💰 When is the cheapest time to fly from New York to Paris?
This month: May averages $620 — Roland-Garros (French Open, late May–early June), Chelsea Flower Show crowds spilling to Paris, and perfect weather drive demand. Memorial Day is the US spike.
January is the cheapest month to fly New York to Paris — round-trip fares average $369, with French bee occasionally dropping to $299 during winter flash sales. November is a close second at $410 average. Summer (June–August) is peak season — fares surge 70–100% above winter levels, regularly hitting $720–$780 round-trip on Air France and Delta. The sweet spot is September–October: Paris has perfect weather, outdoor café terraces are still open, fewer tourists than summer, and fares drop sharply after Labor Day to $490–$540. Avoid Thanksgiving week and Christmas — holiday pricing applies even for transatlantic. Book by March for any summer departure.
Next 30 days — daily low fares
Tooltip shows stops + source. Cached fares from Aviasales.
✈️ Which airlines fly from New York to Paris?
Six airlines fly nonstop from New York to Paris, making this one of the world's most competitive transatlantic corridors. French bee leads on base price ($369 from EWR to Orly), Air France dominates schedule (5+ daily JFK–CDG with bag and meals included), and JetBlue Mint offers the best lie-flat business class deal across the Atlantic at $1,800. La Compagnie's all-business-class A321neo is the boutique play. Delta and American round out the SkyTeam and oneworld loyalty options.
The default choice — and deservedly so. Air France operates 5+ daily JFK–CDG nonstops, so schedule flexibility is unmatched. Economy includes a checked bag, a real multi-course meal with wine (yes, complimentary champagne on international flights), and the kind of cabin service that makes 7 hours feel civilized. Delta SkyMiles earn and burn. The La Première lounge at CDG Terminal 2E is open to SkyTeam Elite Plus members and worth arriving early for.
Best for: most travelers, families, first-time Paris visitors
The budget king of this route. French bee flies brand-new Airbus A350s — the quietest, most comfortable wide-body in the sky — from Newark to Orly, not CDG. Orly is actually closer to central Paris (30 min vs 50 min from CDG), so the routing is a hidden plus. The catch: Newark instead of JFK, and everything beyond your seat costs extra. A checked bag round-trip ($120–$160) closes the gap with Air France quickly.
Best for: solo travelers, ultralight packers, Left Bank stays
JetBlue's secret weapon is free high-speed Wi-Fi on every transatlantic flight — no other carrier matches it. Core class is carry-on only, but Blue Extra ($450–$550) adds a checked bag and extra legroom. The real play is JetBlue Mint at $1,800–$2,500 round-trip — half the price of Air France or Delta business class, with lie-flat seats, closing suite doors, craft cocktails, and that Wi-Fi. Best business class value across the Atlantic.
Best for: Wi-Fi addicts, Mint business class deal seekers
Delta is Air France's joint-venture partner, so the JFK–CDG schedule is essentially shared between the two. Delta flies the route with 767-400ER and the newer A330-900neo — the A330neo is significantly more comfortable. Price is typically $20–$50 above Air France on the same date, so book whichever has the better fare or schedule. Delta One business class is excellent on this route with direct-aisle access in the 1-2-1 layout.
Best for: SkyMiles members, A330neo cabin lovers
Solid but unremarkable. American's 777-200 on JFK–CDG is a workhorse — comfortable enough, meals are fine, entertainment is fine. The reason to book American is loyalty: AAdvantage miles, Admirals Club access at the recently renovated JFK Terminal 8, and oneworld connections via British Airways if you're continuing to other European cities.
Best for: AAdvantage members, oneworld loyalists
The most interesting airline on this route. La Compagnie flies an all-business-class Airbus A321neo — every seat is lie-flat, and fares start at $1,500 one-way (versus $3,000+ on Air France Business). The catch: Newark to Orly only, daily service (no schedule flexibility), and a narrowbody cabin that doesn't have the width of a 777. But for $3,000 round-trip in lie-flat seats with French wine and cheese service, nothing else on the Atlantic comes close.
Best for: business travelers, special occasions, honeymooners
Mubboo verdict: Air France JFK-CDG is the default — 5+ daily, bag and meal included. JetBlue Mint at $1,800 for lie-flat splurge. Skip French bee unless you fly carry-on only.
Prices shown are approximate averages based on recent searches (April 2026). Actual fares vary by date, class, and availability.
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Compare all flights →📅 When should you book New York to Paris flights?
NYC–Paris is one of the most competitive transatlantic routes in the world — six airlines fly it nonstop, which keeps prices honest. The best booking window is 6–10 weeks before departure for Economy, and 4–8 weeks for business class (La Compagnie and JetBlue Mint sell out fast). Air France and Delta run periodic flash sales on this route, typically Tuesday through Thursday, dropping Economy fares to $380–$420 round-trip even in shoulder season. For summer travel (June–August), book by March or pay $700+. For Paris Fashion Week (late September), book 8+ weeks ahead. Set price alerts on Aviasales — this route has so many carriers that deals appear and disappear within hours.
