Seattle-Tacoma to New York JFK
2415 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 5h 16m with 4 airlines operating direct service from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to New York JFK (JFK). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $192 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $192). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Seattle-Tacoma
Seattle-Tacoma is Alaska Airlines' principal hub and Delta's growing Pacific Northwest base. The Link Light Rail Red Line runs from the airport's elevated station directly to Westlake in downtown Seattle in 38 minutes for $3.25 — possibly the easiest big-city transfer in the country. International long-haul has expanded sharply post-2023 with new direct service to Tokyo, Seoul, Frankfurt, London Heathrow and Auckland. Weather delays are rare; SEA is one of the most operationally reliable winter airports in the US.
Arriving in New York
New York's John F. Kennedy is 15 miles southeast of Manhattan, with the AirTrain feeding into LIRR at Jamaica or the A train at Howard Beach for total transfer times of 50–75 minutes for $13.75. Domestic fares to JFK peak in November–December (Thanksgiving and Christmas) and again in late June; January through mid-March is consistently the cheapest window. Most of New York's transatlantic capacity routes through JFK rather than LGA or EWR.
Who flies SEA to JFK?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 5h 16m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 5h 16m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 5h 16m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 5h 16m | Economy |
4 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SEA→JFK
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Seattle to New York FAQs
Direct flights from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to New York JFK (JFK) take approximately 5h 16m for the 2415-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
Jun is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $150. Jun is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
4 carriers operate direct service from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to New York JFK (JFK): Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Alaska Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
New York JFK (JFK) is the primary international airport for New York. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.