How long is the Los Angeles to New York flight?

About five to five and a half hours. The flight is eastbound, so the jet stream helps. The return trip from New York to LA runs about an hour longer.

What's the time difference between Los Angeles and New York?

Three hours. New York is three hours ahead of LA. When you take off at 10pm LA, it's already 1am New York. When you land at 6am New York, your body thinks it's 3am.

Will I sleep on the Los Angeles to New York flight?

Yes, if you prep right. Bank sleep the night before. Don't nap the day of the flight. Sleep wheels-up; no waiting for service or level-off. You'll get three to four hours on the plane and continue sleeping at the hotel.

Should I take a nap before the LA to New York red-eye?

No. The gate has to be the place you're most ready to sleep. Wake at your normal LA hour, then push through the whole day. Board sleep-debted. Drop the moment the safety video ends.

What should I do when I land in New York from a red-eye?

Get to your hotel and continue sleeping until natural wake, usually around 7am New York time. The flight is one sleep block that continues at the hotel. Don't try to start your day immediately at 6am if you don't have to.

What's the best way to handle jet lag flying east to New York?

The red-eye approach is best for the eastward transcon. Sleep on the plane, continue at the hotel, wake into a normal New York morning. If you can't sleep on the plane, plan a slow day. No major meetings before noon if you can help it.

Los Angeles to New York · the red-eye

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Why the Los Angeles to New York red-eye makes you feel rough.

Five hours. Three time zones. A 6am landing into a body that’s at 3am.

Takeoff is 9–10pm LA. You fly through the night, eastbound, jet stream tailwind. Land 5:30–7am JFK. Sounds short. The problem: you’ve slept five hours on a chair, and the workday you flew here for starts at 9am. Most travelers arrive shaky, drink three coffees, then crash at 2pm.

What Steadway does for your Los Angeles to New York flight.

When to wake. When to sleep. When to switch your phone to New York time.

Steadway knows your exact takeoff on the Los Angeles to New York flight. We know when the cabin lights dim, when the meal arrives, and what time you land. The path covers the day before, the five hours in the air, and your first morning in New York. Drawn from traveler craft and peer-reviewed sleep science.

One step from the path

No nap the day of the flight.

On the LA to New York red-eye, the gate has to be the place you’re most ready to sleep. That means no nap during the LA day. None. Wake at 5am California time. Push through the day. Board sleep-debted. Then drop the moment the safety video ends.

That’s one card. The path has the rest, in order, at the right time. The night before. The morning of. The crossing. Your first morning in New York.

Map out your Los Angeles to New York flight.

Tell us your flight. We’ll draw you a path.

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Common questions

About the LA to New York red-eye.

How long is the Los Angeles to New York flight?: About five to five and a half hours. The flight is eastbound, so the jet stream helps. The return trip from New York to LA runs about an hour longer.
What's the time difference between Los Angeles and New York?: Three hours. New York is three hours ahead of LA. When you take off at 10pm LA, it's already 1am New York. When you land at 6am New York, your body thinks it's 3am.
Will I sleep on the Los Angeles to New York flight?: Yes, if you prep right. Bank sleep the night before. Don't nap the day of the flight. Sleep wheels-up; no waiting for service or level-off. You'll get three to four hours on the plane and continue sleeping at the hotel.
Should I take a nap before the LA to New York red-eye?: No. The gate has to be the place you're most ready to sleep. Wake at your normal LA hour, then push through the whole day. Board sleep-debted. Drop the moment the safety video ends.
What should I do when I land in New York from a red-eye?: Get to your hotel and continue sleeping until natural wake, usually around 7am New York time. The flight is one sleep block that continues at the hotel. Don't try to start your day immediately at 6am if you don't have to.
What's the best way to handle jet lag flying east to New York?: The red-eye approach is best for the eastward transcon. Sleep on the plane, continue at the hotel, wake into a normal New York morning. If you can't sleep on the plane, plan a slow day. No major meetings before noon if you can help it.