Travelling from New York to Los Angeles: what you need to know
Kick off your travels at one of New York's main airports, New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) or New York Newark Airport (EWR). Explore your options for booking a flight from New York to Los Angeles departing from either of these.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY) are the major arrival points in Los Angeles.
The average time for a direct New York to Los Angeles flight is 6 hours 10 minutes.
The timezone in Los Angeles is UTC-8, which is three hours behind New York.
New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the most traveled route that connects these two cities. There are 204 flights a week to pick from. If you have things to finalize before heading off, the last flight from New York to Los Angeles is with JetBlue Airways at 22:15. Choose the first JFK to LAX departure with JetBlue Airways at 05:59 to maximise your time in Los Angeles.
Leave enough time to get on your New York to Los Angeles flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Be prepared for longer queues during popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from New York to Los Angeles
Booking ahead of time is often the key to scoring a cheap New York to Los Angeles flight. Airlines adjust prices based on demand, so the nearer you get to departure, the more it could cost you.
The 'Whole month' tool will show you the cheapest plane tickets from New York to Los Angeles across the month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your travel plans are flexible.
There's no need to check every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you as soon as a better deal comes up on cheap flights from New York to Los Angeles.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Pick your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' New York to Los Angeles flights.
Flying from New York
New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)
Set off from New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) on a nonstop flight from New York to Los Angeles. From JFK, you can fly straight to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Pick from a variety of airlines that offer direct New York to Los Angeles plane tickets out of JFK. Claim your seat with one of these carriers:
The journey from central New York to JFK takes about 50 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a taxi, you'll cover the 21 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Looking for a handy hotel close to New York John F. Kennedy Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from New York to Los Angeles, these stays will have you sleeping nice and close to your departure gate:
Of all flights departing from New York John F. Kennedy Airport, 73% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
JFK is located at JFK Airport.
New York Newark Airport (EWR)
Consider booking your direct flight from New York to Los Angeles out of New York Newark Airport (EWR). Nonstop connections from EWR will get you to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Book a direct New York to Los Angeles plane ticket with one of these popular carriers that operate this route from EWR:
EWR is around 14 kilometres from central New York. It'll take you 35 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour.
Kick off your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from New York to Los Angeles, kick back in one of these hotels near New York Newark Airport:
71% of flights out of New York Newark Airport make it to their destination as expected.
The street address for EWR is Building 1, Conrad Road.
New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
The journey time to LGA from the centre of New York is around 55 minutes by public transport. If you're going by car, it'll take you about 30 minutes to cover the 13 kilometres or so.
Make catching an early New York to Los Angeles flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Stay at one of these accommodation options near New York LaGuardia Airport and get to your gate with time to spare:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that measures how often flights reach their destinations within the expected time frame. At LGA, that rate is 69%.
The street address of New York LaGuardia Airport is Hangar 7 Centre.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Los Angeles takes around 35 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 19 kilometres away.
It typically takes 1 hour to get there when travelling by public transport.
Book a hotel near LAX if you have a late flight from New York to Los Angeles. Choose one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Go where the road takes you with a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and find adventure across Los Angeles and beyond.
Booking your ride from Los Angeles International Airport around one week ahead gives you the best chance of locking in a great deal.
LAX is located at One World Way.
Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Central Los Angeles is around 27 kilometres from Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY). After your flight from New York to Los Angeles has touched down and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of around 35 minutes.
Public transport will get you there in approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
After your flight from New York to Los Angeles, settle in at a hotel close to VNY. These are some comfortable options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Budget, Dollar and Hertz make collecting a Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport rental car easy and quick. These providers are located in or around the terminal and will have you behind the wheel before you know it.
Generally speaking, the sooner you book, the better the deals and selection of vehicles. Lock in your ride from VNY the moment you know your dates.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
It's time to figure out your travel dates for your flight from New York to Los Angeles. July is the most popular month to visit Los Angeles. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, go in March.
The warmest month in Los Angeles is August, with temperatures ranging between 16ºC and 32ºC. Lock in your New York to Los Angeles ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
Search for cheap flights from New York to Los Angeles in February if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 6ºC and 26ºC on average.
More about Los Angeles
After booking your flight from New York to Los Angeles, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Los Angeles:
All great adventures should include some sightseeing. Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Bowl are must-do's during your Los Angeles adventure.
Explore more of the United States
San Diego is just one of the many cities in the United States waiting to be discovered once you've seen the sights of Los Angeles. Around 177 kilometres to the southeast, check out popular attractions including San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum.
If you want to check out another major stop in the United States, head for San Jose, roughly 499 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles. Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley are key reasons to visit.