Flights from Athens to the USA: Fares and Routes

For flights from Athens to the USA, budget around €300–750 one-way and €450–1,000 return in economy, mainly for major East Coast cities outside peak periods. A direct Athens–New York flight takes approximately 10.5–11.5 hours. Emirates, Delta, United and American Airlines operate direct Athens–USA routes, with destinations and seasonal schedules varying by airline. Connecting options are available with Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways and Turkish Airlines. You will generally find more affordable options in winter, outside holiday periods, and on selected dates in spring and autumn.

Here, the search term “flights to America” refers to the United States. The figures below are indicative budget ranges, not live deals or guaranteed fares. Your destination, availability, baggage and fare conditions can all significantly affect the final cost.

At a glance

• Fares: around €300–750 one-way and €450–1,000 return for the East Coast outside peak periods. Expect to budget more in summer and over the holidays.
• Flight time: approximately 10.5–11.5 hours direct to New York, or usually 13–18 hours with a convenient connection.
• Airlines: Emirates, Delta, United and American offer direct routes, depending on the schedule. Several European airlines offer connecting flights.
• Cheaper periods: often January–March, excluding public holidays, and selected weeks in November or the shoulder season.
• Booking: start comparing around 3–6 months ahead, or earlier for summer and Christmas.
• Documents: a passport and the appropriate travel authorisation or visa. Check your ESTA eligibility separately.

Which airlines fly from Athens to the USA?

Direct flights

Emirates connects Athens with Newark, which is in New Jersey and serves the New York metropolitan area. Delta operates direct flights to JFK. United also serves Newark, while American Airlines operates seasonal direct routes between Athens and US hubs.

Destinations including Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston and Washington, DC have featured in direct flight schedules from Athens. Seasonal routes, frequencies and operating dates change, so check the schedule for your specific month of travel. Do not assume that a summer route also operates in February.

Connecting flights

Common options include Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich, SWISS via Zurich, Air France via Paris, KLM via Amsterdam, British Airways via London and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Availability depends on your final destination and airline partnerships.

For Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle or smaller US cities, connecting flights often give you more choice. Choose flights on a single ticket so that the airline is responsible for arranging your onward travel if the first leg is delayed. Two flights appearing in the same search result does not necessarily mean the connection is protected.

How much do flights cost by season?

For Athens–New York and other major East Coast destinations, the following ranges can help with your initial planning. They cover economy fares, either direct or with one connection, and do not assume checked baggage is included.

• Winter, outside holiday periods: around €300–600 one-way and €450–750 return.
• Spring and autumn, excluding public holidays: around €350–750 one-way and €500–950 return.
• Summer: around €450–950 one-way and €700–1,300 return.
• Christmas, New Year and particularly popular dates: around €500–1,100 one-way and €800–1,500 return.

For the West Coast, an indicative budget is €550–1,100 return outside peak periods and €800–1,600 during periods of high demand. Smaller airports, additional domestic flights and bookings close to departure may cost more than these ranges.

A one-way ticket does not necessarily cost half as much as a return. On transatlantic routes, one-way fares can be disproportionately expensive. Start by comparing airfares and total costs, using the same dates, baggage allowance and number of stops.

When to book for a cheaper fare

A practical time to start monitoring fares is 3–6 months before departure. For July, August and holiday periods, start around 5–8 months ahead. This is a planning window, not a rule that guarantees the lowest fare.

There is no fixed day of the week to buy tickets that guarantees a cheaper price. Moving your departure by two or three days, returning midweek or choosing another airport in the same region may make a bigger difference.

• Set up price alerts for your chosen route and dates.
• Compare JFK and Newark, including the cost of getting to your accommodation.
• Try different lengths of stay without assuming that a Saturday-night stay is required.
• Work out whether a cheaper connecting flight will mean paying for a hotel, extra meals or an airport transfer.

These 20 tips for cheap flights can help you structure your search. For fare calendars and filters, see the guide to finding flights with Skyscanner. Do not base your transatlantic travel budget entirely on last-minute deals.

Flight times and arrival airports

The Athens–New York route usually takes around 10.5–11.5 hours non-stop. The return is often shorter, at around 9–10 hours, thanks to prevailing winds. Actual flight time depends on the route, weather and air traffic.

With one connection, generally allow 13–18 hours for the East Coast and 16–23 hours for the West Coast, provided the layover is reasonable. The cheapest options may take considerably longer. Always check the total journey time, not just the time spent on the plane.

• New York: JFK and Newark (EWR). LaGuardia (LGA) mainly handles domestic and short-haul international routes.
• Boston: Logan (BOS), relatively close to the central neighbourhoods.
• Washington, DC: Dulles (IAD), a major international airport outside the city.
• Chicago: O’Hare (ORD), a major hub for onward travel to other states.
• California: Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO); the more convenient choice depends on your road-trip itinerary.

If you land in the USA and continue on a domestic flight, you will usually go through immigration at your first US airport. You will often need to collect and recheck your baggage. Allow plenty of time, especially if this is your first visit or you are travelling with children.

Getting from the airport to the city centre

The following journey times are approximate and depend on waiting times, traffic and your destination address. Costs are in US dollars, per person for public transport and per vehicle for taxis or ride-hailing services.

