Flying from New York: what you need to know
New York is the undisputed king of transatlantic routes, and it's not particularly close. Between JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia, the metro area handles more international departures than any other U.S. city. JFK alone has nonstop service to over 80 international destinations — if you're chasing a fare to Europe, Asia, or the Middle East, this is where competition works in your favor.
The big three here are Delta (hub at JFK Terminal 4), JetBlue (T5 at JFK), and United (Newark). But the real price action comes from Norwegian, Icelandair, PLAY, and the growing wave of low-cost long-haul carriers that rotate in and out. JFK to London regularly dips below $350 roundtrip in shoulder season. Paris, Dublin, and Reykjavik can go even lower.
Timing matters more than most travelers realize. January through mid-March is the cheapest window for transatlantic flights — you can save 40-50% versus summer peak. For Caribbean routes out of JFK, the sweet spot is late August through November when hurricane season keeps casual travelers away but the weather is still excellent.
One thing to watch: LaGuardia is almost exclusively domestic. If you see a crazy fare on Google Flights from "New York" to somewhere international, double-check which airport — it's almost certainly JFK or EWR. Also, Newark often prices $30-80 cheaper than JFK on the same route because fewer people prefer it, but the AirTrain + NJ Transit connection into Manhattan is honestly fine.
FlightKitten tracks all three airports simultaneously, so you'll see the cheapest option regardless of terminal.