New York JFK to San Diego International
2441 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 5h 19m with 7 airlines operating direct service from New York JFK (JFK) to San Diego International (SAN). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $189 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $189). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from New York JFK
New York's John F. Kennedy International handles most of the city's transatlantic and transpacific traffic, with six terminals connected by the AirTrain people mover. AirTrain links to the LIRR at Jamaica and the A train at Howard Beach for connections into Manhattan in 50–75 minutes total for $13.75. Delta and JetBlue have major operations here; foreign-carrier service is the deepest of any US airport, with daily flights from over 90 international airlines.
Arriving in San Diego
San Diego International is 3 miles from downtown San Diego — the second most central US airport after BOS. MTS Route 992 runs from the terminals directly to downtown San Diego in 15 minutes for $2.50. Fares from US East Coast cities peak around Comic-Con (mid-July) and the San Diego Padres' major series; September–November is consistently the cheapest window with the best weather.
Who flies JFK to SAN?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 5h 19m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 5h 19m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 5h 19m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 5h 19m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 5h 19m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 5h 19m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 5h 19m | Economy |
7 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly JFK→SAN
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
New York to San Diego FAQs
Direct flights from New York JFK (JFK) to San Diego International (SAN) take approximately 5h 19m for the 2441-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
Jun is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $130. Jun is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
7 carriers operate direct service from New York JFK (JFK) to San Diego International (SAN): JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines and 2 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — JetBlue Airways typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
San Diego International (SAN) is the primary international airport for San Diego. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.