London Heathrow to New York JFK
5540 km great-circle distance, typically flown in 7h 20m with 10 airlines operating direct service from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK (JFK). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around £313 return), with peak prices in August (around £777). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from London Heathrow
Heathrow is the UK's main long-haul hub and the airport where full-service carriers concentrate their schedule rather than chase price. Expect five terminals, fast Tube and Elizabeth Line links into central London, and a route map that skews toward business-traveller frequency: more daily slots, fewer fare wars. Short-haul fares from Heathrow tend to run a little higher than Gatwick or Stansted on the same corridor — the trade-off is a wider choice of airline and a more reliable timetable.
Arriving in New York
New York JFK is 24 km southeast of Manhattan, with the AirTrain to Jamaica connecting to the LIRR or Subway in 50–60 minutes for $13.75. BA, Virgin Atlantic, American, Delta and JetBlue all run heavy schedules. Peak season is April–June and September–October — winter is the cheapest window, with January–February delivering the best round-trip fares from the UK.
Who flies LHR to JFK?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| British Airways | BA | 7h 20m | Economy |
| Virgin Atlantic | VS | 7h 20m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 7h 20m | Economy |
| United | UA | 7h 20m | Economy |
| Delta | DL | 7h 20m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 7h 20m | Economy |
| Qatar Airways | QR | 7h 20m | Economy |
| Singapore Airlines | SQ | 7h 20m | Economy |
| Air Canada | AC | 7h 20m | Economy |
| Cathay Pacific | CX | 7h 20m | Economy |
10 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly LHR→JFK
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
London to New York FAQs
Direct flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK (JFK) take approximately 7h 20m for the 5540 km journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from £239. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
10 carriers operate direct service from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK (JFK): British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, United, Delta and 5 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — British Airways typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
UK passport holders generally do not need a visa for short stays in United States (Schengen-area members allow 90 days in any 180-day window). ETIAS pre-authorisation will apply once live for European destinations. Always check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/united-states before booking.
New York JFK (JFK) is the primary international airport for New York. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus or taxi, depending on traffic and time of day. Most European hub airports sit 10–25 km from their host city centre. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.