Flights to New York City: information and bookings
With three airports in the list of top 20 US international passenger hubs, New York City has plenty of flight options. And more flights and airlines means more competition and cheap airfares.
Which airlines offer flights to New York City?
Flights to New York from Australia
Qantas flies direct from Sydney to New York, with a stopover in Los Angeles 5 times a week. Or you can fly Qantas to Los Angeles from Brisbane or Melbourne and get connections to New York. Qantas offers some code share flights with American Airlines. United Airlines operate a number of flights to New York from Melbourne and Sydney each week.
Flights to New York from around the world
New York is a major transport hub and most major airlines offer flights to New York from London, Paris, and other European cities, as well as Asian cities like Beijing and Tokyo. Airlines servicing New York include Aerolineas, Air Canada, Air France, , British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Korean Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, South African Airlines, and Thai Airways.
What are the major airports in NYC?
Depending whether you're on a domestic or international flight, and who your airline is, you'll probably end up at John F. Kennedy (JFK), La Guardia or Newark airports.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
With 9 different terminals, JFK is the busiest international gateway in the US and the one you'll most likely be flying into from Australia. It handles a lot of international flights as well as some domestic flights, especially to the west coast. JFK is located in Queens and various transport options are available including taxis, buses, shuttles, limousines and the AirTrain. The AirTrain links to JFK from Howard Beach and Jamaica stations and costs around $5 per ride; it's one of the most convenient ways to get to JFK from the city.
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
LaGuardia is located in Queens about 8 miles (13km) from the centre of Manhattan. It primarily serves domestic US and Canadian flights. A number of express buses and shuttles run between La Guardia and Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island. And of course, you can always catch a New York cab.
Newark International Airport (EWR)
Newark Liberty International Airport is located in New Jersey, around 15 miles (24 km) from New York City and is the second busiest airport in NYC. Get to and from Newark by bus, taxi, limousine and shuttle service, or AirTrain link. You can use the AirTrain link within Newark Airport which is free, but if you want to connect to the AirTrain at Newark International Airport train station you'll need to buy an NJ Transit or Amtrak ticket.
What's the best time to fly to New York
You've seen New York City, even if you've never physically been there. New York has been the backdrop for so many films, TV shows, and permeates so much of popular culture that when you take your first walk through Times Square you'll feel like you've done it a thousand times already.
It sounds trite, but as the city that never sleeps, any time is a good time to visit New York. The major holidays - Christmas and thanksgiving - offer a host of entertainment and festivals, and spending New Year's Eve in NYC is one of those things you've got to do at least once in your life. The Christmas-New Year's holiday period is also a great time to enjoy the colder pursuits in NYC, like ice skating at the Rockefeller Centre or Central Park. But remember to pack your gloves and beanie, as it gets very cold in December-January.
For more info, check out the New York travel guide.