• JFK to Manhattan: AirTrain and subway, around 60–90 minutes and $11–16. AirTrain and Long Island Rail Road, around 40–65 minutes to major stations and $15–25. By taxi, around 60–100 minutes, with a total budget of $90–130 depending on surcharges, tolls and tip.
• Newark to Midtown: the airport connection and NJ Transit to New York Penn Station, around 45–75 minutes and $16–23. By car, around 45–100 minutes and $80–150.
• O’Hare to central Chicago: Blue Line, around 40–60 minutes and $5–10. By taxi or ride-hailing service, around 35–80 minutes and $50–100.
• SFO to central San Francisco: BART, around 30–45 minutes and $10–15. By car, around 25–60 minutes and $45–90.

Check current fares and any planned works before you arrive. If you land late, confirm whether your route runs at night. A small saving on your airfare can disappear if you need an expensive transfer to accommodation further away.

Your first trip to the USA: what to see and when to go

The most useful step before booking flights is to narrow down the area you want to explore. You cannot cover the USA in one short visit. For seven to ten days, choose one major city with a nearby excursion, or two cities that are easy to travel between. If you combine New York, Miami and Los Angeles in the same week, you will spend a disproportionate amount of time in airports and in transit. Your choice of region will shape the experience more than a small difference in airfare.

New York is a practical starting point for a first visit. You can get around without a car and plan each day around a neighbourhood. Combine Central Park with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, set aside another day for Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge, and leave time for Greenwich Village or a stroll around Brooklyn. Times Square is worth a short stop, though not necessarily an entire afternoon. For the Statue of Liberty, check which type of ticket you need and book early for areas with limited access. You will find more ideas in the guide to New York, America’s “Big Apple”.

In New York, May and September–October often bring pleasant walking weather, though that does not mean hotel prices will be low. Summer can be very hot and humid, while winter brings cold, wind and possible flight disruption. In December, the festive atmosphere often comes with higher accommodation costs. If museums and shows are your priority, a winter visit outside the holidays is still perfectly practical with suitable clothing.

Washington, DC and Boston fit well into an East Coast trip. In Washington, the monuments around the National Mall and many Smithsonian museums offer plenty to fill your days without high admission costs. Some attractions require free timed-entry reservations. In Boston, the Freedom Trail links historic sights on foot. Trains are a useful option between cities along the Northeast Corridor, but fares are not always low. Compare the total city-centre-to-city-centre journey time, not just the time on board.

California calls for a different approach. In San Francisco, you can explore neighbourhoods, take waterfront walks and visit Alcatraz, which is best booked well ahead. Distances in Los Angeles are considerable, so where you stay will determine how many hours you spend on the road. For Yosemite and other national parks, check seasonal road openings, reservation requirements and wildfire conditions. Spring and autumn often work well for a road trip, but higher elevations may have snow while coastal cities enjoy mild weather.

For more beach time, Miami usually has more pleasant weather in winter and early spring, though accommodation is often more expensive. Summer is hot and humid, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. Wherever you go, check for major events and local holidays before paying for your flight. A cheap airfare does not always offset a week of particularly expensive hotels.

Baggage and low-cost airlines

On transatlantic tickets, labels such as Basic, Light or Economy do not mean the same inclusions across all airlines. Check the allowances for a personal item, cabin bag and checked bag separately. A checked bag of up to 23 kg is commonly included in some fares, but it is not a universal rule.

Low-cost transatlantic options are available from European airports, but that does not mean there is a regular direct service from Athens. If you buy a separate flight to the European hub, factor in baggage, a possible overnight stay and the risk of missing your onward flight. The second airline is generally not obliged to carry you free of charge if your separately booked first flight is delayed.

On US domestic flights, baggage and seat selection may be charged separately. Compare the combined cost of every leg, not just the low headline fare on the screen.

Practical tips before booking

• ESTA and visas: eligible Greek passport holders can travel under the Visa Waiver Program for permitted visits of up to 90 days with an approved ESTA. Not everyone is eligible. Check official US guidance before buying a non-refundable ticket.
• Insurance: consider cover for medical expenses in the USA, including claim limits and exclusions. The European Health Insurance Card does not cover healthcare there.
• Names: enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport, and check dates and airports carefully.
• Multiple destinations: try flying into one city and out of another to avoid an unnecessary return to your starting point.
• Local times: return flights from the USA usually arrive in Greece on the next calendar day. Check the arrival date shown in your booking.

If you need to leave at short notice, read these tips for cheap last-minute flights, without assuming that a deal will be available. Before paying, go back to comparing flights with the same baggage allowance and conditions, and check who handles changes or cancellations.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight to the USA cost?

For Athens to the East Coast, budget around €300–750 one-way and €450–1,000 return outside peak periods. Summer, holidays and smaller destinations often cost more.

How long is the flight from Athens to New York?

Around 10.5–11.5 hours direct. With a connection, the total journey often takes 13–18 hours, but it can be considerably longer depending on the layover.

Which airline has the cheapest flights to the USA?

No airline is consistently the cheapest. Compare the final fare including baggage, stops and change conditions. A lower base fare does not always mean a cheaper trip.

When are flights to the USA cheaper?

Often in January–March, excluding public holidays, and on selected dates in November. This varies by destination, while Thanksgiving, Christmas and popular events increase demand.

Are there direct flights from Athens to the USA?

Yes, including flights to JFK and Newark. Emirates, Delta, United and American operate direct Athens–USA routes, but check the current schedule for destinations and operating periods.

Do I need a visa to travel to the USA?

It depends on your nationality, purpose of travel and personal history. Eligible Greek travellers can use ESTA for short, permitted visits. ESTA approval does not guarantee entry to the country.