surprise or save money, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the airport code when booking.
Who knew that if you were going to the Austrian Alps you had to fly to Zurich or Munich? Think some budget airlines fly to Girona-Costa Brava airport and not to Barcelona (which is an hour away) as advertised? Are you saying that if you want cheap flights you should fly from Stansted or Luton rather than Heathrow in London?
Especially in Europe, it’s easy to overlook the most convenient or cheapest airport, which may not even be in the same country as your destination. For example, Geneva is best for visitors to eastern France, and Copenhagen is best for southern Sweden.
The ski resort of St Anton is 90 minutes by train from Innsbruck. But although Munich takes an extra hour, that’s less than you’d need for a domestic transfer, and it’s also cheaper because you don’t have to add the Innsbruck flight to your long-distance ticket.
Different airports in the same city tend to have different functions: JFK in New York for long-haul flights, LaGuardia for low-cost carriers, and a wider selection of domestic routes. Your airline choice may send you to an unexpected airport: Southwest Airlines uses Midway instead of O’Hare in Chicago.
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If flying domestic, choose the convenient Hongqiao via Pudong in Shanghai or Haneda via Narita in Tokyo. Be careful because in some cities, you may need to transfer to a different airport for a domestic flight, such as Buenos Aires.
Be especially careful when booking affordable flight tickets. Budget airlines use secondary airports due to lower landing and gate fees, faster taxi and return times, and less air traffic congestion.
Examples are Subang airport instead of Kuala Lumpur International and Don Mueang instead of Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok.
None of this really matters, but you might be surprised in Europe, where affordable flights fail to land anywhere near your default destination and ground transportation costs you more than your plane ticket.
For example, Paris-Beauvais is 108 kilometers away from the city center, while Charles de Gaulle is only 31 kilometers away and has much superior public transportation options. Memmingen is 141 km from Munich and Girona is 107 km from Barcelona.
To avoid making a misstep, check airport codes when booking, as flights may be advertised as Munich or Barcelona when landing in Memmingen (FMM instead of MUC) or Girona (GRO instead of BCN).
Some booking websites offer the option to select a specific airport, “all airports” or “nearby airports” in a city; can offer Pisa and Florence, for example.
There’s nothing wrong with alternative airports: there may even be a location or flight times that suit you better, and flights will probably be cheaper.
However, be aware of the distance to your destination, airport transfer options and costs, and transportation availability if you arrive early in the morning or late at night. Some budget airports (like Toluca outside Mexico City) don’t have public transportation. Be careful brochure.
Brian Johnston seemed destined to be a travel writer: an Irish man born in Nigeria, raised in Switzerland, lived in Britain and China, and now calls Australia home.
