How long is the LA to New York red-eye?

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 LA 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 LA to New York red-eye?

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

Don’t show up to the morning meeting wrecked.

Searching for jet lag tips on the LA to New York red-eye? You’re in the right place. Five hours east through the night. Lands at dawn JFK, three hours ahead of your body. Steadway walks you through.

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Why the LA to New York red-eye is 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 LAX to JFK red-eye

Sleep right away. Continue sleeping at the hotel.

Steadway treats the LA to New York red-eye as one sleep block, not two. Wheels up equals sleep. No waiting for level-off, no waiting for service. The path includes the days before: bank sleep, wake very early, no nap. On the plane: sleep right at takeoff. After landing: continue sleeping at the hotel until natural wake. The morning is yours then. Drawn from traveler craft and peer-reviewed sleep and circadian research.

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. The night before. The day of. The flight. The continued hotel sleep. The morning you actually wanted.

Plan your LA to New York red-eye

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 LAX, SFO, or west coast to JFK, EWR, or LGA red-eye, plus the other direction and other demanding flights.

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Common questions

About the LA to New York red-eye.

How long is the LA to New York red-eye?: 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 LA 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 LA to New York red-eye?: 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.