Routes / New York / New York to West Palm Beach

New York West Palm Beach

Q: Should I fly into Fort Lauderdale instead of Palm Beach International?

Only if you are staying south of Boca Raton. Fort Lauderdale is around 40 miles south of Palm Beach International, and Miami is around 70 miles south. If your hotel is in Palm Beach, West Palm, or Jupiter, flying into Fort Lauderdale adds over an hour of driving and wipes out any fare savings.

3 nonstop pairs · 5 nonstop airlines · 283 nonstop flights/week

All three New York airports fly nonstop to Palm Beach International.

If you're near Newark, you'll have the most departures. United, JetBlue, and Spirit all fly the route, with flights every hour during the day. Spirit will be cheapest. United and JetBlue are more comfortable and usually have seatback screens.

If LaGuardia is easier to get to, Delta and American cover the route several times a day. Delta flies an A321, one of the roomier narrowbodies for a three-hour flight.

If JFK works for you, look at JetBlue. They put an A220-300 on some departures, and it's a better plane than the A320s flying the route from Newark: wider cabin, bigger windows, quieter engines. Delta also runs 737s from JFK if JetBlue's times don't work.

Make sure Palm Beach International is the airport you want. It serves Palm Beach, Jupiter, and Boca Raton. If you're heading to Fort Lauderdale or anywhere south of there, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood is closer and has its own nonstop flights from New York. Palm Beach International sits 45 minutes north, and that gap matters more than saving a few dollars on the ticket.

Brightline connects Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale and Miami in under an hour, and continues north to Orlando. If you are splitting time between Palm Beach and the rest of South Florida, the train is faster and cheaper than driving I-95.

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

Best Overall

JFK → PBI

2 airlines 146/wk 3h 1m

31% on-time

JetBlue, Delta Air Lines. Also bookable via American Airlines. Newark for the widest selection and lowest fares, with United, JetBlue, and Spirit all competing.

Explore JFK → PBI

Strong Alternative

EWR → PBI

2 airlines · 82/wk · 3h 00m

JetBlue, United Airlines. Also bookable via Spirit Airlines. LaGuardia is closer to Midtown Manhattan and runs Delta and American, but has no budget carrier and fewer daily departures than Newark.

77%

New York → West Palm Beach 1 airline · 55/wk · 2h58m · Delta and American from Manhattan's closest airport, with around a dozen daily departures between them. Good

Nearby cities with nonstop service

~60mi Philadelphia → West Palm Beach 25 airlines · 61/wk Nearby ~22mi White Plains → West Palm Beach 31 airlines · 41/wk Nearby ~40mi Islip → West Palm Beach 8 airlines · 22/wk Nearby ~11mi Teterboro → West Palm Beach 45 airlines · 12/wk Nearby ~61mi New Haven → West Palm Beach 4 airlines · 8/wk Nearby ~99mi Atlantic City → West Palm Beach 6 airlines · 7/wk Nearby ~101mi Hartford → West Palm Beach 8 airlines · 7/wk Nearby

Nearby cities · connections only

~83mi Allentown/Bethlehem No nonstop to West Palm Beach Connecting ~104mi Wilkes-Barre/Scranton No nonstop to West Palm Beach 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.

JFK via AirTrain and subway or LIRR from Jamaica, 60 to 75 minutes total. Newark is faster from Penn Station: NJ Transit takes around 25 minutes. Both airports have nonstop international service.

JFK is the closer airport. The drive is 30 to 50 minutes depending on Belt Parkway traffic. A train to Howard Beach, then AirTrain to the terminal. Newark adds a river crossing and at least 20 extra minutes.

JFK is in Queens. Depending on your neighborhood, the drive is 15 to 30 minutes. The easiest airport connection in the metro area.

Newark. No question. I-78, I-95, or the Garden State Parkway depending on direction. No river crossings, no city traffic.

Both airports are roughly equidistant and neither is convenient. JFK requires subway transfers. Newark means getting to Penn Station first. Budget extra time from the Bronx either way.

