Denver is growing rapidly, with record numbers of people moving to the Centennial State for its booming economy, outdoor recreation, and other highlights. But it’s not just the city that’s busy: Approximately 64.5 million passengers traveled through Denver International Airport (DEN) in 2018, making DEN the 20th-busiest airport in the world and the 5th-busiest airport in the United States.
In late 2018, Denver International Airport won the top spot in The Wall Street Journal’s inaugural ranking of the US’ top 20 airports. The newspaper surveyed more than 4,800 of its readers responding on 15 measures; Denver ranked higher than other large hubs, including Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), and Chicago (ORD).
United, Southwest, and Frontier are DEN’s three largest operators, but the airport has attracted services from new airlines during the past couple of years, including Norwegian and Copa, which has helped increase competition. However, finding cheap international flights from Denver isn’t always easy. Here’s what you need to know to score a deal.
What’s the best airport for international deals from Denver?
Denver International Airport (DEN) is the only airport in Denver. It’s located 23 miles (about a 25-minute drive, depending on traffic) northeast of downtown Denver. The airport rail (A line on Denver’s RTD grid) costs $10.50 each way and takes approximately 37 minutes from Union Station, located in the center of downtown Denver, to the Westin Denver International Airport Hotel, which is the stop for the airport itself.
Denver has one main terminal (Jeppesen Terminal) and three concourses: A, B and C. DEN currently serves 26 international destinations in 11 countries. The airport is in the midst of a $3.5 billion capital improvement program which includes the addition of 39 gates (a 30% increase) by 2021, spread across its three concourses and a terminal renovation with enhanced security, new dining options, and more open and flexible check-in space.
Why all this construction? It’s necessary to accommodate future passenger traffic: Projections show DEN’s passenger levels could reach nearly 90 million by 2039.
What are some alternate airports for international deals from Denver?
Colorado Springs (COS) is about an hour away, and for those who live in the mountains, Aspen International Airport (ASE) is a less-considered option for deals on international flights during the winter. However, the best deals are generally found from DEN.
Denver is a hub for domestic and international flights on United, Southwest, and Frontier, and you can get just about anywhere in the continental US for a reasonable cost (often under $200), so in some cases, you may be better off booking a positioning flight to another city and snagging a cheap flight from there.
For example, for flights to South America and the Caribbean, look for deals out of Miami or Houston. For flights to Europe, you might save by booking a cheap domestic flight to NYC or DC and snagging a great international deal from there. And for flights to Asia, Australia, or Hawaii, look at prices from Los Angeles or San Francisco and see if you can find a cheap flight from Denver to one of those cities.
How do I find cheap flights from Denver to Europe?
Many of the cheap international flights out of Denver will be to Europe, with a number of daily flights heading to Germany, the UK, France, Iceland, and Switzerland. Flights to other cities and regions involve a layover, either in Europe or the US. From Denver, direct flights to Europe take anywhere from 7.5 hours (Iceland) to 9 hours (Germany).
What cities in Europe can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
From Denver, there are direct flights to Frankfurt (Lufthansa, United); London (Norwegian Air to Gatwick and British Airways and United to Heathrow); Munich (Lufthansa); Paris (Norwegian); Reykjavik (Icelandair), and Zurich (Edelweiss Air).
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to Europe?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to Europe range from $900-$1,500 in high season and $800-$1,300 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to Europe is anything under $650 in high season and $500 in low season.
Examples of cheap flights from Denver to Europe:
- Denver to Munich for $320 roundtrip
- Denver to London for $453 roundtrip
How do I find cheap flights from Denver to Asia?
Almost all cheap flights from Denver to Asia will involve a layover on the West Coast (LAX, SFO, or SEA), with one exception: United’s 12-hour flight to Tokyo. You may want to compare the cost of booking one itinerary from Denver to Asia versus booking a cheap flight to another US city and then snagging an international deal from there.
What cities in Asia can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
From DEN, the only nonstop flight is to Tokyo, Japan (NRT) on United.
