NYC → LAX

Cheap Flights from New York to Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · 2,475 miles · nonstop from JFK and Newark (EWR)

5h 45m nonstop From $117 2,475 mi Cheapest in January

Lowest fare found via Travelpayouts for travel around Aug 26 · prices update daily.

$117

Lowest fare

live, one-way

$199

Average fare

one-way

5h 45m

Nonstop time

2,475 mi

Jan

Cheapest month

~$181

What cheap flights to Los Angeles actually cost

At an average of $199 one-way over 2,475 miles, Los Angeles works out to 8.0¢ per mile — unusually good value for the distance, cheaper per mile than 76% of the US destinations we track. By headline fare it is the 45th cheapest of our 50 US destinations.

Across a full year, modelled one-way fares to Los Angeles range from about $181 in January to roughly $239 in August — a $58 swing, or about 29% around the $203 annual average. Peak demand months for this route are June, July, August, which is when both fares and hotel rates run highest. If your dates are flexible, moving a trip out of August and into January is worth more than almost any booking trick.

Month-by-month fares: New York to Los Angeles

$181

Jan

$192

Feb

$192

Mar

$202

Apr

$181

May

$239

Jun

$239

Jul

$239

Aug

$181

Sep

$202

Oct

$192

Nov

$192

Dec

* Modelled from this route's $199 historical average and its peak-demand months (Jun, Jul, Aug), scaled by haul length. Not a live quote — the search box above returns current fares.

About Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles spreads from the Pacific beaches of Santa Monica to the Hollywood Hills and downtown's arts district. It's a transcontinental staple for NYC flyers chasing sun, studios, and surf.

Five and three-quarter hours westbound, and the red-eye back east is where this route earns its reputation: leave LA near midnight, land at JFK mid-morning. Delta, American, United and JetBlue all fly JFK-LAX nonstop, and it's one of the most premium-heavy routes in the country, so lie-flat seats are common up front. EWR-LAX is United territory. Summer is the value window here, oddly, since winter holidays and spring awards season push fares up. Book six to eight weeks ahead. The three-hour time drop means afternoon departures land in daylight if you'd rather skip the overnight.

Top things to do in Los Angeles:

•Griffith Observatory & Hollywood Sign views
•Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach
•Getty Center and LACMA museums

Which NYC airport for Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is 2,475 miles out — beyond LaGuardia's 1,500-mile perimeter rule, which is why you will not find a nonstop from LGA. Compare JFK and Newark (EWR) instead; on a route this long the fare gap between the two is often larger than any bag fee you are trying to avoid.

JFK guide EWR guide

How to get the cheapest fare to Los Angeles

1Book roughly 8-12 weeks ahead — that is the window that fits a 2,475-mile transcontinental route like Los Angeles, not the generic "book on a Tuesday" advice.
2Search JFK and Newark (EWR) separately. LaGuardia cannot serve this route nonstop, so a LGA-inclusive "all airports" search mostly returns connections.
3Target January (modelled around $181) and avoid August (around $239) if your dates can move.
4Red-eyes back from Los Angeles are usually the cheapest departure bank of the day, and on a 5h 45m sector you get a genuine night of sleep out of it.
5If you are comparing a $129 ultra-low-cost fare against a $199 mainline one, add the bag and seat fees first — on this route that gap usually closes to under $20.
6Set a price alert rather than watching manually. This route's modelled swing is $58 across the year, so the drops are worth catching.

Need a place to stay in Los Angeles?

Once your flight's sorted, it's worth comparing hotels and short stays early — the best-located rooms tend to book up first. Takes a minute to see what's available for your dates.

Search hotels for your trip

Sorted a ride in Los Angeles from the airport?

Booking an airport transfer ahead of time means a driver's waiting when you land — no taxi queue or surge pricing after a long flight. Worth comparing a fixed-price pickup for your arrival.

Compare airport transfers

Planning what to do in Los Angeles?

The popular museums, tours, and attractions often sell out on peak days — it's worth booking skip-the-line tickets before you go so your trip isn't spent waiting in queues.

Find things to do

FAQ: flights from NYC to Los Angeles

One-way fares to Los Angeles average about $199, with the cheapest tickets landing near $135 and round trips typically running $398-$498. Across the year our modelled fares move between $181 in January and $239 in August, averaging $203. That makes Los Angeles the 45th cheapest of the 50 US destinations we track from New York.

Aim for 8-12 weeks ahead. Los Angeles is 2,475 miles from New York, and booking windows scale with distance — short hops reward booking late, long hauls punish it. Booking inside two weeks on this route usually means paying close to the August peak of $239 regardless of when you actually travel.

January, at a modelled $181 one-way. The most expensive is August at around $239. Peak season for this route is June, July, August, so the shoulder weeks either side of those months are usually the sweet spot for fare and weather together.

A nonstop takes about 5h 45m covering 2,475 miles, departing from JFK and Newark (EWR). Connecting itineraries typically add two to four hours depending on the hub.

Los Angeles spreads from the Pacific beaches of Santa Monica to the Hollywood Hills and downtown's arts district. It's a transcontinental staple for NYC flyers chasing sun, studios, and surf. Travellers from New York most often build a trip around Griffith Observatory & Hollywood Sign views, Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach, Getty Center and LACMA museums.