✈️ Flight Guide: St Louis (STL) → Carmel (MRY)

Key events: Monterey Jazz Festival (September) — causes airfare spikes and hotel sellouts; Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance & Monterey Car Week (August) — premium demand for nearby airports; Big Sur Marathon (April) and seasonal whale-watching peaks (spring/fall) also affect travel. For cheapest economy fares, avoid event peak days or book months in advance; if attending, consider flying into San Jose (SJC) or San Francisco (SFO) and transferring by car to avoid inflated Monterey fares.

Best time to fly cheaply from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is typically mid-late January, October, and mid-November (excluding Thanksgiving). Weekdays—especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays—often have lower economy fares. Use long-tail keywords like 'cheapest month to fly from Monterey' and set price alerts. Avoid festival dates such as the Monterey Jazz Festival in September and major holiday windows to keep costs down.

Direct flights save time and reduce missed-connection risk, but connecting flights often offer the cheapest economy fares—especially when direct service is limited at Monterey Regional Airport (MRY). If cost is the priority, compare connecting itineraries through Phoenix, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. If time or convenience matters, choose nonstop or single-connection options. Use keyword phrases like 'cheap connecting flights MRY' and 'nonstop Monterey flight cost comparison' when searching.

Alaska Airlines: often competitive economy pricing to West Coast hubs, strong loyalty program and free carry-on policies; United Airlines: broad network for connecting economy fares via SFO and DEN, useful for nationwide connections; American Airlines: limited service but occasional deals on connecting itineraries. Low-cost carriers and seasonal operators may offer the absolute cheapest economy seats but charge add-ons for baggage and seat selection. Compare total cost including fees when selecting the cheapest economy option—CTA: compare Monterey (MRY) economy fares across airlines on Google Flights.

Winter (Dec–Feb): Seek post-holiday mid-January bargains; avoid holiday spikes. Spring (Mar–May): Shoulder-season savings except spring break—book early for Big Sur Marathon weekends. Summer (Jun–Aug): Highest fares—book months ahead and consider alternate airports (SJC/SFO) to save. Fall (Sept–Nov): Good value outside festival dates; search for 'cheap Monterey October flights' for ideal economy pricing. Always factor in total travel cost (airfare + ground transfer) when comparing 'cheapest' options.

Average flight times from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to nearby hubs: SFO ~ 30–45 minutes (airborne), SJC ~ 25–40 minutes, LAX via connection 2.5–4 hours total depending on layover, Phoenix/Denver connections 3–6 hours total. Schedules concentrate on morning and late-afternoon banks; midweek flights often have lower fares. When searching for the cheapest economy seats, factor in total travel time (including driving to alternate airports) to get a true price comparison.

Finding cheap flights from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) starts with flexible dates and alerts. Use search modifiers such as 'flexible dates', set multi-week price notifications, and compare SJC and SFO to reduce overall cost. Synonyms and LSI keywords like 'budget airfare', 'discount flights', and 'low-cost fares' should be used in searches. For best results, book 4–8 weeks ahead for domestic economy and earlier for holiday windows; CTA: compare cheap flights from Monterey (MRY) on Google Flights or Kayak now.