Tough economic times are forcing many in the Oklahoma City area to look beyond their single commercial airport, Will Rogers World Airport, for cheap airfare.

Some are looking as far as Texas for a good deal, but is it really beneficial for someone to book a flight in another state to save money?

Ticket only part of the price of flying

As the hub of American Airlines and other low-cost carriers like AirTran Airways and Sun Country Airlines, the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has cheaper fares listed for online ticketing services than Will Rogers.

Flights in the summer to Cancun, Mexico, Hawaii and Europe are about $50 to $100 cheaper, but that does not include travel costs to and from Dallas.

“For many travelers, time is money, and travelling out of Oklahoma City is probably the best option for those who value their time as much as they do their money,” said Tim Smith, spokesman for American Airlines.

AAA estimates the cost of driving to Dallas from Norman is around $34 and that does not include parking your car in the long-term parking lots.

“When you travel to the Dallas area you’ll have about a three-hour drive, and parking is more expensive,” said Mark Kranenburg, director of airports for Oklahoma City.

He said there were many benefits to using smaller airports like Will Rogers instead of multi-terminal complexes.

“Our lines for the security checkpoint are smaller, and you can get through faster,” Kranenburg said. “We are much more convenient.”

When costs are taken into consideration, the savings of traveling to Dallas Fort Worth for cheaper airfare are eaten up by the costs of driving down to Dallas.

Shopping right

The best deals can easily be found with a little online research and a flexible schedule.

“If you are looking to save, you should book on days that are less busy, like Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” Smith said.

Look for deals from low-cost carriers which are taking the initiative to get more business.

“We will be holding travel fare sales throughout the summer,” said Chris Minz, a spokesman for Southwest Airlines.

Minz said the state of the economy will keep fares low, and Southwest will be expanding its routes out of Will Rogers World this summer to New York City and Boston.

He said with the current economy, most airlines are not looking to expand, but find Oklahoma City appealing because of the relatively light local impact of the economic downturn.