New York San Francisco
New York to San Francisco puts widebody planes on a domestic route because five airlines are fighting for the same passengers, with nonstop service from both Kennedy and Newark throughout the day.
If you are in Manhattan or Brooklyn, fly from Kennedy. Delta, JetBlue, American, and Alaska all run Kennedy to San Francisco. Delta is the pick because they schedule widebody planes on this route, 767s and A330s, which means a wider cabin and fewer middle seats than the 737s and A321s the other carriers fly. JetBlue is a good economy seat with seatback screens on every flight. American and Alaska compete on schedule and price.
If you want a lie-flat seat without paying Delta One prices, book JetBlue Mint. It is the cheapest business class on this route and flies from Kennedy on A321s.
If you are in New Jersey or connecting through Penn Station, fly United from Newark. United matches Kennedy's frequency and also puts widebodies here, 777s and 787s. Alaska flies Newark to San Francisco too, usually at a lower fare on a 737.
From SFO, BART drops you in downtown San Francisco in 30 minutes, no taxi line, no surge pricing. If you are headed to Silicon Valley, expect 30 to 45 minutes on 101 depending on traffic.
A Delta 767 and an Alaska 737 leaving twenty minutes apart from the same terminal are not the same airplane. The 767 has seven seats across with one middle. The 737 has six seats across with two middles. Same fare, same destination.
Have a specific need? Use the decision guide below to filter by your airline, where you live, lounges, or where you're staying in San Francisco.
Pick What Matters to You
Best pair by where you're coming from
Best pair by where you're staying in San Francisco
Which pair your airline flies nonstop
| Airline | JFK–SFO | EWR–SFO |
|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | — | ✓ |
| GXA | — | — |
| American Airlines | ✓ | — |
| Alaska Airlines | ✓ | ✓ |
| Delta Air Lines | ✓ | — |
| JetBlue | ✓ | — |
Ranked by on-time performance
Lounge access by airport and terminal
Ranked by flights per week
Getting to the airport
Red-eye vs daytime departures
Premium cabin options
Connecting through New York from a domestic flight
Nonstops leave JFK and Newark for San Francisco throughout the day. A connection through a hub adds hours with no fare savings on a route this competitive. Travelers in South Jersey or the Philadelphia suburbs may find PHL, around 60 miles south, a shorter drive than any New York airport.
New York & San Francisco Airport Profiles
Each airport has a personality. Terminal quality, transit access, lounge scene, and crowd levels vary dramatically — sometimes more than the flight itself.
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.
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.
San Francisco Metro
Four terminals connected by an automated AirTrain that loops the complex. The International Terminal anchors the west end with high ceilings and natural light. Three domestic terminals line the east side. The walk between the farthest domestic gate and the International Terminal takes about 15 minutes on the AirTrain, so leave time for connections across the complex.
BART sits one level below the International Terminal departures hall, making transit access straightforward on the international side and a short AirTrain ride from the domestic gates. Security lines can run long during afternoon departure banks when transpacific flights cluster together.
The airport sits on the bay, and marine layer fog is a regular summer feature. Morning departures in June through August can push 30 to 60 minutes. Afternoon flights are typically clear. If on-time departure matters, book the afternoon.
Two terminals, both compact enough to walk end-to-end in under five minutes. The airport sits in the middle of Silicon Valley, closer to most South Bay offices than any other Bay Area airport. Security is usually quick, and the drop-off curb is steps from the check-in counters.
The terminal buildings are low-rise and functional. Limited food and shopping compared to larger airports, but the short distances and fast processing make up for it. VTA light rail connects to the north side of the airport for local transit.
No high-frequency connections found. Check SJC routes for all options.
Compact and straightforward. One main terminal building with two concourse areas. Security lines move quickly, and the walk from the curb to any gate rarely exceeds 10 minutes. The airport handles less traffic than its neighbors, which keeps the experience low-stress for departures and arrivals alike.
The BART connection runs via an elevated people mover from the Coliseum station to the terminal, adding about 8 minutes to the rail journey. Inside, the terminal is older and simpler but functional. Food and shopping options are limited compared to larger airports in the region.
Which Airlines Fly Which Pairs
Alaska Airlines serve both JFK and EWR to SFO — airport flexibility on the New York side.
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.
A321, A320neo
737-900, 73J
737-900
A321, 32S
757-200, 75W
757-200, 777