Fly round trip from nearly 70 cities to the Florida Panhandle for under $200
With the holidays quickly approaching, one thing is certain: Winter is coming. To help everyone eager to escape winter's chill, we've rounded up nonstop flights to Destin, Panama City and Pensacola, Florida, for as low as $126 round trip.
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The deal
Airlines: American, Delta and United.
Routes: ATL/BWI/CHS/DCA/IAH/LGA/LIT/MEM/MSY/STL and others to VPS/ECP/PNS, depending on the route.
Cost: Starting as low as $126 round trip for select routes.
Dates: December 2021-March 2022, excluding holidays.
Pay with: The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5x on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), the Citi Prestige® Card for 5x on airfare, the Citi Premier® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve for 3x on air travel, the American Express® Gold Card for 3x on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2x on travel.
The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
This deal was originally sent out by Thrifty Traveler Premium, where members get notified of cheap flights, award flight sales and business-class deals for $7.99 monthly or $49.99 annually.
Routes
Flights from nearly 70 departure cities — including nonstop ones from Atlanta, Dallas and Houston — are featured in this deal. Plus, the deals work in reverse if you live in Florida and are looking to take advantage, though you may not want to leave Florida in winter.
Listed fares are for flights to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS), Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) or Pensacola International Airport (PNS), but just note that not all destination cities are available from all departure cities.
Sample round-trip fares in this deal to VPS, ECP or PNS include ones departing from:
- Atlanta (ATL) — $126, nonstop.
- Nashville (BNA) — $144.
- Houston (IAH) — $146, nonstop.
- Charleston, South Carolina (CHS); Chicago (ORD); Little Rock, Arkansas (LIT); Memphis (MEM); and St. Louis (STL) — $151.
- Charlotte (CLT) — $152.
- Baltimore (BWI) — $153.
- Milwaukee (MKE) — $164.
- Columbus, Ohio (CMH) — $173.
- Dallas (DFW) — $186, nonstop.
- Kansas City, Missouri (MCI) — $174.
- New York (LGA) and Newark (EWR) — $193.
Related: Florida tourism on the rebound as airlines add flights and hotels sell out
How to find this deal
As is the case with deals, the quickest and most efficient way to find fares is by using Google Flights, which allows you to play around with this deal based on where you live and intend to travel. Deals tend to disappear quickly, so be sure to try switching your departing airport of choice to see if there are any flights leaving from nearby cities if your home city is not listed.
Since I know from first-hand experience how unexpectedly cold Chicago can get outside of June, July and August, let's start with a round-trip flight out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Destin in early December for just $152 on American Airlines.
This is for American's Main Cabin fare, which includes free seat selection and one free carry-on bag.
Although St. Louis tends to be about 10 degrees warmer than Chicago at any given point, Destin is a popular destination among St. Louis residents, so let's try this round-trip flight to Destin for $165 on Delta.
Related: Florida’s top 10 vacation regions for different types of travelers
This fare is for Delta's basic economy, which doesn't include seat selection but does cover a carry-on bag.
If you are traveling from the Washington, D.C., area, consider this nonstop American flight out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Pensacola for just under $200 round trip.
Like the above AA flight, this is for their Main Cabin, which scores you advance complimentary seat selection and one carry-on bag.
Bottom line
Delta basic economy fares booked for travel through Dec. 31 are eligible for free changes and cancellation vouchers. Otherwise, you will have to upgrade to the Main Cabin on American or United to make changes or receive a voucher for cancellation. Checked baggage will run you $30 on both AA and Delta; it is twice that on United.
"Not as well known as some parts of Florida, the Panhandle in the northwest part of the state has a number of excellent vacation spots despite its relatively small footprint — just 200 miles long and varying between 50 and 100 miles wide," writes TPG's Andrea Rotondo. "The states of Alabama and Georgia border the Panhandle; the body of water to its south is the Gulf of Mexico."
If Destin is your final destination, try the Back Porch for seafood, take a walk to Henderson Beach State Park, ride a banana boat (I can attest this is very fun) or take a sunset cruise to see dolphins.
If you find Destin to be a bit too touristy, I would highly recommend visiting Seaside, a resort community on the Gulf of Mexico between Destin and Panama City. It is known for cute pastel-colored homes and a long beach. Hikers also can enjoy nearby Grayton Beach State Park and downtown's many shops and restaurants, including Amavida Coffee Roasters and the Meltdown on 30A, which is known for its gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.
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Related: 13 of the best beaches in Florida
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
6X | 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
Rewards Rate
6X | 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.Earn 125,000 points75,000 pointsAnnual Fee
$125Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.