Routes / London / London to New York

London New York

4 nonstop pairs · 12 nonstop airlines · 862 nonstop flights/week

London to New York has more nonstop options than any other transatlantic route. BA, Virgin, American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Norse Atlantic. You will not run out of choices. Apply for your ESTA at least 72 hours before departure if you do not already have one — it is the electronic visa waiver that UK citizens need to enter the US, and boarding will be refused without it.

If you want frequency and flexibility, fly British Airways. They run more flights than any other carrier on this route. Virgin Atlantic flies fewer departures at similar times, often for less money, and their cabin is more comfortable in both business and economy. American and Delta also fly the route daily if you collect miles with either program.

If your destination is midtown Manhattan or New Jersey, skip JFK and fly Heathrow to Newark on United. United runs a flight every hour on that route. The train from Newark to Penn Station takes 30 minutes and drops you in the middle of Manhattan. Getting from JFK to midtown is slower and less predictable. British Airways also flies to Newark if you prefer them.

If you are watching your budget, JetBlue flies Heathrow to JFK with lower fares than the legacy carriers. Norse Atlantic flies Gatwick to JFK a few times a week on a 787 and undercuts everyone on price. If you live south of London, Gatwick saves you the trip to Heathrow.

JetBlue is the only airline on this route flying a narrow-body. They use A321neos with a single aisle and 3-3 seating, while every other carrier puts you on a twin-aisle widebody. In economy, eight hours in that smaller cabin is a real difference. But if you are buying business class, it flips. JetBlue Mint has 16 lie-flat suites with doors in a quiet, small cabin, and it prices below BA Club World and Virgin Upper Class.

Have a specific need? Use the decision guide below to filter by your airline, where you live, lounges, or where you're staying in New York.

Best Overall

LHR → JFK

5 airlines 581/wk 7h 55m

Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, British Airways. Also bookable via Qatar Airways, Alaska Airlines. British Airways from Heathrow to Kennedy for schedule depth no other carrier matches.

Explore LHR → JFK

Strong Alternative

LHR → EWR

2 airlines · 267/wk · 8h 20m

United Airlines, British Airways. Also bookable via El Al. JetBlue Mint costs hundreds less than British Airways or Virgin Atlantic for a lie-flat suite with a closing door, but flies twice daily and offers no lounge at Heathrow.

London → New York 1 airline · 12/wk · 7h40m · Norse Atlantic from Gatwick, a few weekly flights at budget fares well below Heathrow carriers. Good London Southend → Newark 1 airline · 2/wk · 7h09m Limited

Nearby cities · connections only

~53mi Southampton No nonstop to New York Connecting ~77mi Bournemouth No nonstop to New York Connecting ~87mi Birmingham, West Midlands No nonstop to New York Connecting ~97mi Bristol No nonstop to New York Connecting ~101mi Nottingham, Leicestershire No nonstop to New York Connecting ~111mi Norwich, Norfolk No nonstop to New York Connecting

Decision Guide

Pick What Matters to You

Show me the best pair for...

Best pair by where you're coming from

Your location determines which airport is closest and most convenient.

Heathrow is the airport. The Elizabeth Line from Paddington takes around 30 minutes and runs frequently. The Piccadilly Line is slower at about 50 minutes but stops at more central stations along the way. From Soho, Covent Garden, or Mayfair, you are at Heathrow check-in in under an hour.

Heathrow again. Piccadilly Line from Earl's Court or Gloucester Road in about 40 minutes. Paddington is one Tube stop from Bayswater and a short taxi from most of west London. The Elizabeth Line from Paddington is the fastest route to any terminal.

London City Airport is six miles from the Square Mile and connected by DLR. Bank station to the terminal takes around 20 minutes. For other airports, the Elizabeth Line runs from Liverpool Street to Heathrow without changing trains.

