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Flights from New York to Los Angeles average $220 roundtrip if booked 3-4 weeks out. That's the real cost you'll see on Google Flights, not the inflated $350+ you might find last-minute. Delta and JetBlue often undercut competitors, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Don't get fooled by "cheap" $99 deals—they usually mean connecting flights with 6+ hours in the air. I've seen travelers pay $180 for a direct Delta flight from JFK to LAX with free checked bags, while a United stopover in Chicago added $40 and 2 hours to the journey. Always check baggage fees—American charges $35 for the first bag.
Southwest wins for pure value. Their 30" seat pitch in main cabin beats Delta's 31" on most routes, and they include two free bags. I flew their nonstop from EWR to LAX last month—$165 roundtrip, no hidden fees, and the boarding process was faster than Delta's.
Deltas premium economy is a rip-off at $450 roundtrip. You get slightly more legroom (33") but no free upgrades or priority boarding. American Airlines? Skip it—last year their on-time performance was 68% for this route. I once missed a connecting flight in Dallas because of their delays.
September is the cheapest month for NYC to LAX, with average prices at $145 roundtrip. That's $75 less than July's peak season. I booked my own trip in mid-September last year for $120—just avoided a major storm hitting the East Coast.
Avoid holidays like Thanksgiving (late November) where prices jump 120%. The weekend before Christmas? Don't even think about it—$500+ is standard. Even Tuesday flights can be $30 cheaper than Friday departures. Always check Google Flights' price forecast tool before booking.
JFK is the most convenient for NYC travelers—direct flights to LAX run every hour. But EWR (Newark) often has 15-20% cheaper tickets, like my $150 JetBlue deal last week. The catch? It adds 45 minutes to your travel time just to get to the airport.
LAX is the only airport you should use for LA. Burbank (BUR) is a 20-minute drive away with no direct flights from NYC. I tried booking a flight to BUR once—only United offered it, and the $200 price difference wasn't worth the extra taxi ride to downtown LA.
Southwest's two free bags are a . I've packed a 22-inch suitcase and a carry-on without extra fees for 12 trips now. Delta and American charge $35 for the first checked bag—$70 for two bags means you're paying more than a $100 flight on a budget airline.
Use your credit card for baggage. Chase Sapphire cards give you one free checked bag on Delta. I've saved $70 on two flights using this trick. But never assume—always confirm with the airline. I once paid $25 for a bag that was supposed to be free because the airline's website was outdated.
A: EWR is usually 15-20% cheaper but adds 30 minutes to your airport transit time. For a $200 flight, you save $30 but waste 50 minutes. I'd only choose EWR if you're booking last-minute.
A: LAX is 10 miles from downtown, while Burbank (BUR) is 12 miles. Both require a $25 taxi ride, but LAX has the Metro Green Line to downtown for $1.75. BUR has no public transport options—just taxis or rideshares.
A: Book 21-28 days out. I've seen prices drop from $300 to $160 in that window. Booking earlier than 30 days usually means paying more. Last-minute deals? Only if you're flexible and the flight's under 50% full.
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