Newark via I-287 avoids Manhattan entirely. JFK means driving through the Bronx or taking Metro-North to Penn for the subway connection. Newark is the better call from most of Westchester.

For most New York-area travelers, JFK → PBI is the default.3 airlines, 146 flights/wk.

Explore JFK → PBI

Best pair by where you're staying in West Palm Beach

Your West Palm Beach airport matters as much as your New York airport.

The original resort town. Worth Avenue for high-end shopping, the Breakers and the Colony for historic hotels, manicured hedges and old money. Five miles from the airport. If you are looking for quiet luxury and a specific kind of Florida that has nothing to do with theme parks, this is it.

Downtown West Palm sits across the Intracoastal from Palm Beach Island and has a different energy. Clematis Street and Rosemary Square have restaurants, bars, and live music. Hotels cost less than on the island and put you within walking distance of nightlife. Around 10 minutes from the airport.

Atlantic Avenue is one of the strongest restaurant and bar streets in South Florida. The downtown is walkable, the beach is right there, and the crowd skews younger than Palm Beach. Around 20 miles south of the airport.

Upscale and resort-oriented, around 30 miles south of the airport. The Boca Resort and Mizner Park anchor the area. At the southern edge of Palm Beach International territory, where Fort Lauderdale starts to become a closer option.

Quieter and more natural than the towns to the south. Jupiter Inlet and Blowing Rocks Preserve draw people who want state parks, sea turtle nesting beaches, and less development. Around 20 miles north of the airport.

A barrier island east of Riviera Beach with high-rise resorts and a long public beach. Less polished than Palm Beach, more affordable, and close to the airport. A good option if you want a beach vacation without Palm Beach Island pricing.

PBI is the right West Palm Beach airport for most travelers.Check individual route pages for ground transport from PBI.

Explore JFK → PBI

Which pair your airline flies nonstop

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

Airline	JFK–PBI	EWR–PBI	LGA–PBI
American Airlines	✓	—	✓
JetBlue	✓	✓	✓
Spirit Airlines	—	✓	—
Delta Air Lines	✓	—	✓
United Airlines	—	✓	—

Most airlines fly JFK → PBI.3 airlines serve multiple pairs.

Explore JFK → PBI

Ranked by on-time performance

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

31% on-time. 3 airlines competing means schedule padding is tight and delays get absorbed.

77% on-time. 3 airlines competing.

44% on-time. 3 airlines competing.

JFK → PBI has a 31% on-time record.High competition keeps airlines punctual.

Explore JFK → PBI

Lounge access by airport and terminal

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

The rebuilt Terminal B has airline club lounges with seating, Wi-Fi, drinks, and light food. Access through airline loyalty programs or eligible credit cards. The new terminal makes the lounge experience better than what LaGuardia used to offer, which was close to nothing.

Club lounges in Terminal C for eligible passengers. Same access rules: airline status, credit card membership, or a same-day qualifying ticket. Quality is standard domestic lounge level.

The rebuilt terminals have better gate seating, charging outlets, and food options than the old LaGuardia. On a short domestic flight, the gate area is fine. Spend the lounge walk-in fee on dinner at the destination instead.

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.

Palm Beach International is not a hub for any carrier, and no airline operates a dedicated lounge here. Travelers with lounge memberships through credit cards or programs like Priority Pass should check current availability before arriving, as options at smaller airports shift frequently.

The terminal past security has several restaurants and plenty of open seating near the gates. Outside of peak winter months, the concourse is uncrowded and quiet enough to work or relax before boarding.

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

Explore JFK → PBI

Ranked by flights per week

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

146/wk (~21/day) — 3 airlines.

82/wk (~12/day) — 3 airlines.

55/wk (~8/day) — 3 airlines.

JFK → PBI: 146 flights/week.21 departures per day.

Explore JFK → PBI

Getting to the airport

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

From midtown Manhattan, 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Around $30 to $40 by taxi. The Grand Central Parkway connects directly. Morning rush into the city and evening rush out are the times to avoid.

Runs from all LaGuardia terminals to the Jackson Heights subway hub in about 10 minutes. Transfer to the 7, E, F, M, or R train for Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens. The cheapest way to the airport from anywhere with a subway connection.

