London to New York is the busiest long-haul route in the world, with up to seven airlines flying it non-stop and fares that swing widely with the season. You can be in Manhattan in about eight hours, and because so many carriers compete head-to-head, this is one of the few transatlantic routes where a genuinely low fare turns up regularly — though not as low as often claimed: checking every return fare on sale, the floor is £361 and the median £401, almost all of it Norse Atlantic out of Gatwick. This guide covers who really flies it, what a return actually costs in pounds, and when to book.
Route: London (LHR / LGW) → New York (JFK / EWR)
Distance: approximately 5,570 km (3,460 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 8h 00m westbound to New York, roughly 7h eastbound with the tailwind
Direct flights: Yes — British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta, United and JetBlue fly non-stop from Heathrow, and Norse Atlantic flies non-stop from Gatwick. Nearly every ticket on this route is a direct flight.
Fares from London to New York (GBP)
New York is a year-round city break, but fares track US demand closely. Summer (June–August), the Christmas and New Year period, and Thanksgiving week are the priciest; January to early March and the shoulder weeks of autumn are the cheapest. The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds — the lowest usually come from Norse Atlantic and the mid-week departures of the full-service carriers.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | low |
| February | — | low-medium |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | medium |
| May | — | medium-high |
| June | — | high |
| July | — | very high |
| August | — | very high |
| September | — | medium |
| October | — | medium |
| November | — | medium-high (Thanksgiving) |
| December | — | very high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, a typical fair price is roughly £375 — the median is £401, so that is close and it is the ordinary price rather than a deal. The floor is £361, so a return under about £380 is a genuinely good one and there is nothing in the two hundreds to wait for. The very cheapest fares are indeed Norse Atlantic out of Gatwick, £361–£415 into JFK; the full-service non-stops sit a little higher but include a checked bag — United at £465 from Heathrow into Newark.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 8 hours):
- British Airways — the most frequent operator, multiple daily flights from Heathrow to both JFK and Newark.
- Virgin Atlantic — several daily non-stops from Heathrow to JFK, strong economy and premium product.
- American Airlines and Delta — daily Heathrow non-stops, often part of joint transatlantic ventures with BA and Virgin.
- United — non-stop from Heathrow to Newark (EWR), its main New York hub.
- JetBlue — non-stop from Heathrow to JFK, a lower-cost challenger with a well-regarded cabin.
- Norse Atlantic — non-stop from Gatwick to JFK; a budget long-haul carrier, usually the cheapest headline fare (bags and extras cost extra).
One-stop (occasionally cheaper, but rarely worth it):
- Aer Lingus via Dublin — with US pre-clearance in Dublin you arrive in New York as a domestic passenger; sometimes undercuts the non-stops.
- Icelandair via Reykjavik — a longer routing that can price low on sale, with the option of a free stopover.
With so many non-stops competing, the direct fare is usually as cheap as a connection on this route — there is little reason to add a stop unless a sale makes it dramatically cheaper.
When to book & how to save
- Book 1–3 months ahead for the best balance of price and choice; transatlantic sales appear regularly, so you don’t need to book as far out as for Asia or Australia.
- Fly in the low season (January to early March) for the cheapest fares — New York is at its quietest and returns dip toward £280.
- Avoid the peaks: July–August, Christmas/New Year and Thanksgiving week are the busiest and most expensive.
- Compare all-in prices: Norse Atlantic and JetBlue often win on headline fare, but add checked bags and seat selection before comparing with BA or Virgin, which usually include a bag.
- Be flexible on airport: JFK and Newark are both well connected to Manhattan, and a Gatwick departure on Norse can beat Heathrow by a wide margin.
Arriving in New York
Most flights land at John F. Kennedy (JFK) in south-east Queens, or Newark Liberty (EWR) in New Jersey. From JFK, the AirTrain connects to the subway and Long Island Rail Road for a cheap ride into Manhattan (around £8–£12 all-in, roughly an hour), while a yellow-cab has a flat fare to Manhattan of about £55–£65 plus tolls and tip. From Newark, the AirTrain links to NJ Transit trains to Penn Station (around £13, about 45 minutes). Remember you’ll need an approved ESTA before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from London to New York?
Non-stop flights take about 8 hours westbound (London to New York) and around 7 hours on the way back, when the jet stream gives an eastbound tailwind. There is no need to connect — almost every ticket on this route is a direct flight.
Are there direct flights from London to New York?
Yes. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta, United and JetBlue all fly non-stop from Heathrow, and Norse Atlantic flies non-stop from Gatwick. With up to seven airlines competing, London–New York is one of the most heavily served non-stop routes anywhere.
How much does it cost to fly from London to New York?
A typical economy return runs about £361–£500 depending on the season and the carrier. Norse Atlantic from Gatwick sits at the bottom at £361–£415 (median £401), with the full-service non-stops from Heathrow at £465–£475. Summer and the Christmas holidays push fares higher again.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to New York?
January and February are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, returns started at £361. Late autumn (October and early November) can also be good value. Avoid July, August and the Christmas peak, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from London to New York?
Non-stop: Norse Atlantic from Gatwick carried the great majority of the cheap fares in our data, at £361–£415 into JFK, with United (£465) and Austrian (£475) from Heathrow into Newark. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta and JetBlue also fly it non-stop from Heathrow but did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked. One-stop options such as Aer Lingus (via Dublin) or Icelandair (via Reykjavik) exist but rarely beat the direct fare — the cheapest connection we found was £368, against a £361 direct.
Which airport do I fly into in New York?
Most flights arrive at John F. Kennedy (JFK) in Queens or Newark Liberty (EWR) in New Jersey; both connect easily to Manhattan by train. United uses Newark, while BA, Virgin, JetBlue and Norse mainly serve JFK. LaGuardia (LGA) handles US domestic flights only.
How far in advance should I book London to New York flights?
Aim to book 1 to 3 months ahead. Transatlantic fares to New York go on sale regularly, so you don’t need to book as early as for long-haul Asia routes, but leaving it to the last few weeks — especially over summer or Christmas — usually means paying more.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are usually cheaper than Friday to Sunday, and flying out and back midweek can save £40–£100 on a return. Being flexible by a day or two is one of the easiest ways to cut the fare on this route.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
