When is the Los Angeles to New York route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

LAX to JFK Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to New York flight turbulent?

The LAX–JFK route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to JFK?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 737 · Airbus A321 · Boeing 757, that's rows 12–22. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from LAX to JFK?

The LAX to JFK flight takes approximately 5h 20m, covering 2,478 miles at 36,000 feet.

Is the Los Angeles to New York flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

LAX

→

JFK

Los Angeles · New York · 5h 20m

Turb Score

5h 20m

Duration

2,153 nm

Distance

36,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–JFK

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h5h 20m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–JFK route

The Los Angeles to New York domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 2,478 miles at around 36,000 feet. Turbulence is most common when weather systems cross the Midwest or when the flight path skirts the Rocky Mountains. Short duration means any rough patches pass quickly.

The route is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines on Boeing 737 · Airbus A321 · Boeing 757 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 36,000 feet over a distance of 2,478 miles (2,153 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source.

Los Angeles to New York Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to JFK?

5h 20m

Flight Time

2,478 mi

Distance

36,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 737

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) flight takes approximately 5h 20m, covering 2,478 miles (2,153 nautical miles) at 36,000 feet. The route is operated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on LAX–JFK

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly LAX–JFK

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–JFK

Boeing 737

Front

Rows 1–11

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 12–22

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 23+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

JFK → LAX

New York → Los Angeles

Light

LAX → SFO

Los Angeles → San Francisco

Light

LAX → ORD

Los Angeles → Chicago

Atlanta → Los Angeles

See all us domestic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

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When Does Turbulence Happen?

Phases of flight explained

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

There was some noticeable movement over the Midwest that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · April

The 5h 20m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · January

A few bumpy patches on descent, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · January

All LAX routes→ All JFK routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to New York flight turbulent?

The LAX–JFK route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 50/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to JFK?

Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on LAX to JFK?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 737 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 12–22. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to JFK?

The LAX to JFK flight takes approximately 5h 20m, covering 2,478 miles (2,153 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to JFK?

The main airlines operating this route are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines, flying Boeing 737 · Airbus A321 · Boeing 757 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data