Los Angeles International to New York JFK
2469 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 5h 22m with 5 airlines operating direct service from Los Angeles International (LAX) to New York JFK (JFK). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $194 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $194). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Los Angeles International
Los Angeles International spreads across nine terminals arranged in a U around the central hub, with the inter-terminal LAX-it shuttle and the new Automated People Mover (opening late 2026) connecting them. Metro Rail does not yet enter the airport directly — the K Line shuttle and FlyAway bus to Union Station are the rail-adjacent options. American, Delta, United, Southwest and Alaska all run major operations here; international long-haul fills T2 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Arriving in New York
New York's John F. Kennedy is 15 miles southeast of Manhattan, with the AirTrain feeding into LIRR at Jamaica or the A train at Howard Beach for total transfer times of 50–75 minutes for $13.75. Domestic fares to JFK peak in November–December (Thanksgiving and Christmas) and again in late June; January through mid-March is consistently the cheapest window. Most of New York's transatlantic capacity routes through JFK rather than LGA or EWR.
Who flies LAX to JFK?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| American Airlines | AA | 5h 22m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 5h 22m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 5h 22m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 5h 22m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 5h 22m | Economy |
5 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly LAX→JFK
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.
Los Angeles to New York FAQs
Direct flights from Los Angeles International (LAX) to New York JFK (JFK) take approximately 5h 22m for the 2469-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 $120. 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.
5 carriers operate direct service from Los Angeles International (LAX) to New York JFK (JFK): American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — American Airlines 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.
New York JFK (JFK) is the primary international airport for New York. 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.