Cheapest Flights from New York City: JFK, LGA & EWR Guide

New York's three airports serve different carriers and different markets. Knowing which one to check first for your route saves time and often money.

JFK is the best airport for international flights and JetBlue's main hub. For Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America routes, JFK typically has the most competition and the lowest base fares. Delta and American also operate heavily here. Access: AirTrain + LIRR or subway (A train to Howard Beach) — budget 60–90 minutes from Midtown.

Newark (EWR) is United's major East Coast hub and often undercuts JFK on transatlantic routes. EWR–London Heathrow on United can run $100–$200 cheaper than JFK–LHR on the same dates. For domestic flights west of Chicago, United's EWR connections are strong. Access: NJ Transit train from Penn Station, 30 minutes, $13.

LaGuardia (LGA) is the domestic-only airport — no international flights. It's closest to Manhattan (20–40 minutes by car) and best for quick domestic hops on Delta and American. For short-haul domestic travel, LGA's proximity often offsets any price difference versus JFK or EWR.

Fort Lauderdale / Miami (FLL / MIA) from JFK or EWR: Spirit flies JFK–FLL constantly — base fares often start under $49 one-way on off-peak dates. JetBlue and American compete on MIA from JFK, keeping fares around $89–$139 one-way outside peak season.

Orlando (MCO) from JFK, LGA or EWR: One of the most competitive routes in the US. Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue, and Delta all compete. Off-peak one-way fares from $49–$79 are common. Avoid school holidays — prices triple.

Cancun (CUN) from JFK: JetBlue's focus city status at JFK means strong Cancun pricing year-round. Off-peak fares from around $159–$199 one-way; shoulder season (May, September, October) can drop to $129–$149.

London (LHR / LGW) from JFK or EWR: Transatlantic fares are soft outside summer. Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Delta, and United all compete on JFK–LHR. Off-peak one-way fares from around $279–$399; November through March regularly sees sales under $350 round-trip.

San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) from JFK: JetBlue dominates and prices competitively — $129–$179 one-way in off-peak periods. No passport, US domestic pricing effectively. One of the best value warm-weather routes from NYC.

Check EWR for Europe before assuming JFK is cheapest. United's hub strength at Newark means transatlantic fares are regularly $80–$150 cheaper from EWR than JFK on the same travel dates. Always check both.

JetBlue's Mint business class sales are worth watching. JetBlue regularly discounts Mint (lie-flat seats) on transcontinental routes — JFK to LAX, SFO, and SEA. Mint sales at $299–$399 one-way deliver a full business-class product at economy-adjacent prices. Sign up for JetBlue email alerts specifically.

Spirit from JFK to Florida requires a total price check. Spirit's base fares are real, but a carry-on bag added at booking runs $42–$69. A family of four adds $168–$276 in bag fees before you've left the house. Compare the Spirit total against JetBlue's all-in price — JetBlue is often within $20–$30 once bags are factored.

Tuesday and Wednesday departures are consistently cheapest. JFK and EWR are heavy business-travel airports — Monday and Friday see the highest demand. Tuesday through Thursday departures typically run 15–25% cheaper on domestic routes.

New York's flight pricing follows a clear seasonal pattern. Late January through March (excluding spring break weeks) is the cheapest window for most routes — post-holiday, pre-spring demand. Transatlantic fares hit annual lows in January and February.

September and October are the second-best window. Summer demand has ended, schools are back, and airlines fill seats with lower fares. Europe in September from JFK/EWR is particularly good value — fares can run 30–40% below their June/July peaks.

Avoid June 15–August 31 for anything involving Europe or the Caribbean. Summer is peak season for both. Transatlantic round-trips that cost $500–$700 in April routinely hit $1,200–$1,600 in July. If summer travel is unavoidable, book in January or February for the best prices.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two most expensive domestic windows. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 25) and December 22–26 are the most demand-concentrated days of the US domestic calendar. For these periods, book 3–4 months ahead or prices will be significantly higher.