Stansted Express from Liverpool Street in 47 minutes. Liverpool Street is a short bus or bike from most of east London. London City is also close on the DLR from Stratford or Limehouse. Heathrow is over an hour on the Elizabeth Line from here.

Gatwick is closer than Heathrow from anything south of the river. Gatwick Express from Victoria in 30 minutes, or Southern trains from Clapham Junction and London Bridge. East Croydon to Gatwick is 15 minutes by train.

Luton is the closest budget airport. Train from St Pancras takes around 25 minutes. King's Cross and St Pancras sit next to each other, with Piccadilly, Northern, Victoria, and Hammersmith lines all converging. The Piccadilly Line also runs to Heathrow from King's Cross in about 50 minutes.

Gatwick is down the M23, around 20 to 30 minutes by car from most of Surrey. Southern rail connects East Croydon, Redhill, and the Gatwick corridor. Heathrow means crossing south London or looping the M25.

For most London-area travelers, LHR → JFK is the default.7 airlines, 581 flights/wk.

Explore LHR → JFK

Best pair by where you're staying in New York

Your New York airport matters as much as your London airport.

The default for business travelers and first-time visitors. Hotels cluster between 34th and 59th Streets. Newark is the faster airport: NJ Transit drops you at Penn Station in the middle of Midtown in about 25 minutes. From Kennedy, expect 60 to 90 minutes by taxi or subway.

Financial District, Tribeca, and the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhoods like DUMBO and Williamsburg are all closer to Kennedy. A taxi or rideshare from Kennedy takes around 30 minutes without traffic. Newark works too, but you transfer at Penn Station and subway south.

Both airports take about the same time to reach. From Kennedy, the AirTrain connects to the subway at Jamaica. From Newark, NJ Transit to Penn Station puts you on the uptown trains. Neither airport is quick, but Newark edges it for the Upper West Side by a few minutes.

The New Jersey waterfront is around 20 minutes from Newark by car or train. If you are visiting the Jersey side of the Hudson, Newark is the only airport that makes sense. PATH trains connect Hoboken and Jersey City to Manhattan as well.

Kennedy sits in Queens. Astoria, Long Island City, and Flushing are 15 to 25 minutes from the airport by car. If your destination is east of Manhattan, flying into Kennedy avoids crossing the city entirely.

JFK is the right New York airport for most travelers.Check individual route pages for ground transport from JFK.

Explore LHR → JFK

Which pair your airline flies nonstop

Loyalty programs drive airport choice for frequent flyers. Here's where each airline operates.

Airline	LHR–JFK	LHR–EWR	LGW–JFK	SEN–EWR
Jet Aviation Flight Services	—	—	—	✓
Norse Atlantic UK Ltd	—	—	✓	—
Delta Air Lines	✓	—	—	—
El Al	—	✓	—	—
Qatar Airways	✓	—	—	—
Air Alsie	—	—	—	—
United Airlines	—	✓	—	—
British Airways	✓	✓	—	—
Alaska Airlines	✓	—	—	—
JetBlue	✓	—	—	—
Virgin Atlantic	✓	—	—	—
American Airlines	✓	—	—	—

Most airlines fly LHR → JFK.1 airlines serve multiple pairs.

Explore LHR → JFK

Ranked by on-time performance

On-time = departing within 15 min of schedule. Higher competition tends to keep airlines punctual.

Insufficient data — 581/wk doesn't generate meaningful OTP stats.

Insufficient data — 267/wk doesn't generate meaningful OTP stats.

Insufficient data — 12/wk doesn't generate meaningful OTP stats.

Insufficient data — 2/wk doesn't generate meaningful OTP stats.

LHR → JFK has the most schedule depth.High competition keeps airlines punctual.

Explore LHR → JFK

Lounge access by airport and terminal

Premium lounge access varies dramatically by terminal. This alone can determine airport choice for some travelers.

BA business class and oneworld Emerald or Sapphire. The Galleries First has a champagne bar and showers. The Club lounge is larger but more crowded. T5 is BA's home terminal and the lounge reflects it.

