Short Trips to New York

Ever thought of a short trip or weekend break in the Big Apple? A Nano Trip to New York City is not as crazy as it sounds with plenty of flights from London airports making it possible for you to enjoy one of the world’s greatest cities without having to take any time off (although we don’t recommend booking an important meet at 9am on Monday morning!).
This is one of our more extreme Nano Breaks but with so much to do in NYC you could easily come back time and time again. Travel to New York for a short shopping break; a theatre trip taking in a show on Broadway; explore the many world-class museums or just visit a selection of the many famous landmarks. Attend one of the many sports events regularly held within the city (basketball, boxing, baseball, tennis) or hang out in a particular neighbourhood for the weekend. This is a city that offers so much that you won’t cover everything in a couple of days.

How Does a NanoTrip to New York work?

There are many airlines and transatlantic connections to/from NYC that make a one-night break to New York possible. You will have to fly back overnight on the return flight leaving late in the evening and arriving early next morning back in the UK. How early depends on your time off but certain direct flights arrive into the UK before 7am making it possible to get to work in central London at 9am. The tradeoff is that you spend less time in New York having to leave early in the evening. New York’s airports boast some very late-night departures back to the UK getting you back mid-morning.

London Heathrow is your best option for direct flights getting you into NYC before midday. While some airlines get in before 11am there are a good number of flight options after that don’t fully hit that NanoTrip eleven o’clock rule, we think this should be one of the times to flex our criteria!

Which Airport in New York to Choose From?

New York has three main airports surrounding the city. John F. Kennedy International or JFK for short is based out in the borough of Queens and is the busiest and perhaps best-known arrival point serving NYC. Airlines such as British Airways, American Airlines, Delta, Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue operate from this airport.

Newark Liberty International (EWR) is the other major airport to consider for your short break to New York. This airport is located in the state of New Jersey, but this should not put you off as it is only nine miles southwest of lower Manhattan and is a major hub for United Airlines.

LaGuardia is the third of the major airports in the New York area. It primarily caters for domestic flights within the US. So, unless you see an incredible indirect flight deal that is a price you cannot refuse, we would not recommend this option. Flying in and out of different NY airports should be considered though to maximise your time in the city and get the best price.

Weekend Breaks to New York from London

London Heathrow is your best option for New York short break flights. The earliest flight out in the morning is with JetBlue just before 7:30am. This flight usually gets into JFK before 11am. Do check slightly later flights with United (into EWR) and British Airways which should get you arriving before midday.

There are plenty of return options with Virgin Atlantic another airline to consider on top of those mentioned above. Virgin, BA, American and United all have flights arriving back at LHR before 7am. The downside to these flights is they depart around 6pm which eats into your time in the Big Apple. The latest direct flight out is with British Airways leaving just after midnight giving you pretty much a full second day in New York. United have flights from EWR just before midnight. These later flights get you back into the UK just after 11am.

London Gatwick has options with JetBlue and Norse Atlantic but flights depart mid morning and lunchtime so give you less time on the first day. Do consider these airlines for your return flight back to the UK if you can be flexible in flying back into a different London airport.

New York Main Image by Ryan McGuire
Image of JFK Airport by mindconcepts