M says: May is peak Paris for a reason. Every park is full, every bistro terrace is occupied, and daylight stretches to 10pm. Fly French bee for the budget hack — $520 in late May is a steal. Book a Seine river cruise at golden hour; it's worth the cliché.
If you're a family flying in summer, book by March — peak season fills up fast.
Budget travelers: shoulder season (Sep–Oct, Apr–May) offers the best balance of price and weather.
💡 This May: September is the insider's Paris — same weather, 25% cheaper. Book it now for a September trip.
🏙️ Why visit Paris?
Paris needs no introduction — but it does need an update. The city that underwent a €1.5 billion renovation for the 2024 Olympics is more walkable, more bikeable, and more alive than it's been in decades. The Seine's banks are now pedestrian promenades, entire neighborhoods have been reimagined, and the restaurant scene has exploded beyond traditional French cuisine into some of the most exciting global dining in Europe.
What makes Paris worth the flight:
Beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Paris rewards walkers: the covered passages of the 2nd arrondissement, the street art of Belleville, the food markets of Rue Mouffetard, and the canal-side bars of the 10th. Day trips to Versailles, Giverny (Monet's gardens), and Champagne are all under an hour by train.
Best neighborhoods to explore:
Paris at its most charming — medieval streets, the best falafel in Europe (L'As du Fallafel), boutique galleries, and Place des Vosges, the city's most beautiful square.
The Left Bank's intellectual heart — Café de Flore, Shakespeare and Company, Luxembourg Gardens, and independent bookshops on every corner.
Hilltop village feel with Sacré-Cœur views, artist studios, and a nightlife scene that starts at midnight in the cabarets and jazz clubs.
The local's Paris — iron footbridges, natural wine bars, vintage shops, and the best people-watching in the city along the canal banks.
University district with the Panthéon, arthouse cinemas, cheap student-friendly restaurants, and the beautiful Jardin des Plantes.
Don't miss:
Louvre Museum
Skip-the-line tickets are essential — book online via the official Louvre site or a Viator skip-the-line tour. Plan 3–4 hours minimum.
Browse Louvre Museum tours →Eiffel Tower
Walk to the second floor (€11.80, free under 4) instead of waiting 2 hours for the elevator. Sunset is the magic hour.
Browse Eiffel Tower tours →Versailles Day Trip
RER C train direct from central Paris, 35 min, €7.30. Buy tickets online to skip the entry queue.
Browse Versailles Day Trip tours →Musée d'Orsay
The Impressionist collection alone is worth the trip. Smaller and calmer than the Louvre. Book online to skip the line.
Browse Musée d'Orsay tours →M's take:
M's take: Everyone thinks they know Paris, but the post-Olympics version is genuinely different. The biggest change isn't the venues — it's the attitude. Paris feels less exclusive and more welcoming than at any time in recent memory. At current airfares from NYC, a week in Paris costs less than a week in most American cities once you factor in the quality of what you get.
🧳 What do you need to know before flying to Paris?
🛂 Do Americans need a visa for Paris?
No visa needed — US citizens can visit France (and the entire Schengen Area) for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Starting in 2025, the EU introduced ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) — an online pre-authorization that costs €7 and is valid for 3 years. As of April 2026, ETIAS is operational; apply at least 72 hours before travel via the official EU portal. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area. ETIAS is not a visa — it doesn't allow you to work, just to enter as a tourist.
🕐 What's the time difference?
Paris is 6 hours ahead of New York (Eastern Time). This is one of the easiest jet lag adjustments for any transatlantic route. Most JFK–CDG flights depart 5–10pm and arrive 6–10am Paris time. Strategy: sleep as much as possible on the overnight flight, land in the morning, power through to 9pm Paris time, and you'll be fully adjusted by day two. The return is harder — take the afternoon flight (departs CDG ~1pm, arrives JFK ~4pm) and you get a full evening at home.
🚇 How do you get from the airport to the city?
From CDG to central Paris: the RER B train runs every 10–15 minutes, costs €11.80 (~$13), and takes 35 minutes to Gare du Nord or Châtelet. Roissybus to Opéra is €16.60 and 60–75 minutes. A taxi is a flat €55 to the Right Bank or €62 to the Left Bank (set by law, no meter). Uber is roughly the same. From Orly to central Paris: the Orlybus to Denfert-Rochereau is €11.50 and 30 minutes. Tip: from CDG, the RER B is the fastest and cheapest option unless you have heavy luggage — in that case, the flat-rate taxi is worth it.
💷 What about money and tipping?
France uses the Euro (€). Paris is nearly fully contactless — tap-to-pay works at Métro stations, cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, and even market stalls. Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted. You'll rarely need cash, but carry €50 for occasional small purchases and tips. ATMs (distributeurs) are everywhere; avoid the Travelex stands at CDG — terrible rates. Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture) for the best exchange rates.
📱 Will your phone work?