Upper Class passengers on Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse or the BA Galleries for character. Shower access is available.

Plaza Premium and No1 Lounges accept Priority Pass and Amex Platinum across multiple terminals. Quality is hit or miss and they get crowded, especially during the morning departure wave. Better than nothing if your carrier does not have its own lounge.

Priority Pass and pay-per-entry. Decent food, bar, and seating. Gets crowded during holiday departures. The best lounge option in South Terminal if you do not have airline status.

Smaller selection. A No1 Lounge and a couple of carrier-specific options. Quality is average. Gatwick does not have the lounge depth of Heathrow, which reflects its budget and leisure focus.

Pay-per-entry and Priority Pass. Basic food, drinks, and seating. Stansted is a budget airport and the lounge options reflect that. Fine for a quiet hour before departure, but do not expect Heathrow-level quality.

Pay-per-entry and Priority Pass. Small, basic, and often crowded during peak travel periods. Luton is a budget airport and lounge expectations should match. Hot food, drinks, and a quiet corner if you get there early.

Southend does not have an airside lounge. The terminal past security has a small bar and cafe. If lounge access matters to you, this is not the airport for it.

Open to Club Europe passengers and qualifying British Airways Executive Club members. Compact but clean, with food, drinks, and runway views. The terminal is small enough that you can leave the lounge 10 minutes before boarding and make your gate.

If you do not have lounge access, the departures area has coffee shops and a few restaurants airside. The terminal is modern and the wait is rarely uncomfortable. Quick security processing means you do not need to arrive early.

American Express Platinum or Centurion cardholders. Cocktail bar, sit-down dining, showers. One of the better Centurion locations. Access is card-based regardless of airline.

Large club with runway views, full bar, and hot food. Gets crowded during the evening international push. Delta One and SkyMiles status get you in; everyone else needs a same-day Delta boarding pass plus a qualifying credit card.

American and British Airways premium cabin passengers. Quieter than T4, with showers and a dining room. BA passengers flying Club Suite have access here before JFK to Heathrow flights.

Open to Mint passengers on JetBlue. Smaller than the legacy carrier clubs but less crowded. Food and drinks included. The terminal itself has decent food options if the lounge is full.

A collection of carrier-specific lounges including Turkish, Air France, and Korean Air. Quality varies. The Turkish lounge is a standout if you have access.

United Polaris passengers and Star Alliance business class. Full sit-down restaurant with table service, shower suites, daybeds, and a cocktail bar. One of the best airline lounges in North America. If you are flying United Polaris business class, arrive early and use it.

Standard United Club with hot food, bar, and seating. Multiple locations in Terminal C. Gets crowded during the evening departure wave. United Club membership, Star Alliance Gold, or certain credit cards get you in.

The rebuilt Terminal A has fresh lounge space. Carrier-specific lounges are still filling in. The terminal itself is well-designed with better food options than the old building.

Your airline and cabin class determine which lounges you can access.Check route pages for terminal assignments.

Explore LHR → JFK

Ranked by flights per week

More flights = more flexibility. Miss your flight, catch the next one. Schedule depth is insurance.

581/wk (~83/day) — 7 airlines. A departure roughly every 17 minutes at peak.

267/wk (~38/day) — 3 airlines. A departure roughly every 38 minutes at peak.

12/wk (~2/day) — 1 airlines.

2/wk (~0/day) — 1 airlines.

LHR → JFK: 581 flights/week.Miss one flight, wait 17 min for the next.

Explore LHR → JFK

Getting to the airport

Cost and time vary by mode. Train is more predictable than driving.

Contactless payment, 30 minutes to Paddington, and the line continues east through the West End to Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf without changing. Runs frequently from early morning. This is the default way into London for anyone not in a rush.

15 minutes nonstop to Paddington. Around 25 pounds. Faster than the Elizabeth Line but only saves you 15 minutes and costs significantly more. Worth it if your meeting starts in an hour.

