How long is the London to New York flight?

About seven and a half to eight hours. The flight is westbound, against the jet stream, so it runs longer than the eastbound return trip from New York to London.

What's the time difference between London and New York?

Five hours. New York is five hours behind London. When you land at 2pm New York time, your body still thinks it's 7pm London time.

Should I sleep on the London to New York flight?

A brief doze early in the flight is fine, but don't pack the full sleepy kit. After the snooze, stay awake. The trick is not the flight; it's pushing through the long arrival evening to a normal New York bedtime.

What's the arrival trap on the London to New York flight?

Your body wants to sleep at 7pm New York time. Resist. If you sleep that early, you wake at 4am the next morning and start day two wrecked. Push to 10pm local. Then sleep through the night.

What's the best way to avoid jet lag flying west to New York?

Let yourself stay up later the night before. Sleep in if you can the morning of. Take a brief snooze early on the plane, then stay awake. Push through the long arrival evening to a normal New York bedtime. Don't nap on arrival day.

What time should I fly from London to New York?

A late morning or early afternoon flight works best. Takeoff 10am to 1pm London, lands New York afternoon, gives you an evening to push through. Cleaner second day.

London to New York · the crossing

Don’t lose the first night in New York.

Searching for jet lag tips on the London to New York flight? You’re in the right place. Steadway walks you through your specific LHR to JFK crossing. The trick is the long arrival evening, not the flight itself.

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Why the London to New York flight is rough

Eight hours. Five time zones back. A 16-hour day.

Takeoff is late morning London. Land mid-afternoon New York. Sounds easy. But your body has been awake since London morning, and you’ve still got an evening to push through. Most travelers crash at 7pm New York time. Then wake at 4am the next morning, ruined for day two.

What Steadway does for your LHR to JFK

When to doze. When to resist. When to call it a night.

Steadway looks at your exact takeoff time on the London to New York crossing. It knows when the cabin lights dim, when the meal arrives, and what time you land in New York. The path covers the day before, the eight hours in the air, and the long arrival evening you have to push through. Drawn from traveler craft and peer-reviewed sleep and circadian research.

One step from the path

A short doze, early. Then awake.

On the London to New York flight, a brief snooze early in the air is fine. You’ve been awake since morning. After that: awake. Eat the meal. Watch a film. Walk the aisle. Don’t pack the full sleepy kit. This is a stay-awake flight, not a sleep-the-flight one.

That’s one card. The path has the rest. The night before. The morning of. The flight. The 16-hour day. The arrival trap at 7pm New York.

Plan your London to New York flight

Tell us your flight. We’ll walk you through.

Steadway is in beta. No account, no payment. Two minutes to set up. Works for any LHR, LGW, or STN to JFK, EWR, or LGA flight, plus the other direction and other demanding routes.

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Common questions

About the London to New York flight.

How long is the London to New York flight?: About seven and a half to eight hours. The flight is westbound, against the jet stream, so it runs longer than the eastbound return trip from New York to London.
What's the time difference between London and New York?: Five hours. New York is five hours behind London. When you land at 2pm New York time, your body still thinks it's 7pm London time.
Should I sleep on the London to New York flight?: A brief doze early in the flight is fine, but don't pack the full sleepy kit. After the snooze, stay awake. The trick is not the flight; it's pushing through the long arrival evening to a normal New York bedtime.
What's the arrival trap on the London to New York flight?: Your body wants to sleep at 7pm New York time. Resist. If you sleep that early, you wake at 4am the next morning and start day two wrecked. Push to 10pm local. Then sleep through the night.
What's the best way to avoid jet lag flying west to New York?: Let yourself stay up later the night before. Sleep in if you can the morning of. Take a brief snooze early on the plane, then stay awake. Push through the long arrival evening to a normal New York bedtime. Don't nap on arrival day.
What time should I fly from London to New York?: A late morning or early afternoon flight works best. Takeoff 10am to 1pm London, lands New York afternoon, gives you an evening to push through. Cleaner second day.