Runs across 125th Street in Manhattan to LaGuardia, connecting to the A, B, C, and D trains and Metro-North at Harlem-125th Street. Useful from the Upper West Side, Harlem, or the Bronx. Around 40 to 50 minutes from the West Side.

No rail link to LaGuardia. If you drive, parking runs around $40 per day in the terminal garages. Cell phone lots are free for pickup. The airport is compact enough that the walk from parking to gates stays short.

AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station in around 20 minutes. Faster and more comfortable than the subway, and you avoid dragging luggage underground. This is the best option for midtown Manhattan.

AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach, then the E or A train into Manhattan. Total time is 60 to 75 minutes. Cheap but slow, and dragging luggage through the subway at rush hour is miserable.

Flat rate of around $110 from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan, plus tolls and tip. Predictable pricing but travel time depends entirely on traffic. The Van Wyck Expressway can turn a 40-minute ride into 90 minutes during rush hour.

Pre-booked car services run around $70 to $100 depending on vehicle type. No flat-rate guarantee like yellow cabs, but you get a driver waiting at arrivals. Worth it if you are landing late or have a lot of luggage.

Train from New York Penn Station to Newark Airport station in around 25 minutes, then AirTrain to your terminal. Frequent service, cheap, and immune to tunnel traffic. The most reliable way to get to Newark from Manhattan.

No flat rate from Manhattan to Newark. Expect around $60 to $90 depending on traffic and tolls. The Lincoln Tunnel and NJ Turnpike can double your travel time during rush hour. Fine on weekends or off-peak.

Bus service from midtown Manhattan (Port Authority, Bryant Park, Grand Central) to all terminals. Takes 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Around $19 one way. A budget option if you are not in a rush.

If you live in northern New Jersey, the drive is straightforward. I-78, I-95, or the Garden State Parkway depending on your direction. Parking is expensive long-term. Cell phone lots exist for pickup.

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

Explore JFK → PBI

Red-eye vs daytime departures

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

At three hours in the same time zone, there is no true overnight flight between New York and Palm Beach. The latest departures land close to midnight, which means arriving to a quiet terminal with limited services. Have ground transportation arranged before you land.

Flights departing around 6 AM from all three New York airports land in Palm Beach before 10 AM. For a vacation, this is often a better use of the day than a late departure that puts you at baggage claim near midnight.

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

Explore JFK → PBI

Premium cabin options

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

Delta flies the A321 from LaGuardia with 2-2 first class seating and around 38 inches of pitch. On a three-hour flight, the seat matters more than the service, and this is the widest domestic first class cabin available to Palm Beach. Standard domestic first meal service.

JetBlue does not sell a first class cabin, but Even More Space seats on the A220-300 offer extra legroom in a newer, quieter aircraft. The A220 has larger windows and lower cabin noise than the 737s and A320s on competing flights. Not a premium product, but a noticeably better ride for a small upcharge.

United runs 737 MAX variants with standard domestic first class seating. The cabin is comfortable for three hours without standing out. The real advantage is Newark's flight volume, which gives you the most schedule flexibility if you want first class and need to shift your departure.

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

Explore JFK → PBI

Connecting through New York from a domestic flight

With nonstop service from Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK running throughout the day, connecting through a hub to reach Palm Beach from New York adds hours to a three-hour flight for no benefit. The only scenario where a connection makes sense is if you are originating from a smaller city and already connecting through a New York airport.

Book LGA → PBI. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 3 airlines, 55/wk.

Book JFK → PBI. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 3 airlines, 146/wk.

Book EWR → PBI. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 3 airlines, 82/wk.

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

Check which New York airport your domestic flight arrives at, then book West Palm Beach from that same airport.JFK arrivals → JFK–PBI · EWR arrivals → EWR–PBI

JFK → PBI

Know Your Airports

New York & West Palm Beach 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.

West Palm Beach Pairs

1

PBI

Airlines

3

Flights/Week

146

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.