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to Asia?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to Asia range from $1,200-$1,800 in high season and $850-$1,400 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to Asia is anything under $800 in high season and $650 in low season.
Examples of cheap flights from Denver to Asia:
- Denver to Manila for $510 roundtrip
- Denver to Shanghai for $435 roundtrip
- Denver to Beijing for $370 roundtrip
How do I find cheap flights from Denver to Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific?
Occasionally we’ll see cheap flights from Denver to Australia or New Zealand, but they’re not direct and they’re usually on United or American. Depending on your destination, consider routing from Denver to Los Angeles (LAX) or Dallas (DFW) and taking a direct flight from there.
What cities in Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
There are no direct flights from Denver to Oceania. All flights will have a stop on the West Coast of the US.
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to Oceania range from $1,500-$2,000 in high season and $1,100-$1,600 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to Oceania is anything under $900 in high season and $750 in low season.
Examples of cheap flights from Denver to Oceania:
- Denver to Sydney for $613 roundtrip
- Denver to Tahiti for $486 roundtrip
How do I find cheap flights from Denver to Africa or the Middle East?
Denver is a not a major hub for flights to Africa, but you can get to cities like Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi and Cairo with just one layover (usually a major East Coast city like Atlanta if you’re flying Delta, or Frankfurt if you’re on Lufthansa). Travel time (with the layover) ranges from 18 hours to 24+.
What cities in Africa and the Middle East can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
There are no direct flights from Denver to anywhere in Africa or the Middle East. All flights will go through another US or European hub.
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to Africa or the Middle East?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to Africa range from $1,400-$2,000 in high season and $1,000-$1,600 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to Africa is anything under $900 in high season and $800 in low season.
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to the Middle East range from $1,200-$1,600 in high season and $900-$1,400 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to the Middle East is anything under $800 in high season and $650 in low season.
Examples of cheap flights from Denver to Africa or the Middle East:
- Denver to Nairobi for $642 roundtrip
- Denver to Marrakech for $546 roundtrip
How do I find cheap flights from Denver to Mexico and Central and South America?
Denver has several direct flights to Mexico and countries in Central America, including Belize, Costa Rica and Panama City. However, there are no direct flights to South America; most flights will route through Atlanta (ATL), Texas (IAH or DFW), or Miami (MIA). Fly Copa and you’ll have a layover in Panama City.
What cities in Mexico and Central and South America can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
From Denver there are direct flights to Belize City (Southwest), Cancún (United, Southwest), Chihuahua (Volaris), Cozumel (United), Guadalajara (Volaris), Liberia (United), San José del Cabo (United, Southwest), Mexico City (Aeromexico, Volaris), Monterrey (Aeromexico), Panama City (Copa), and Puerto Vallarta (United, Southwest).
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to Mexico or Central or South America?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to Mexico or Central America range from $550-$900 in high season and $500-$650 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to Mexico or Central America is anything under $500 in high season and $400 in low season.
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to South America range from $900-$1,400 in high season and $750-$1,000 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to South America is anything under $750 in high season and $600 in low season.
Examples of cheap flights from Denver to Latin America:
- Denver to Costa Rica for $347 roundtrip
- Denver to Belize for $341 roundtrip
- Denver direct to Mexico City for $141 roundtrip
How do I find cheap flights from Denver to the Caribbean?
Denver is not a hub for flights to the Caribbean; most routes include a layover on the East Coast (New York, New Jersey, Charlotte, or Atlanta) or in Florida (Miami or Fort Lauderdale). Travel time can take six hours or more, depending on your destination.
What islands in the Caribbean can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
There are direct flights from Denver to Grand Cayman on Cayman Airways, but the flight only runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with further reduced frequency from September through November; travel time is less than five hours.
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to the Caribbean?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to the Caribbean range from $800-$1,200 in high season and $600-$1,000 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to the Caribbean is anything under $550 in high season and $450 in low season.
