What is the cheapest month to fly to New York?

Usually January or February, after the holiday rush and before spring break. Hotels are also at their cheapest then, though the weather is cold.

Which is cheaper to fly into: JFK, LaGuardia or Newark?

It depends on the route and the day. All three compete for the same travelers, so compare them together and add the cost of getting into the city before you decide.

What is the most expensive time to fly to New York?

The holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's, especially the days before Christmas and New Year's Eve. Spring break and peak summer weekends are also expensive.

What is the best time to visit New York?

Late April to early June and September to October offer mild weather and fewer crowds than summer or the holidays, at moderate prices.

Cheapest Time to Fly to New York (and the Best Months to Go)

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New York City is one of the busiest air travel markets in the country, with three major airports and nonstop flights from almost every US city. That competition helps keep fares reasonable, but prices still swing a lot through the year. The biggest factor is not the weather: it is the calendar of holidays, school breaks and big events that bring millions of visitors to the city.

New York flight prices, month by month

Fares change every day, so treat this as a guide to the pattern rather than a price list. Check live fares on the route pages below before you book.

January and February: the cheapest months

Once the holiday crowds go home, demand for New York drops sharply. Flights are often at their lowest of the year, and hotels, which are usually the biggest cost of a New York trip, are at their cheapest too. The tradeoff is the weather: it is cold, often windy, and snow is possible. If you do not mind bundling up, this is the time to see Broadway, the museums and the restaurants without the crowds. Many restaurants join NYC Restaurant Week in winter, offering set menus at fixed prices. Check the dates for your year.

Avoid the long weekends around Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents' Day, when prices rise for a few days.

March and April: spring break pushes prices up

Prices climb in March as the weather starts to warm and school spring breaks begin. Easter week is often busy too. Late April is a nice sweet spot: the parks bloom, days get longer and the summer crowds have not arrived yet.

May and June: great weather, rising prices

Late spring is one of the best times to be in New York. It is warm but not yet humid, and the city's parks and rooftop bars come alive. Flights usually cost more than in winter, but less than at the summer and holiday peaks. Memorial Day weekend and the end of June, around school vacations, are the busiest dates.

July and August: hot and busy

Summer is a popular time for families, so flights to New York stay in demand. The city is hot and humid, and some locals leave on weekends. There are lots of free outdoor events, such as concerts, movies in the parks and Shakespeare in the Park. Late August, when families get ready for school, can bring better fares. The US Open tennis tournament at the end of August and early September draws extra visitors to Queens.

September and October: a favorite season

Early fall is many New Yorkers' favorite time of year: mild temperatures, clear skies and the start of the cultural season. Flight prices are often moderate, though hotels can be very busy in September, especially during the week of the United Nations General Assembly, when the area around Midtown East fills with delegations. Book early if your dates fall then. October brings fall colors in Central Park and Halloween events, including the famous Village Halloween Parade.

November and December: the holiday peak

The holiday season is New York at its most magical, and its most expensive. The NYC Marathon in early November, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, the holiday windows on Fifth Avenue and New Year's Eve in Times Square all bring huge crowds. Flights and hotels rise steadily from Thanksgiving to New Year's, with the days just before Christmas and New Year's Eve among the priciest of the year.

If you want to see the holiday lights for less, go in the first week or two of December, and fly on a weekday. Our Thanksgiving travel tips cover how to handle the busiest travel days.

Which New York airport should you fly into?

New York has three big airports, and they compete for the same travelers. Always compare all three, because the cheapest one changes from route to route and day to day.

JFK (John F. Kennedy International) in Queens is the biggest, with the most international flights and many long-haul domestic routes from the West Coast. The AirTrain connects it to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road.
LaGuardia (LGA), also in Queens, is the closest to Manhattan and mostly serves domestic flights. It has no rail link, so you will take a bus, taxi or rideshare into the city.
Newark Liberty (EWR) is in New Jersey, but it is a major NYC airport. The AirTrain connects to trains that run to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan, which can be quicker than driving.

Smaller airports such as Westchester (HPN) and Long Island MacArthur (ISP) sometimes have fares worth a look, especially if you are staying outside Manhattan. Remember to add the cost and time of getting into the city when you compare.

If you land late at night or travel with lots of luggage, a pre-booked airport transfer saves you from the taxi line. Otherwise, public transit is usually the cheapest way in.

Compare flights to New York from your city

New York is served nonstop from most big US cities. Check live fares for your route:

How to save on flights to New York

Be flexible with your days

Midweek flights, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, are often cheaper than Fridays and Sundays, when weekend travelers fly. Our guide to the cheapest day to fly explains why.

Book at the right time

For domestic flights, booking roughly one to three months ahead often gives a good balance of price and choice. For holiday dates, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve, book earlier, because the cheapest seats go first. More tips are in our guide on how to find cheap flights.

Search all airports at once

Searching "New York" instead of a single airport shows JFK, LaGuardia and Newark together. A cheaper fare into a different airport can easily make up for a slightly longer ride into the city.

Watch the bags

Basic economy and budget fares often charge extra for carry-on or checked bags. Compare the total price with bags before you pick the cheapest-looking fare.

How to save on the rest of your trip

Hotels are the biggest cost

In New York, a hotel often costs more than the flight. Prices follow the same seasons as flights, so a cheap-flight month usually means cheaper rooms too. Staying outside Midtown, in neighborhoods like Long Island City in Queens, Downtown Brooklyn or Jersey City across the Hudson, can bring prices down while keeping you a short subway or train ride from Manhattan. Compare hotels in New York.

Skip the car

You do not need a car in New York. Parking is very expensive and the subway runs around the clock. Tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile to pay. Only rent a car if you are heading out of the city, for example to the Hudson Valley or the beaches of Long Island, and pick it up on the day you leave: compare car rental in New York.

Enjoy the free stuff

Some of New York's best experiences cost nothing: walking the Brooklyn Bridge, riding the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty, exploring Central Park and the High Line, and visiting museums on their free or pay-what-you-wish days. See our full list of free things to do in New York. For paid attractions such as observation decks and museums, you can book New York tickets online, and see more ideas on our New York things to do page.

The bottom line

If price is all that matters, fly to New York in January or February and pack a warm coat. For pleasant weather at fair prices, go in late April to early June or September to October. Avoid the holiday stretch from Thanksgiving to New Year's, spring break and peak summer weekends unless those events are the reason for your trip. Whenever you go, compare all three airports and stay flexible with your days.

Search cheap flights to New York

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest month to fly to New York?: Usually January or February, after the holiday rush and before spring break. Hotels are also at their cheapest then, though the weather is cold.
Which is cheaper to fly into: JFK, LaGuardia or Newark?: It depends on the route and the day. All three compete for the same travelers, so compare them together and add the cost of getting into the city before you decide.
What is the most expensive time to fly to New York?: The holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's, especially the days before Christmas and New Year's Eve. Spring break and peak summer weekends are also expensive.
What is the best time to visit New York?: Late April to early June and September to October offer mild weather and fewer crowds than summer or the holidays, at moderate prices.