London to New York nonstop - five-carrier corridor, JFK vs EWR landing, and January fare.
Five carriers compete head-to-head on London to New York nonstops, making it one of the most price-transparent long-haul routes in the world. BA and American share a joint venture from Heathrow, while Virgin Atlantic and Delta operate their own Heathrow services. United runs primarily to Newark. Norwegian once disrupted this corridor with budget fares from Gatwick, and while that service ended, it permanently lowered the pricing ceiling for premium economy.
January through mid-February is the softest demand period - post-Christmas travel drops sharply and business traffic takes time to rebuild. Fares climb steadily from March onward, peak through the summer, and hit a second spike around Thanksgiving in late November. If you need summer dates, booking 10 to 12 weeks ahead gives the widest fare class selection before discount buckets close. London - New York timing usually sits around 7 - 8 hours, so departure windows matter.
Airport choice at the New York end matters more than most travellers realise. JFK is the primary international hub with AirTrain to the subway, but Manhattan-bound taxis cost $70+ in traffic. Newark (EWR) feeds New Jersey and midtown Manhattan via NJ Transit, which can be faster than JFK during rush hour. Gatwick departures are cheaper but less frequent and exclude the premium cabins that Heathrow services offer. On London - New York, compare airport pair LHR, LGW -> JFK, EWR and total trip cost before paying.
Westbound nonstops run about 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours. The return is roughly an hour shorter because of prevailing tailwinds. One-stop options via Reykjavik or Dublin exist and can save money, but add 4 to 6 hours of total travel time.
JFK if your hotel is in Brooklyn or Queens, or if you want the widest lounge and terminal options. Newark if you are heading to midtown Manhattan or New Jersey - the AirTrain plus NJ Transit combo reaches Penn Station in about 30 minutes. Both airports offer similar taxi costs to Manhattan, but travel time varies wildly with traffic.
The first two weeks of January are historically the cheapest, with prices gradually rising through spring. A secondary dip appears in early November before Thanksgiving demand kicks in. For summer travel, fare sales often appear in January or February - set alerts early and be ready to book when prices drop.
