A quick Internet search Friday shows how fares from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport are almost always higher than those from other Tristate cities.

Round-trip fares were searched from here and the other Tristate cities to New York's LaGuardia airport, Orlando and San Francisco. The searches were made on Delta.com, Orbitz and Southwest Airlines' Web site. All itineraries were for leaving Oct. 24 and returning Oct. 27 (potentially qualifying for a 14-day advance purchase and any price discounts for a Saturday night stay). Walk-up fares, naturally, would be higher in virtually all cases.

In the section comparing Delta Air Lines fares to the three cities from Tristate airports, remember that more of the flights from CVG are direct and there also are more flights to all these destinations from CVG because it is a hub. The higher frequency of service and the higher number of direct flights leads to what Delta calls "premium" pricing for the additional convenience.

To LaGuardia

Lowest fare from CVG: $203 on US Airways (prop flight to Charlotte, N.C., with connection there).

Lowest fare from other Tristate airports: $105 from Columbus on Southwest (connection in Baltimore).

Delta fare comparison (based on lowest listed fare) CVG: $328.50; Dayton: $286.50; Lexington: $278; Indianapolis: $246.50; Louisville: $363; Columbus: $316.

To Orlando

Lowest fare from CVG: $315 on Delta (one flight at this price, connecting through Louisville).

Lowest fare from other Tristate airports: $166 from Columbus or Louisville on Southwest (one direct flight from Columbus, all others are connections).

Delta fare comparison (based on lowest listed fare) CVG: $315; Dayton $202; Lexington: $432; Indianapolis: $255.50; Louisville: $229; Columbus $242.50.

To San Francisco

Lowest fare from CVG: $505 on Delta (two direct flights at this price).

Lowest fare from other Tristate airports: $289 from Lexington on Delta (with connections in CVG and Salt Lake City).

Delta fare comparison (based on lowest listed fare) CVG: $505; Dayton: $318; Lexington: $289; Indianapolis: $328; Louisville: $510.50; Columbus: $450.

The Cincinnati Enquirer