Cheapest option. 50 to 60 minutes into central London with stops at Hammersmith, Earl's Court, South Kensington, and King's Cross. Gets crowded during rush hour and there is no luggage space. Fine for budget travelers with a backpack.

Black cab from Heathrow to central London costs around 50 to 90 pounds depending on destination and traffic. Minicab apps are cheaper. The M4 motorway can be slow during morning rush. Takes 45 to 75 minutes.

30 minutes to Victoria station, nonstop. Runs every 15 minutes during the day. Victoria connects to the Victoria, District, and Circle lines. Fast and reliable.

Cheaper than the Gatwick Express and run to more stations including London Bridge, Blackfriars, and St Pancras. Takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on route and stops. Good if your hotel is south of the river or near King's Cross.

Budget bus to Victoria Coach Station. Takes 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Very cheap but very slow. Only worth it if you are watching every pound.

Expect around 70 to 120 pounds into central London. The drive is longer than from Heathrow and the M23/A23 can be slow. Not recommended unless you are headed to south London or have a lot of luggage.

47 minutes to Liverpool Street station, nonstop. Runs every 15 to 30 minutes. Liverpool Street connects to the Central, Circle, Hammersmith, Metropolitan, and Elizabeth lines. The best option unless you are going north.

Budget bus to Stratford, Liverpool Street, and Victoria. Takes 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic and stops. Significantly cheaper than the train.

Expect around 100 to 150 pounds into central London. The M11 can be slow. Only sensible if you are sharing the cost or heading to north London or Cambridge.

The Luton DART connects the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway station in under 4 minutes. From there, Thameslink trains run to St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, and London Bridge. Total journey to St Pancras is around 35 to 45 minutes.

Coach services to Victoria, Baker Street, and other London stops. Takes 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Budget option.

Expect around 80 to 130 pounds into central London. The M1 motorway can slow to a crawl near the city. Only practical if you are heading north of London or splitting the fare.

Southend Airport station is attached to the terminal. Direct trains run to London Liverpool Street in around 55 minutes. Trains run every 15 to 20 minutes during the day.

The airport is next to the A127 road. Taxis to Southend town center cost around 10 pounds. On-site parking is cheap compared to other London airports. If you live within driving distance, parking and driving is often the simplest option.

London City Airport station is attached to the terminal. Trains run every few minutes to Bank station in about 20 minutes and to Canary Wharf in about 10. The cheapest and fastest way into the city.

Custom House station is about a 10-minute walk from the terminal. The Elizabeth line reaches Liverpool Street in about 12 minutes and Paddington in about 25. Useful if your destination sits along the Elizabeth line.

A taxi to the City of London takes 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. To the West End, allow 30 to 40 minutes. The DLR is faster and cheaper for destinations along its line.

Weigh transit time against schedule flexibility.A faster airport with fewer flights may not save you time overall.

Explore LHR → JFK

Red-eye vs daytime departures

Departure timing affects jet lag, hotel costs, and how you spend your first day.

London to New York flies west, gaining five hours. Most departures leave Heathrow between 8am and 3pm and land in New York the same afternoon or evening. You do not lose a night of sleep in this direction. The overnight flights are eastbound, on the return.

A few evening departures leave Heathrow around 5pm to 8pm and arrive in New York between 8pm and 11pm local time. You arrive tired from a full day and an eight-hour flight. The AirTrain and subway still run at Kennedy, and taxis queue all night. Plan to go straight to your hotel.

LHR → JFK has the most departure options.Check the route page for schedule details.

Explore LHR → JFK

Premium cabin options

Business and first class products on this route, ranked by value and quality.

Lie-flat seat with direct aisle access and the Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3. The Clubhouse has a full bar, spa treatments, and a proper restaurant. The cabin crew and soft product get high marks. Upper Class fares sit between JetBlue Mint and British Airways Club World.

