You’re standing in the middle of Terminal 1 at FLL, holding a lukewarm Cuban coffee, and staring at the departure board. You see two different Houstons. One says IAH. The other says HOU. If you pick the wrong one, you might end up spending sixty bucks on an Uber just to get to where you actually wanted to be.
Flying from flights from Fort Lauderdale to Houston isn't just about finding the cheapest seat. It's about knowing that Houston is basically two different cities depending on which runway you hit.
I’ve done this run more times than I care to admit. It’s a 964-mile jump. Usually takes about two and a half hours if the wind is behaving. But the "cheap" flight you found on a Tuesday might be a nightmare if you didn't factor in the airport logistics.
The Great Airport Divide: IAH vs. HOU
George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) is the big brother. It’s huge. If you’re flying United or Spirit, you’re probably heading here. It’s about 23 miles north of downtown. If you have a meeting in the Energy Corridor or The Woodlands, IAH is your spot.
Then there’s Hobby (HOU).
Hobby is the darling of the Southside. It’s smaller, easier to navigate, and only 7 miles from downtown. Southwest Airlines basically owns this place. If you’re going to a game at Minute Maid Park or visiting the Museum District, HOU is significantly more convenient. Seriously, the time you save at security and baggage claim at Hobby is worth an extra twenty bucks on the ticket price.
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Why the airline you pick changes everything
United runs a massive hub at IAH. They have the most frequent "flights from Fort Lauderdale to Houston," but you’ll pay for that convenience.
Spirit and Frontier also fly into IAH. They’re the kings of the $31 one-way fare. I saw a round trip for $61 just last week for February. But honestly? By the time you pay for a carry-on and a seat where your knees aren't touching your chin, you’re at Southwest prices anyway.
Southwest only flies into Hobby. They give you two free checked bags. In 2026, that’s basically a miracle.
When to Book Without Losing Your Mind
Don't listen to the "book on a Tuesday at 3 AM" myths. It’s nonsense.
The real sweet spot for this specific route is the "Goldilocks Window." For domestic jumps like FLL to Houston, you want to book between 21 and 52 days out. Data from Google Flights shows that prices usually bottom out around 38 days before departure.
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- Cheapest Month: February.
- Most Expensive: June and July (the humidity in Houston is no joke, but people still go).
- Best Day to Fly: Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Worst Day: Sunday. Sunday is when the prices spike by about 16%.
If you’re traveling for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in March, all these rules go out the window. Book as soon as you see a price you can live with.
The Reality of Delays on the FLL-IAH Route
Florida weather is a chaotic neutral. Houston weather is just chaotic.
Statistically, about 13% of flights on this route get delayed. The average wait? 144 minutes. That’s a long time to sit in an airport chair.
My advice? Take the first flight of the day. The 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM departures suck for your sleep schedule, but they almost always leave on time. The planes are already at the gate from the night before. By 4:00 PM, a thunderstorm in Atlanta or a crew delay in New York has trickled down to FLL, and your evening flight to Houston is suddenly pushed back two hours.
United actually has the best on-time record for this route, with only about 9% of their flights seeing delays. Spirit and Frontier? They’re a bit more of a gamble. If their one plane assigned to this route breaks down, they don’t have five other planes waiting in the hangar to take over.
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Don't forget the "Hidden" Costs
You find a $45 flight. Great.
Then you realize FLL parking is $15 to $36 a day. Or the Uber from Fort Lauderdale to the airport is $25. Then you land at IAH and realize the taxi to downtown Houston is $60.
Suddenly, that "cheap" flight cost you $200 before you even ate lunch.
If you're trying to save cash, look at the public bus options. Route 102 at IAH goes straight downtown for a couple of bucks. It takes forever, but it’s cheap. At Hobby, Route 40 is your friend.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
Stop searching on "Incognito" mode thinking it hides your intent—that's an old wives' tale. Instead, do this:
- Check both airport codes. Use "HOU" to search all Houston airports at once.
- Set a Google Flights alert specifically for the 4-week mark before your trip.
- Compare the total cost. If Spirit is $80 and Southwest is $120, take Southwest. The bag fees on Spirit will bridge that $40 gap instantly.
- Download the airline app before you leave for FLL. If there’s a delay, you can often rebook yourself through the app faster than standing in a line of 200 angry people at the service desk.
If you’re heading to Houston for business, stick with IAH and United for the frequency. If you’re going for fun or to see family, aim for Hobby on Southwest. It's just a less stressful way to travel.