Flying from New York to Los Angeles? Book out of JFK or Newark. They're the only New York airports with nonstop flights to LAX, and together they run more than 280 nonstops a week. Going west, a nonstop takes about 6 hours. Coming home it's closer to 5 and a half, thanks to tailwinds.
From 10 real fares found in our latest check, checked Oct 27, 2026, 4:57 AM EDT. Prices are per person and can change.
Fares shown are the lowest found at the time of the snapshot, per person, and are subject to availability and change at the time of booking.
$116 between the cheapest and priciest fare
In this search the same route ranged from $447 to $563 - a 21% difference for the same journey. Comparing before booking is where the saving is.
10 real fares from our latest check, cheapest first. Prices are per person and can change until ticketed.
F9
1 stop · 14h 45m · Fri, Dec 11
UA
Nonstop · 5h 53m · Fri, Dec 11
UA
Nonstop · 5h 59m · Fri, Dec 11
AA
Nonstop · 6h 10m · Fri, Dec 11
AA
Nonstop · 6h 19m · Fri, Dec 11
| Route detail | New York to Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Nonstop airports in New York | JFK and Newark (EWR). LaGuardia has none. |
| Nonstop airlines from JFK | American, Delta, JetBlue |
| Nonstop airlines from Newark | United, Alaska |
| Flight time, westbound | About 5 hr 40 min to 6 hr 35 min |
| Flight time, eastbound | About 5 hr 10 min to 5 hr 50 min |
| Distance | About 2,480 miles (JFK to LAX) |
| Time difference | Los Angeles is 3 hours behind New York |
| Other LA airports with a nonstop | Burbank (BUR) and Ontario (ONT), both on JetBlue from JFK |
| First checked bag | $45 on most nonstop airlines when added online (see below) |
Schedules and flight times checked 26 Oct 2026. Airlines change them by season, so the fares above show what is flying on your dates.
Pick the airport first. It decides which airlines you can fly, and whether you fly nonstop at all.
JFK has three airlines flying nonstop to LAX: American from Terminal 8, Delta from Terminal 4 and JetBlue from Terminal 5. Together they run around 200 flights a week, so you'll find departures from early morning to late evening. JetBlue also flies nonstop from JFK to Burbank and Ontario, two smaller airports in the LA area.
Getting there without a car: AirTrain JFK connects to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road at Jamaica station, and to the A train at Howard Beach.
United runs about 10 to 11 nonstops a day from Newark to LAX, and Alaska adds 1 to 3. If you live in New Jersey, or you're loyal to United, Newark is usually the easier trip. AirTrain Newark links the terminals to NJ Transit and Amtrak trains at Newark Liberty International Airport station.
You can't fly nonstop from LaGuardia to LAX. The Port Authority's perimeter rule generally bans nonstop flights from LaGuardia to cities more than 1,500 miles away. The only exceptions are Denver and Saturday flights. Los Angeles is roughly 2,450 miles from LaGuardia, so every LaGuardia to LA trip connects, usually through hubs like Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver or Charlotte.
A LaGuardia fare can still be worth it if it's much cheaper or you live nearby in Queens. Just compare the total trip time, not only the price.
LAX gets almost every flight, but it isn't always the closest airport to where you're staying. LA traffic makes that matter.
| Airport | Nonstop from New York | Best if you're staying in |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles International (LAX) | Yes, from JFK and Newark on five airlines | Santa Monica, Venice, the Westside, South Bay, Downtown |
| Burbank (BUR) | Yes, JetBlue from JFK, once a day | Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, North Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley |
| Ontario (ONT) | Yes, JetBlue from JFK | Riverside, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, the Inland Empire |
| Long Beach (LGB) | No nonstop from New York right now | Long Beach; search it with a connection |
| Orange County (SNA) | Check your dates in search | Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach |
If you're heading to the Valley or Pasadena, price a JFK to Burbank flight alongside LAX. Burbank is a much smaller airport, and you skip the drive across the city.
The lowest fare you see usually doesn't include a checked bag. On this route, one checked bag each way adds about $90 to a round trip on most nonstop airlines. Here's what each one charges for standard economy tickets.
| Airline | 1st checked bag | 2nd checked bag | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| American | $45 online, $50 at the airport | $55 online, $60 at the airport | Basic Economy pays more: $50 online for the first bag |
| Delta | $45 | $55 | Applies to tickets bought on or after April 8, 2026 |
| United | $45 if added 24+ hours ahead, $50 at the airport | $55 ahead, $60 at the airport | Basic Economy usually allows a personal item only, not a full-size carry-on |
| JetBlue | $45 off-peak, $49 on peak dates | $59 off-peak, $69 peak | Peak dates include Nov 19 to 30 and Dec 17, 2026 to Jan 18, 2027 |
| Alaska | $45 | $55 | No discount for paying online in advance |
Bag fees checked Oct 26, 2026. Airlines change them often, so confirm on the airline's site before you pay.
Some of the lowest fares in any search are one-stop trips on low-cost airlines that charge for bags and seats by route. Add those fees before you compare them with a nonstop.
Need help with a group, a multi-city trip or a tricky date change? Call a Flyingscanner advisor on the number at the top of this page.
LAX is in the middle of a major rebuild, and several pickup spots have moved. Here's how it works as of October 2026.
The new LAX people mover train isn't carrying passengers yet. Its opening has slipped several times, so check flylax.com before you plan around it.
A nonstop flight from New York to Los Angeles takes about 5 hours 40 minutes to 6 hours 35 minutes, depending on the airline and the winds. The trip back east is quicker, usually 5 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 50 minutes. A connecting flight takes longer, so check the total trip time in your results.
From JFK, American, Delta and JetBlue fly nonstop to LAX. From Newark, United and Alaska do. JetBlue also flies nonstop from JFK to Burbank and Ontario. LaGuardia has no nonstop flights to the Los Angeles area, so any trip from there includes a connection.
No. A Port Authority rule generally limits nonstop flights from LaGuardia to cities within 1,500 miles, with exceptions only for Denver and Saturday flights. Los Angeles is about 2,450 miles away, so LaGuardia to LA trips connect. For a nonstop, fly from JFK or Newark instead.
JFK has more nonstop choice, with American, Delta and JetBlue flying to LAX, plus JetBlue nonstops to Burbank and Ontario. Newark is mainly United, with about 10 to 11 nonstops a day, plus Alaska. Choose the airport that's easier for you to reach, then compare fares from both.
Los Angeles is 3 hours behind New York. A nonstop that leaves JFK at 8:00 a.m. lands in Los Angeles around 11:00 a.m. local time, even though you've flown for about 6 hours. Coming home you lose those 3 hours, so a midday departure from LAX lands in New York in the evening.
On most nonstop airlines on this route, the first checked bag costs $45 when you add it online, and the second costs $55 or more. JetBlue charges a little more on peak travel dates, and American and United charge $5 more at the airport. Fees change often, so confirm them before you pay.
No. It's a domestic flight, so you don't need a passport. Adults do need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another ID that TSA accepts, such as a U.S. passport. Check the TSA website if you're not sure your ID qualifies.
The FlyAway bus runs from the arrivals level of each terminal to Union Station downtown for $12.75 one way. You can also take the free Metro Connector shuttle to the LAX/Metro Transit Center and ride the C or K Line. Taxis and rideshare pick up at the LAX-it lot next to Terminal 1.
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