Before You Fly
- Apply for ESTA ($21) or B1/B2 visa at least 72 hours before departure
- Check passport validity (no 6-month rule, but airlines enforce it anyway)
- Buy travel insurance — US medical costs require it
- Pre-clear customs where available (Dublin, Shannon, Toronto, etc.)
Main International Airports
| Airport | City | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| JFK | New York | Europe, Asia, Latin America |
| EWR | New York | Alternative to JFK, cheaper |
| LAX | Los Angeles | Pacific, Asia, Oceania |
| SFO | San Francisco | Pacific, tech hubs |
| MIA | Miami | Latin America, Caribbean |
| ORD | Chicago | Europe, Asia |
| IAD | DC Dulles | Europe, Middle East |
| ATL | Atlanta | Delta hub, huge connections |
| DFW | Dallas | American Airlines hub |
| SEA | Seattle | Asia, Pacific |
| BOS | Boston | Europe |
| MCO | Orlando | Theme park visitors, UK direct |
Best Airlines
- Delta — reliable, best domestic connections, SkyTeam alliance
- American Airlines — biggest network, Oneworld alliance
- United Airlines — Star Alliance, global reach
- British Airways / Virgin Atlantic — best from UK
- Lufthansa — best from Europe
- Air France / KLM — good Europe-US routes
- Emirates / Qatar / Etihad — premium from Middle East/Asia via Gulf hubs
- ANA / Japan Airlines — best from Japan, excellent service
- Singapore Airlines — longest nonstop flights, best service globally
Finding Cheap Flights
- Skyscanner and Google Flights — compare broadly
- Southwest Airlines — not on comparison sites; check their site directly
- Book 6-10 weeks ahead for best prices
- Tuesday / Wednesday flights are usually cheapest
- Fly into secondary airports (Newark vs JFK, Oakland vs SFO)
- Avoid peak seasons (summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas)
- Consider stopovers — sometimes 30-50% cheaper than direct
Seasonality
Cheapest months for international flights to the USA: late January, early February, September, early November. Most expensive: mid-June to mid-August, Thanksgiving week, Christmas week.
Transit Through the USA
Even if you are just transiting (e.g., changing planes in LAX on the way to Mexico), you still need an ESTA or visa. There is no "transit without visa" for most travelers in the US — unlike Europe or Asia.
Arriving
On arrival you go through Customs and Border Protection (CBP). See our entry requirements guide. Major airports offer kiosks for faster processing (Mobile Passport Control app, Global Entry for enrolled travelers).
From the airport to downtown: every major US airport has Uber/Lyft (fastest), airport shuttle buses, taxis, and sometimes trains (JFK AirTrain, Chicago CTA, DC Metro, Atlanta MARTA, SF BART).