Private suites with a closing door and lie-flat beds. The cheapest real business class on this route, often hundreds of dollars below British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. No lounge access at Heathrow. If the seat matters more to you than the ground experience, Mint is the strongest value in the transatlantic premium market.

More departures than any other carrier from Heathrow to Kennedy. Club World seats vary by aircraft: newer configurations have direct aisle access, older ones do not. The Galleries lounge in Terminal 5 is large but can fill up at peak hours. The real advantage is schedule depth. Miss a flight and another leaves within hours.

Both offer lie-flat seats with direct aisle access on widebody aircraft. Strong lounges at Kennedy for the return trip. Neither has the Heathrow lounge presence of British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. Book these when loyalty pricing or award availability makes them the better deal.

Check route pages for cabin details per airline.Business class products vary significantly between carriers.

Explore LHR → JFK

Connecting through London from a domestic flight

Five carriers fly Heathrow to Kennedy nonstop. United and British Airways serve Newark. Norse Atlantic covers Gatwick. With that many direct options, routing through a European hub adds hours without saving money. A connection only makes sense if you are starting from a regional UK airport where reaching London is the harder part of the trip.

Book LHR → JFK. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 7 airlines, 581/wk.

Book LGW → JFK. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 1 airlines, 12/wk.

STN has no New York nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.

LTN has no New York nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.

SEN has no New York nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.

LCY has no New York nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.

Avoid cross-airport transfers. No direct transit links between most metro airports. Budget 4+ hours minimum if you must.

Check which London airport your domestic flight arrives at, then book New York from that same airport.LHR arrivals → LHR–JFK · LHR arrivals → LHR–EWR

LHR → JFK

Know Your Airports

London & New York Airport Profiles

Each airport has a personality. Terminal quality, transit access, lounge scene, and crowd levels vary dramatically — sometimes more than the flight itself.

London Metro

Heathrow has four active terminals and your airline determines which one you use. Terminal 5 is British Airways territory, the newest and most polished. Terminal 2, the Queen's Terminal, handles Star Alliance carriers. Terminal 3 has Virgin Atlantic and several US carriers. Terminal 4 is smaller and serves a mix of international airlines.

The terminals are not walkable between each other. Free inter-terminal transfers run on the Elizabeth Line or Heathrow Express between T2/T3 (which share a central area) and T5. T4 requires a separate bus. Build in 60 minutes if you need to change terminals for a connection.

Immigration at 6 to 8 AM is slow. The morning wave of transatlantic red-eyes all land in the same window, and queues back up. E-gates work for US passport holders, which helps, but the volume is real. The airport is well-signed and functional, not beautiful. Shopping is extensive if you clear customs early.

New York Pairs

JFK, EWR

Airlines

Flights/Week

848

Gatwick has two terminals, North and South, connected by a free shuttle train that takes about two minutes. South Terminal is the larger of the two and handles most scheduled long-haul flights. North Terminal serves a mix of short-haul and charter carriers.

The airport is smaller than Heathrow and easier to navigate. Security queues are generally shorter except during summer holiday peaks. The walk from security to gates in South Terminal is short. The overall experience is less stressful than Heathrow, which is part of the appeal for budget travelers.

Gatwick sits 30 miles south of central London, roughly twice the distance of Heathrow. The Gatwick Express runs to Victoria in 30 minutes, which is competitive, but Victoria is not as well connected to east London as Paddington.

New York Pairs

JFK

Airlines

Flights/Week

London Southend is a small regional airport in Essex with a train station attached directly to the terminal building. The terminal handles a limited number of routes. Security queues rarely take more than 10 minutes, and the walk from the entrance to the gate is short.

The departures area past security has a few shops and food outlets. Do not expect the range of a larger airport. What Southend offers is speed: if you live nearby, you can leave home an hour before departure and make the flight.

