New York's three major airports and fierce airline competition create a transatlantic fare battleground.
JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia between them handle over 140 million passengers annually. JFK is the primary international gateway—Terminal 1 is brand new, Delta runs Terminals 2 and 4, and JetBlue's T5 anchors domestic and Caribbean routes. Newark Liberty is United's largest hub on the East Coast, with extensive transatlantic schedules. Comparing prices across both airports often reveals gaps of USD 100+ on the same route.
The transatlantic market from New York is one of the most competitive in aviation. BA, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, American, United, and JetBlue all vie for London traffic from JFK or Newark. This rivalry produces regular fare wars, with sub-USD 350 returns to London appearing outside peak windows. For Middle East and Asian routes, Emirates, Qatar, and Turkish connect via their hubs with aggressive pricing.
January through February and early November are the consistent fare troughs for inbound flights to NYC. Thanksgiving week and mid-December through early January are the most expensive periods. Spring (April-June) and fall (September-November) deliver the best combination of mild weather and reasonable fares. AirTrain JFK to the subway costs USD 8.50; Newark AirTrain plus NJ Transit to Penn Station runs about USD 15.75.
January-February produces the lowest transatlantic fares—airlines dump post-holiday inventory. Early November also dips before Thanksgiving demand spikes. Set fare alerts for your preferred route at least 8 weeks ahead.
Westbound nonstops from London take 7.5-8 hours; the eastbound return is about an hour shorter thanks to jet stream tailwinds. Five carriers offer multiple daily nonstops from Heathrow.
UK and most EU citizens travel under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA), which must be approved online before travel. ESTA costs USD 21 and is valid for two years. Arrive with a passport valid for at least 6 months.
