Compare cheap flights from New York to Los Angeles. Search JFK to LAX fares, airports, airlines and flexible dates.
About this route
New York to Los Angeles is the premier US transcontinental route, with heavy competition and frequent flights all day. Fares are usually reasonable, but the gap between basic economy and a standard ticket is large, and so is the difference between LAX and the smaller LA-area airports.
New York airport departure area before a flight to Los Angeles.
Route at a glance
Route
New York to Los Angeles
Airports
JFK → LAX
Compare
Compare dates, bag rules, and airport transfers before you judge the fare.
Route verdict
New York to Los Angeles sits in the middle ground where nonstop convenience, fare family, and one-stop savings all deserve a side-by-side check. Use the first New York to Los Angeles search as a benchmark, then test nearby dates before judging the route as expensive. Airport changes should stay secondary unless the transfer still supports the trip you want. Once the fare looks fair, use the Los Angeles destination guide to confirm the arrival plan.
Route rhythm
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) is about 2,470 miles (3,980 km). Nonstop flights take about 6 hours westbound and 5 to 5.5 hours eastbound, depending on winds and routing.
Timing
January, February and early September are usually cheapest. Summer, Thanksgiving and the Christmas period are busiest. Early-morning and red-eye flights are often cheaper than midday departures.
Airlines
These carriers have commonly served the route. Schedules change by season, so confirm current options in the live results.
Los Angeles, the destination for this route.
Fare range
Basic economy on this route usually means boarding last, no seat choice and sometimes no full-size carry-on on some airlines. Compare the all-in cost if you need a bag. One-way pricing is often competitive, so mixing airlines for each direction can save money.
Airport choice
On the New York side:
On the Los Angeles side:
Destination fit
Los Angeles is spread out, so choosing the arrival airport closest to where you are staying can save more time than a small fare difference.
Keep exploring
Related route
Compare a nearby city pair before you commit to one exact itinerary.
Related route
Compare a nearby city pair before you commit to one exact itinerary.
Related route
Compare a nearby city pair before you commit to one exact itinerary.
Related route
Compare a nearby city pair before you commit to one exact itinerary.
Better-value fares
Use the search form above to compare live fares, airlines and dates for New York to Los Angeles.
Start with JFK and LAX, then widen the search only when the ground transfer still makes sense.
On New York to Los Angeles, baggage, seats, and airport transfers can erase the savings from a low headline fare.
Even a one or two day shift can move you into a cheaper pricing band on busy city-break routes.
Nonstop flights often win on convenience, but a short connection is still worth checking before you rule it out.
About 6 hours heading west and roughly 5 to 5.5 hours back east.