New York Pairs

EWR

Airlines

Flights/Week

Closest nonstop airport SEN (London Southend Airport) · 29mi from STN

Or connect through DUB Dublin Airport · 61/wk onward LHR London Heathrow Airport · 581/wk onward LHR London Heathrow Airport · 267/wk onward

Closest nonstop airport LHR (London Heathrow Airport) · 28mi from LTN

Or connect through BCN Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El... · 72/wk onward AMS Amsterdam Airport Schiphol · 75/wk onward DUB Dublin Airport · 61/wk onward

Closest nonstop airport LHR (London Heathrow Airport) · 22mi from LCY

Or connect through AMS Amsterdam Airport Schiphol · 75/wk onward DUB Dublin Airport · 61/wk onward DUB Dublin Airport · 42/wk onward

New York Metro

JFK spreads across four active passenger terminals connected by the AirTrain, and walking between them is not an option. Terminal 1 is the old international building. Terminal 4 is the largest, handling most international carriers. Terminal 5 is the former TWA terminal, now JetBlue's home, with the mid-century curves still intact. Terminal 8 belongs to American and British Airways.

The terminal you depart from depends entirely on your airline. Security wait times vary between them. Terminal 4 tends to be the slowest during evening international departures. Terminal 8 has improved since the co-location of its two main carriers. The TWA Hotel sits adjacent to Terminal 5 if you need to sleep before an early departure or after a late arrival.

JFK feels enormous because it is. Budget extra time for the AirTrain if you are connecting between terminals or arriving by subway. The AirTrain loop takes 10 to 15 minutes end to end.

London Pairs

LHR + LGW

Nonstop from London

593/wk

Into New York

60-75 min

AirTrain + transit to Manhattan

Newark Liberty has three terminals, and Terminal A opened as a full rebuild in 2023. The old Terminal A was demolished and replaced, and the difference is dramatic. Terminal C is United's hub, massive and busy, with most international flights departing from here. Terminal B handles most other carriers.

The AirTrain connects all three terminals and the NJ Transit / Amtrak rail station. Unlike JFK, the terminals are closer together and the AirTrain loop is faster. Security at Terminal C can back up during afternoon and evening international departures.

The airport sits in New Jersey, around 10 miles from Manhattan. That proximity is deceptive because the drive crosses the Hudson via the Newark Bay or Lincoln Tunnel, and both can be brutal during peak hours. NJ Transit from Penn Station is the more reliable option.

London Pairs

LHR + SEN

Nonstop from London

269/wk

Into New York

25 min

NJ Transit from Penn Stn

LaGuardia is the New York airport that does not pretend to be anything more than a domestic terminal. No international flights, no customs hall, no transatlantic gates competing for security lane capacity. The result is a faster, simpler airport experience than JFK or Newark for any flight that stays in the country. Eight miles from midtown Manhattan, it is also the closest major airport to the city center.

The rebuilt Terminal B replaced what was widely considered the worst major terminal in the country. The new building is bright and open, with real restaurants instead of the food court that used to define LaGuardia dining. Gates connect via an elevated pedestrian bridge with a clear sightline to the Manhattan skyline. Terminal C is equally compact. Neither terminal is large, and gate-to-gate walks stay under ten minutes.

Closest nonstop airport JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport) · 11mi from LGA

Connect through ORD Chicago O'Hare International A... · 547/wk onward YYZ Toronto Pearson International... · 282/wk onward BOS Boston Logan International Air... · 422/wk onward

All Pairs

Full Comparison

Every airport combination ranked by schedule depth. LHR–JFK carries 67% of weekly flights with the best on-time record. LHR–EWR adds another 31%. The remaining 2 pairs share 2% between them.

