*One-way pricing. Westbound takes 30-60 min longer due to headwinds.
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New York to Los Angeles is "The Golden Route"—the busiest private jet corridor in America, connecting Wall Street with Hollywood. At 2,454 miles, this transcontinental flight requires Super Midsize or larger aircraft. Westbound flights fight jet stream headwinds, making this leg 30-60 minutes longer than the return. Awards Season (January-March) creates massive surges—book early for Golden Globes, Grammys, and Oscar weeks.
Commercial flights from JFK to LAX involve TSA lines, delays, and the nightmare of LAX traffic. Flying private from Teterboro (TEB)—just 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan—lands you at Van Nuys (VNY), the world's busiest general aviation airport. VNY is often a faster drive to Beverly Hills and Hollywood than LAX. Skip the 8-hour commercial experience for a 6-hour private flight with full productivity.
Light jets cannot make this trip nonstop. Super Midsize jets like the Citation X are the efficiency champions—transcontinental range with stand-up cabin. Heavy Jets like the Gulfstream IV guarantee nonstop range even in winter headwinds with extra cabin width for 6-hour comfort. Ultra Long Range jets like the G650 fly higher and faster, shaving 30-45 minutes off flight time.
Awards Season (January-March) is the busiest period—Golden Globes, Grammys, and Oscars create massive private jet traffic. Ramp space at VNY can sell out during Oscar week. Super Bowl and F1 races in either city also create peak pricing. This route has such high volume that empty legs are almost always available, especially mid-week.
Click any section below for insider tips on flying this route
Located 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan, TEB is the dedicated executive hub for NYC. It's the only sensible choice for private jet departures.
Top FBOs at TEB:
JFK is a commercial airport with long taxi times and airline congestion. Only use JFK if connecting to an international commercial flight. Teterboro is dedicated to private aviation and saves 30-45 minutes on the ground.
Van Nuys is the world's busiest general aviation airport and the standard arrival point for LA private traffic.
Top FBOs at VNY:
LAX is a commercial nightmare with long taxi times and the chaotic "horseshoe" traffic loop. VNY is often a faster drive to Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and Hollywood than LAX—especially during rush hour.
The Jet Stream Factor: Westbound flights (NY→LA) fight prevailing jet stream headwinds, making this leg 30-60 minutes longer than the return trip.
The busiest private jet season for this route:
Super Bowl & F1: When major events are in either city, expect peak pricing and slot restrictions. NYC events (US Open, etc.) create similar surges.
This route has such high demand in both directions that operators often price competitively. They know they can easily find a return charter, reducing the need to charge for an empty return leg. This makes transcontinental travel more affordable than you might expect.
At 2,454 miles, this transcontinental route requires Super Midsize or larger aircraft. Light jets cannot make this trip nonstop—they'd need multiple fuel stops.
Challenger 300/350 or Citation X: The Citation X is the fastest civilian aircraft and can make this trip in under 5.5 hours. Stand-up cabin with transcontinental range.
Gulfstream IV-SP or Falcon 2000: Guaranteed nonstop range in any conditions. For a 6-hour flight, the extra cabin width and large galley make a huge difference.
Gulfstream G550 or G650: Fly higher and faster than almost anything else. A G650 shaves 30-45 minutes off flight time.
A Light Jet like the Phenom 300 cannot fly coast-to-coast nonstop. It would require at least one, possibly two fuel stops—turning a 6-hour flight into an 8+ hour day. Not recommended unless you're on a strict budget and don't mind stopping.
This route has such high volume that empty legs are almost always available in both directions. The key is timing your search right.
The Mid-Week Opportunity:
Unlike seasonal routes, this corridor has constant demand in both directions. Operators are less concerned about empty legs because they know another booking is likely. This "point-to-point" market means:
Peak "executive commuter" times with maximum demand. Empty legs are rare and pricing is at premium rates.
During Golden Globes, Grammys, and Oscar weeks, demand is so high that even empty legs command premium prices. The usual discounts don't apply when every plane is needed.
When you find a true empty leg mid-week:
No. A Light Jet like the Phenom 300 would require at least one, possibly two fuel stops. This turns a 6-hour flight into an 8+ hour ordeal. It's not recommended unless you're on a strict budget and don't mind stopping. Super Midsize or larger is required for nonstop transcontinental travel.
Yes. VNY is often a faster drive to Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and Hollywood than LAX, especially during rush hour. Plus you avoid the chaotic LAX "horseshoe" traffic loop. Most entertainment industry executives and celebrities fly into VNY exclusively.
TEB is dedicated to private jets and is much closer to Manhattan (12 miles vs 15+ miles for JFK). JFK is a commercial airport with long taxi times and airline congestion. Only use JFK if you're connecting to an international commercial flight.
Almost always. On Super Midsize and Heavy jets flying this route, Wi-Fi is standard. However, confirm if it's "domestic" (ground-based, may have gaps over the Rockies) or "international" (satellite, consistent coverage) if you need high-speed streaming for the full 6 hours.
A Heavy Jet like the Gulfstream IV has a massive baggage compartment (169 cubic feet) that's accessible during flight. You can bring 15-20 large suitcases, golf clubs, and even surfboards without issue. Super Midsize jets have smaller but still generous baggage capacity.
Westbound flights fight the prevailing jet stream headwinds, making NY to LA consistently 30-60 minutes longer than the return trip (LA to NY). In severe winter headwinds, some Super Midsize jets may even require a fuel stop. The return trip benefits from tailwinds and is significantly faster.
Understanding private charter costs helps you budget accurately. Here's what you're paying for on this transcontinental route:
Our estimates are based on:
This route is a "floating fleet" market with high demand in both directions. Operators price competitively because they don't need to charge for an empty return leg. These are effective one-way rates, not standard hourly charter rates.
Super Midsize (Challenger 300, Citation X):
Heavy Jet (Gulfstream IV, Falcon 2000):
Ultra Long Range (Gulfstream G550, G650):
Light jets cannot make this 2,454-mile trip nonstop—they'd need multiple fuel stops. Standard Midsize jets like the Citation Excel are also at the edge of their range and would likely require a fuel stop in winter headwinds. Super Midsize is the minimum for reliable nonstop transcontinental travel.
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