Cheap Flights from New York to London: Routes, Airlines, and Fare Guide
How to find the cheapest flights from New York to London — which airports and airlines to compare, when to book, typical fares by season, and practical tips for saving money.
New York to London is one of the most competitive airline routes in the world. Multiple airports on both ends, a dozen airlines competing, and a mix of legacy carriers, joint ventures, and budget options. That competition keeps fares reasonable — but the range between the cheapest and most expensive option on any given day can be $300+.
The airports: which combination is cheapest?
New York side
- JFK: Most transatlantic flights depart from here. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, JetBlue, American, Delta, and others.
- EWR (Newark): United’s hub. Strong transatlantic service, particularly to Heathrow.
London side
- Heathrow (LHR): Where most legacy carriers land. Best transport links to central London.
- Gatwick (LGW): Norwegian, Norse Atlantic, and some budget options. Further from central London.
- Stansted (STN): No transatlantic service currently.
The cheapest combination varies by date. JFK-LHR is the most popular pairing, but EWR-LHR can be $50-100 cheaper on the same dates (United’s hub competition). JFK-LGW on budget carriers can be cheaper still, but factor in the extra ground transport cost and time to reach central London.
Airlines on the route
Full-service carriers
| Airline | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | JFK-LHR, EWR-LHR | Multiple daily frequencies. Joint venture with American. Club World business class. |
| Virgin Atlantic | JFK-LHR | Upper Class business class. Strong premium economy product. |
| American Airlines | JFK-LHR | Joint venture with BA. Shares inventory on many flights. |
| United | EWR-LHR | Multiple daily flights from Newark. Polaris business class. |
| Delta | JFK-LHR | Daily service. Delta One business class. |
Budget-friendly options
| Airline | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JetBlue | JFK-LHR, JFK-LGW | Competitive economy fares. Mint business class at 30-40% below legacy carriers. |
| Norse Atlantic | JFK-LGW | Budget long-haul. Basic fares from $150 one-way (no bags, no frills). |
| Icelandair | JFK-KEF-LHR | Connects through Reykjavik. Often cheapest if you don’t mind the stop. Free Iceland stopover option. |
| Aer Lingus | JFK-DUB-LHR | Connects through Dublin. US preclearance in Dublin. |
| TAP Portugal | JFK-LIS-LHR | Connects through Lisbon. Some of the cheapest transatlantic fares. |
What fares actually look like
Based on typical published fare patterns for JFK-LHR round trip:
| Season | Economy | Premium economy | Business class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak (Jun-Aug) | $600-1,000 | $1,200-2,000 | $3,500-6,000 |
| Shoulder (Apr-May, Sep-Oct) | $350-600 | $800-1,400 | $2,500-4,000 |
| Off-peak (Jan-Mar, Nov) | $280-450 | $600-1,000 | $2,000-3,500 |
Budget carriers (Norse Atlantic, connecting options) can go as low as $150-250 one-way in off-peak, but these are basic fares — no checked bag, no seat selection, minimal service.
When to book
6-10 weeks before departure is the sweet spot for this route. The JFK-London market is so competitive that airlines open discount fare classes relatively early to capture demand.
For summer travel: Book 3-4 months ahead. Cheap fare classes sell out fast for June-August departures.
For holiday travel (Christmas, Thanksgiving): Book 4-5 months ahead.
For off-peak travel (January-March): You can book as late as 3-4 weeks out and still find reasonable fares, though the cheapest classes may be gone.
How to get the cheapest fare
Compare all airport pairs. Check JFK-LHR, JFK-LGW, EWR-LHR on the same dates. The cheapest option shifts daily.
JetBlue has changed the game. Since entering transatlantic service, JetBlue has consistently offered economy fares 10-20% below legacy carriers on JFK-London routes. Their Mint business class (lie-flat suites) starts at $1,500 one-way — roughly half what BA or Virgin charge for business.
Consider connecting flights. Icelandair (via Reykjavik), TAP (via Lisbon), or Aer Lingus (via Dublin) often come in $100-200 below nonstop options. The connection adds 2-4 hours but the savings can be significant.
Fly midweek. Tuesday-Thursday departures are typically 10-20% cheaper than weekend departures.
One-way fares can be cheaper. Book a one-way on a budget carrier outbound and a one-way on a legacy carrier returning. Mix and match to optimize both price and comfort.
Don’t assume basic economy is worth it. On a 7-hour flight, basic economy (no seat choice, last to board, often no carry-on) saves maybe $30-50 over regular economy. The discomfort-to-savings ratio is poor on long-haul.
Entry requirements
- US citizens flying to UK: No visa needed for stays up to 6 months. ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) required.
- UK citizens flying to US: ESTA required, valid for 2 years.
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