Journey from the UK
How long is the flight to New York?
About 7½ to 8 hours to New York, and usually under 7 hours home, when the jet stream gives you a push. New York is 5 hours behind the UK.
- Under 3 hours
- 3 to 6 hours
- 6 to 10 hours
- 10 hours or more
Flying west, you land the same afternoon you left, which makes the first day easy. The overnight flight home is the tiring one.
Getting there
- JFK and Newark6 to 10 hours
Most London flights land here.
- Boston and Washington6 to 10 hours
Slightly shorter or similar.
- From regional UK airports6 to 10 hours
Some direct routes, many with a connection.
The journey at a glance
Straight-line estimate for a direct flight from Heathrow. Real flights often take longer.
Getting into Manhattan
- From JFK: AirTrain plus subway or Long Island Rail Road, 45 to 75 minutes.
- From Newark: AirTrain plus NJ Transit to Penn Station, about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Yellow cabs charge a flat fare from JFK to Manhattan, plus tolls and tip.
Why the flight home is quicker
The jet stream, a fast band of wind high above the Atlantic, blows from west to east. Flights home ride it and can be an hour or more faster than the trip out. It's also why eastbound flights are usually overnight: you leave in the evening and land in London the next morning.
Before you go
- Newark has a fast train into Manhattan. JFK has the AirTrain plus subway.
Stay and do
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