The flight lasts about 8 hours and does not stop. It is about 3,450 miles between the two cities, and that distance determines almost everything else, such as which airport you fly from and what time you land. How are the airports different? Why does the flight home feel shorter? What does that five-hour time difference really do to your body when you get home?
In General, How Long Does It Take to Fly from London to New York?
Different flights take different amounts of time. It depends on the type of plane, the wind, and the airport you are flying from. The number can change more often than people think.
Most direct flights take between 7 hours 30 minutes and 8 hours 20 minutes. This is the average nonstop flight time. When making plans, airlines allow some extra time in case of headwinds, so the time shown on your ticket is usually a little longer than the actual time the plane spends in the air.
Both Heathrow and Gatwick have direct flights that usually arrive within 15 minutes of each other. Stansted is a different story.
There is no easy way to get there. A lot of people think all London airports work in the same way on this route, but they do not.
No matter which airport you choose, making parking plans early is a good idea. You can compare Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted parking prices next to each other on Ezybook instead of checking each airport separately. This is more important than it sounds when you are booking flights and transport at the same time.
How Long Does It Take to Fly Back from New York to London?
Most days, the flight northbound can be 30 to 60 minutes faster than the westbound journey. It is not always guaranteed because the weather changes, but it is likely enough that you can plan your day around it if you are short on time at either end.
In February 2020, during Storm Ciara, this became especially noticeable when a British Airways 747 flew from New York to London in 4 hours and 56 minutes. This was the fastest subsonic crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by a commercial aeroplane. At cruising altitude that day, jet stream winds reached more than 200 miles per hour. This shows how much wind can affect the flight time.
Does the Plane or Airline Change the Flight Time?
The differences are not as large as most people might think before looking into them.
The Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, which are among the planes used on this route, travel at fairly similar speeds. When you are sitting in economy, there is not much difference between them. In still air, a typical jet airliner flies between 590 and 650 miles per hour. On this route, there are not many major differences between aircraft types.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and American Airlines have some of the quickest scheduled times. All three offer plenty of direct flights with block times that are close together, usually around 7 to 8 hours depending on the direction. If you really care about saving a few minutes, the wind and direction matter more than the airline name on the plane.
When Are You Going to Get to New York?
It is more important than people think to work out what time you will arrive, especially on a flight this long.
Britain is five hours ahead of New York. If you leave Heathrow early in the afternoon, you can arrive in New York at around 3 p.m., not 8 p.m.
Getting over jet lag when you arrive is another thing to consider. It is generally easier for your body to adjust when flying west than east because you gain hours instead of losing them. Getting some sunlight as soon as you land can help your body clock reset faster than staying indoors. Even if you are tired, staying awake until the normal bedtime in your new location tends to make the first night easier than taking an early nap.
How you get from the airport to the city is also something you should think about before you land. You can take the bus to get around, but if you have a lot of luggage, a meeting to attend, or simply want to avoid waiting in a queue, renting a luxury car can save you an hour of trouble. If you book ahead of time, the car will be waiting for you when you arrive.
It is also a good idea to drink less caffeine in the evening.
Direct Flights vs. Flights That Connect
There are times when you cannot get a direct flight on the dates you want. Or perhaps a direct flight is not the best choice. That is where connecting flights come in.
Popular Layover Cities and Extra Hours
Depending on the layover, travelling through Dublin, Amsterdam, or Paris can add 11 to 13 hours to the total travel time. This is considerably longer than the direct route, which takes about 8 hours. If time is important to your trip, this is not a choice to make lightly.
When Is It Still Worth Connecting?
Connections are not always the worst option. An extra few hours in Dublin or Amsterdam is not the end of the world if you have free time at either end of the trip. Price or speed? That is really what it comes down to. On this route, you do not often get both at the same time.
Things You Need to Do Before Your Flight from London to New York
An 8-hour journey is long enough that a little preparation on the ground can make the day much easier. Allow enough time to get to the airport so you do not have to rush through security. Different times of the day and year can cause queues to form at Heathrow and Gatwick.
It is also a good idea to book your airport parking ahead of time instead of waiting until the morning of your flight. This is where Ezybook & Holiday Extras can be useful.
It brings together prices from different airport parking companies, allowing you to compare meet and greet, park and ride, and on-site parking at the same time instead of checking several websites. Most of the time, spending a few minutes comparing options can be cheaper than paying when you arrive.
in London.