Route	Airlines	Flights/Wk	Duration	OTP
LHR → JFK	5	581	7h 55m	—	Explore →
LHR → EWR	2	267	8h 20m	—	Explore →
LGW → JFK	1	12	7h 40m	—	Explore →
SEN → EWR	1	2	7h 09m	—	Explore →

Coverage Matrix

Which Airlines Fly Which Pairs

Not all planes are the same size. The aircraft type below each checkmark tells you whether you are getting a widebody (777, 787, A350) with wider seats and a quieter ride, or a narrowbody (737, A321) with a single aisle. On flights over five hours, the difference is significant.

LHR–JFK

LHR–EWR

LGW–JFK

SEN–EWR

American Airlines

✓
777-300ER, 787-9

—

JetBlue

✓
A321neo

—

British Airways

✓
777-200, 777

✓
777-200, 787-8

—

Delta Air Lines

✓
A330-200, A330neo

—

Jet Aviation Flight Services

—

✓

United Airlines

—

✓
767-300, 777-200

—

Virgin Atlantic

✓
A330-200, A330neo

—

Norse Atlantic UK Ltd

—

✓
787-9

—

Alaska Airlines (codeshare)

✓
777-200

—

El Al (codeshare)

—

✓

—

Qatar Airways (codeshare)

✓
A350-1000

—

Quick Reference

Route Facts

Total Nonstops

862/wk

Across 4 pairs

Airlines

7 on LHR–JFK

Fastest Pair

7h 55m

LHR → JFK

Distance

3,440 mi

5,535 km

London

6 airports

LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, SEN, LCY

New York

3 airports

LGA, JFK, EWR

No Nonstop

STN, LTN, LCY

No New York nonstops

LHR → JFK LHR → EWR LGW → JFK LHR Routes LGW Routes LHR Delays LGW Delays

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about London to New York flights.

Newark is faster into Midtown. NJ Transit runs from the airport to Penn Station in about 25 minutes. From Kennedy, the AirTrain connects to the subway, but the full trip to Midtown takes 60 to 75 minutes. Taxis and rideshares from Kennedy cost more and sit in traffic. The tradeoff is schedule choice: Heathrow to Newark is United and British Airways only, while Kennedy has five carriers to choose from.

It is a real lie-flat suite with a closing door and direct aisle access. The cabin is smaller than British Airways or Virgin Atlantic, which means quieter. Fares regularly come in hundreds of dollars below legacy business class for the same route. What you give up: no lounge at Heathrow and a simpler food service. If the seat and the price matter more than the ground experience, Mint is the stronger buy.

Most departures leave Heathrow between 8am and 3pm, arriving in New York the same afternoon or evening local time. You fly westbound and gain five hours, so a midday departure lands you in New York with the afternoon still ahead. A few carriers run late afternoon or evening departures that arrive at night. There are no true red-eye arrivals in this direction.

If you live south of London, Gatwick is closer than Heathrow and Norse Atlantic fares to Kennedy are significantly cheaper. Norse flies a Boeing 787 with reasonable legroom, but nothing is included beyond the seat. You pay separately for food, bags, and seat selection. The flight runs a few times a week, so your dates need to line up. If they do and you can pack light, the savings are substantial.

On a daytime westbound flight, premium economy gives you a wider seat with more recline and a better meal. You will not get a flat bed, so it does not replace business class for sleeping on the return. British Airways World Traveller Plus and Virgin Atlantic Premium are the main options from Heathrow. If you want more comfort on a daytime crossing without paying for a lie-flat seat, premium economy is worth the step up.

British Airways uses Terminal 5, which has the fastest security and most space at Heathrow. Virgin Atlantic flies from Terminal 3. American, Delta, and JetBlue are spread across Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. United flights to Newark use Terminal 2. The terminals are not connected airside, so confirm your terminal before you leave for the airport.

London to New York Flights

4 nonstop airport pairs, 12 nonstop airlines, 862 nonstop flights/week.

LHR → JFK: 581/wk, 7 airlines

LHR → EWR: 267/wk, 3 airlines

LGW → JFK: 12/wk, 1 airlines

SEN → EWR: 2/wk, 1 airlines