Browse and Book

September is the cheapest month to fly to North America from Europe, with average round-trip fares falling to around $470. January, May, and October are also strong value months — typically 15–25% cheaper than the annual average. Avoid July, August, and December when fares peak. Book 3–5 months ahead for the best prices on transatlantic and transpacific routes.

The cheapest flights from North America to Europe typically depart from New York (JFK/EWR), Boston, or Philadelphia — the closest major US cities to European destinations. Budget-friendly options include Aer Lingus (JFK to Dublin from ~$299 one-way when booked early), Icelandair (with a free Iceland stopover), and PLAY Airlines, which connects US East Coast cities via Reykjavik. Off-peak months of January, February, September, and October offer the lowest transatlantic fares. Setting fare alerts on Triwize is recommended for catching sale fares.

The shortest flight from North America to Europe is from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, to London or Dublin — approximately 4 hours 30 minutes. However, this route is served by limited carriers and via seasonal service. More practically, the shortest widely available transatlantic route is New York JFK to Dublin (Aer Lingus, approximately 6 hours) or New York JFK to London Heathrow (British Airways/American, approximately 6 hours 50 minutes westbound, 7 hours eastbound). From Boston to Dublin, Aer Lingus flights take approximately 5 hours 40 minutes.

Aer Lingus operates nonstop flights to North America from Dublin (DUB) to New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA), and Toronto (YYZ), among other destinations. A major advantage of Aer Lingus transatlantic routes is US pre-clearance at Dublin Airport — passengers clear US Customs and Immigration before departure, arriving into the US as domestic passengers. Aer Lingus is a Oneworld associate and offers competitive transatlantic economy fares, particularly when booked 3–6 months in advance. Fares from Dublin to New York typically start from EUR 199 one-way in economy.

Air India operates nonstop flights from India to North America into New York (JFK and EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Chicago (ORD), Toronto (YYZ), and Vancouver (YVR). These are among the longest nonstop commercial routes in the world, with Delhi to San Francisco taking approximately 15 hours 30 minutes nonstop. Air India is a Star Alliance member, allowing frequent flyer mileage accrual across the alliance. Following its privatisation and fleet renewal under Tata Group ownership, Air India's product and reliability have improved significantly. Fares from India to North America typically start from around $600–$900 round-trip when booked in advance.

Flight times from Australia to North America vary depending on the origin and destination. Sydney (SYD) to Los Angeles (LAX) nonstop takes approximately 13 hours 30 minutes southbound and 15 hours 30 minutes northbound (against prevailing winds). Melbourne to Los Angeles is approximately 16 hours nonstop. Sydney to New York with one stop (typically via LAX or Auckland) takes approximately 20–22 hours total. Qantas and United operate nonstop Sydney–LAX service; Air New Zealand connects Australia to North America via Auckland. A Sydney–New York nonstop route (Project Sunrise) is planned by Qantas for 2025–2026.

British Airways operates one of the most extensive transatlantic networks in the world, with nonstop flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA), Boston (BOS), Dallas (DFW), Seattle (SEA), Toronto (YYZ), and Vancouver (YVR), among others. British Airways is a Oneworld member and partners closely with American Airlines on transatlantic routes. BA's Club World business class and Club Suite (on newer aircraft) are popular with premium transatlantic travellers. Economy fares from London to New York typically start from around GBP 299–450 return when booked in advance.

In addition to its extensive US network, British Airways flies from London Heathrow to Canadian cities including Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. BA operates both Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft on North American routes. Passengers benefit from British Airways' Executive Club (Avios) loyalty programme, codeshares with American Airlines and Iberia, and the option of collecting Avios on partner airlines. British Airways is consistently one of the top-capacity transatlantic carriers by seat count.

Cathay Pacific operates nonstop flights from Hong Kong (HKG) to New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Vancouver (YVR). Cathay Pacific was rated the world's best airline economy class in 2025 by Skytrax and consistently ranks among the top carriers globally. Flight time from Hong Kong to Los Angeles is approximately 12 hours; to New York is approximately 16 hours nonstop. Cathay is a Oneworld member with strong connections across Asia and Australia. Its Marco Polo Club loyalty programme partners with American Airlines AAdvantage, allowing US-based frequent flyers to earn miles on Cathay Pacific flights.

The cheapest flights to North America from Europe are typically found on Aer Lingus, Icelandair, PLAY Airlines, and Norse Atlantic Airways, which operate budget-focused transatlantic services. From Asia-Pacific, budget options are limited on long-haul routes, but AirAsia X and Philippine Airlines occasionally offer competitive fares into Los Angeles. The best strategy for cheap flights to North America is to: book 3–5 months ahead; travel in September, January, or May; depart mid-week (Tuesday or Wednesday); and set fare alerts on Triwize for your route.