West Palm Beach Pairs

1

PBI

Airlines

3

Flights/Week

82

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.

West Palm Beach Pairs

1

PBI

Airlines

3

Flights/Week

55

West Palm Beach Metro

Palm Beach International is a compact, single-terminal airport that handles its traffic without the sprawl of larger Florida airports. All gates are accessible from one central security checkpoint, and the walk from security to the farthest gate takes around ten minutes. The terminal is modern and well-maintained, with recent renovations that brightened the concourse and added dining options past security.

The airport runs on a seasonal rhythm. From November through April, flights increase and the terminal fills with snowbirds and winter vacationers. Outside peak season, the building is noticeably quieter. Security lines move quickly year-round, rarely exceeding 15 to 20 minutes even on busy travel days.

New York Pairs

3

JFK + EWR + LGA

Nonstop from New York

283/wk

Into West Palm Beach

15 min

Rental car to Palm Beach

All Pairs

Full Comparison

Every airport combination ranked by schedule depth. JFK–PBI carries 52% of weekly flights with the best on-time record. EWR–PBI adds another 29%. The remaining 1 pair shares 19% between them.

Route	Airlines	Flights/Wk	Duration	OTP
JFK → PBI	2	146	3h 01m	31%	Explore →
EWR → PBI	2	82	3h 00m	77%	Explore →
LGA → PBI	1	55	2h 58m	44%	Explore →

Coverage Matrix

Which Airlines Fly Which Pairs

JetBlue serve both JFK and EWR to PBI — 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.

JFK–PBI

EWR–PBI

LGA–PBI

JetBlue

✓
A220-300, A320

✓
A320

✓
A320, A220-300

Delta Air Lines

✓
A319, 737-800

—

✓
737-800, 737-900

United Airlines

—

✓
A319, 737 MAX 9

—

American Airlines (codeshare)

✓
737-800

—

✓
E175

Spirit Airlines (codeshare)

—

✓
A320

—

Quick Reference

Route Facts

Total Nonstops

283/wk

Across 3 pairs

Airlines

5

3 on JFK–PBI

Fastest Pair

3h 1m

JFK → PBI

Distance

1,037 mi

1,669 km

New York

3 airports

LGA, JFK, EWR

West Palm Beach

1 airports

PBI

Best OTP

77%

EWR → PBI

JFK → PBI EWR → PBI LGA → PBI LGA Routes JFK Routes LGA Delays JFK Delays

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about New York to West Palm Beach flights.

LaGuardia is closer to Manhattan and runs Delta and American, so it is the faster door-to-door option from Midtown or the Upper East Side. Newark has United, JetBlue, and Spirit competing, which means more flights and lower fares. If saving money matters more than saving 30 minutes getting to the airport, Newark wins.

Mostly, yes. Palm Beach and West Palm Beach do not have the kind of public transit that gets you around comfortably. Rideshares work fine for the airport trip, but if you plan to move between beaches, restaurants, and neighborhoods during your stay, a rental car makes the week easier. All the major agencies have counters inside the terminal.

Spirit is usually the cheapest ticket on this route by a meaningful margin. The flight is three hours, the seats are narrow, and nothing is included. If you pack light and skip the extras, it is fine for a short domestic flight. JetBlue often runs sales that close the gap, and its base fare includes a carry-on, so compare total cost with bags before booking Spirit.

Only if you are staying south of Boca Raton. Fort Lauderdale is around 40 miles south of Palm Beach International, and Miami is around 70 miles south. If your hotel is in Palm Beach, West Palm, or Jupiter, flying into Fort Lauderdale adds over an hour of driving and wipes out any fare savings.

Fares peak from December through March, when seasonal residents and vacationers fill the planes. The cheapest windows are late April through June and September through early November. Midweek departures are almost always cheaper than Friday or Sunday flights regardless of season.

Around 70 miles, or 90 minutes to two hours by car depending on I-95 traffic. They are not interchangeable destinations. If you are going to Miami Beach or South Beach, fly into Miami International or Fort Lauderdale. Palm Beach International serves the northern Gold Coast: Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, and the top of Broward County.