Examples of cheap flights from Denver to the Caribbean:
- Denver to Bermuda for $361 roundtrip
- Denver to St. Thomas for $358 roundtrip
How do I find cheap flights from Denver to Canada?
Denver offers direct flights to many major Canadian cities and travel time ranges from 2.25 hours (Winnipeg) to 3-4 hours (Toronto, Montreal).
What cities in Canada can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
From Denver there are direct flights to Calgary (WestJet, United), Edmonton (United), Montreal (Air Canada), Toronto (Air Canada, United), Vancouver (Air Canada, United), and Winnipeg (United).
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to Canada?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to Canada range from $600-$850 in high season and $450-$750 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to Canada is anything under $450 in high season and $300 in low season.
Examples of cheap flights from Denver to Canada:
- Denver to Vancouver for $229 roundtrip
- Denver direct to Calgary for $209 roundtrip
- Denver to Montreal for $307 roundtrip
How do I find cheap flights from Denver to Hawaii or Alaska?
Denver offers limited direct service to Hawaii on United. Direct flights take 7.5 hours (Honolulu, Kona and Maui) or 9.5 hours (Kauai). For more options, look at connecting in West Coast cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. If you want to take advantage of Southwest’s new routes to Hawaii, Denver flights connect through Oakland. Denver only has one direct flight to Alaska; others typically connect in Seattle.
What cities in Hawaii can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
There are direct flights from Denver to Honolulu, Maui, Kona, and Kauai, all on United.
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to Hawaii?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to Hawaii range from $850-$1,200 in high season and $650-$900 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to Hawaii is anything under $600 in high season and $500 in low season.
What cities in Alaska can I reach on direct flights from Denver?
Denver’s only direct flight to Alaska is to Anchorage on United.
What’s a good price on a flight from Denver to Alaska?
Regular prices for a roundtrip flight from Denver to Alaska range from $900-$1,100 in high season and $700-$900 in low season. A good price on a roundtrip flight from Denver to Alaska is anything under $550 in high season and $400 in low season.
Examples of cheap flights from Denver to Alaska or Hawaii:
- Denver to Honolulu for $176 roundtrip
- Denver to Kona for $314 roundtrip
How much time do I need to connect in Denver?
Connecting through Denver is usually a pretty seamless experience. There are three concourses, accessible from the main terminal by an underground train that arrives every two minutes or so. Riding from A concourse to C concourse takes about six minutes (no trip through security needed), so connections are usually painless. Allow at least 30 minutes for a connection; in most cases, this will be ample time to make it before the gate closes.
International to domestic connections will take longer. Upon landing from an international flight, you’ll go through US Customs, which is located in Jeppesen Terminal (the main terminal). Once you have cleared customs, you can re-check your bag (if you have one) and you’ll head up to the main terminal and go back through security. Once through the security screening, you can take the train to your gate. Times for going through US Customs are hard to predict: You might fly through in 10 minutes, or it could take longer. DEN accepts both Global Entry and Mobile Passport, so those are options for quicker trips through Customs. Allow at least a two-hour layover for international connections.
Weather can be a factor in Denver when it comes to connections. The crews are prepared for winter weather, but two feet of snow is bound to cause delays. However, most of DEN’s delayed flights were caused by factors other than weather and, from Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2019, more than 80% of flights were on time.
How long of a connection do I need to get out and explore Denver?
If you have a layover in Denver and want to venture into the city, keep in mind that it can take about 45 minutes on the RTD A Line to get to downtown Denver to explore (however, it’s a much cheaper option than a taxi or Uber and, during rush hour, can be faster, too).
While the train is fairly reliable, be prepared for the unexpected and allow ample time to get back to the airport: 6-8 hours for a layover is best. Arriving by train at Union Station, you can wander through LoDo (lower downtown) for a meal, peruse the Ball Park neighborhood by Coors Field or sample one of the many craft breweries and check out the street art in RiNo (River North).
>> Read our guide to the Denver Airport, or check out our travel guide to Denver.