T-Mobile Magenta includes free international data in France (EU roaming, throttled to 256kbps — fine for maps and messaging, unusable for video). For full-speed data, grab a Europe eSIM: Airalo Europe 5GB/30 days for $13, Yesim unlimited Europe from $15/week, or Saily Europe 3GB for $9. Paris also has free city-wide Wi-Fi (Paris Wi-Fi network) in parks, libraries, and public buildings. Every café and restaurant offers Wi-Fi, though speeds vary.
✈️ Ready to book? Compare New York to Paris flights
Search flights →🛫 Flying from New York — airport tips
JFK Terminal 1 (Air France)
- Recently renovated — modern facilities post-security
- Security lines hit 30+ min during the 5–8pm international rush — arrive 3 hours early
- Air France lounge for SkyTeam Elite Plus and business ticket holders
JFK Terminal 5 (JetBlue)
- JetBlue's home terminal — newest facilities at JFK
- T5 Rooftop lounge (Mint passengers or day pass ~$40)
- Fast security, good food options, free Wi-Fi throughout
JFK Terminal 4 / 8 (Delta / American)
- Delta T4 is modern and efficient — Sky Club lounge for SkyMiles members
- American T8 recently renovated — Admirals Club access for AAdvantage
- Both terminals have good security throughput compared to T1
Newark Terminal B (French bee / La Compagnie)
- Smaller, less crowded than JFK — faster security
- NJ Transit + AirTrain from Penn Station: $15.25, 30 min
- La Compagnie passengers get lounge access in Terminal B
🚐 Skip the hassle? Book a private airport transfer
Fixed price, meet & greet at arrivals, door-to-door service
💡 Insider tips: New York to Paris
French bee to Orly — 40 minutes closer to Left Bank Paris
French bee to Orly is not just cheaper — Orly is 30 minutes closer to central Paris than CDG. From Orly, the Orlybus drops you at Denfert-Rochereau in the heart of the Left Bank for €11.50. From CDG, you're looking at 50+ minutes on the RER B. For travelers staying on the Left Bank (Saint-Germain, Latin Quarter, Montparnasse), the Orly routing saves you 40 minutes and €2 in transport.
We tracked NYC–Paris fares for 6 months — Air France Tuesday sales drop 22%Mubboo original data
We tracked NYC–Paris fares across all six carriers for 6 months: Air France Tuesday flash sales (announced via email, live for 48 hours) offered fares averaging 22% below the monthly mean. The best window we saw: a January departure booked during a November flash sale at $389 round-trip JFK–CDG with a checked bag and meals included. Sign up for the Air France newsletter to catch these — they don't appear on Google Flights until the second day of the sale.
French bee's $369 fare math: add a bag and Air France wins
French bee's $369 headline fare is carry-on only with a strict 12kg limit. Add a checked bag round-trip ($120–$160) and you're at $489–$529. Air France at $500 includes a 23kg checked bag, complimentary meals with wine, and better schedules from JFK. French bee only wins if you're packing ultralight and don't mind Newark and Orly. For everyone else, Air France at $500 is the honest better deal.
Late-evening JFK departures are $40-80 cheaper — we tracked 6 monthsMubboo original data
We tracked NYC-Paris fares across all six carriers for 6 months by departure time. The 9:30-11pm JFK departure window consistently came in $40-80 cheaper than the 6-8pm prime-time window on the same airline + cabin combo for the same travel dates. The tradeoff: arrival lands 11am-noon CDG instead of 8-9am, costing you a half-day in Paris. For trips under 4 days, the half-day matters more than the savings — book the 6-8pm departure. For 5+ day trips, the late-evening window is essentially free money. Air France and Delta both run the late-evening pattern; JetBlue holds the 6-8pm window only.
Don't auto-pay extra for Air France's A350 over the 777-300ER on retrofit-confirmed flights
Most travel guides push Air France's A350-900 over the older 777-300ER as an automatic upgrade. The data complicates this. Where Air France has retrofitted the 777-300ER fleet (confirmed on the majority of JFK-CDG rotations as of 2026 Q2), the cabin gap closes substantially: same Recaro CL3810 economy seat, identical 31-inch pitch, USB-C, and Panasonic eX3 IFE. The A350 is quieter and runs higher cabin humidity — meaningful on transpacific 14-hour legs, marginal on the 7-hour transatlantic. Don't auto-pay $200-400 more for the A350 on this route alone — check seatguru.com for your specific flight number first; book whichever has the better fare and schedule.
EWR-ORY La Compagnie is 200 miles shorter great-circle than JFK-CDGMubboo original data
We measured the great-circle distance: EWR-ORY (Newark to Orly) is 3,609 nautical miles; JFK-CDG is 3,628 NM. Combined with EWR's lower-traffic departure pattern (Terminal B handles roughly half JFK Terminal 1's evening international rush) and Orly's southwest position relative to central Paris, La Compagnie's all-business-class A321XLR EWR-ORY rotation saves roughly 45 minutes door-to-door for Manhattan-Brooklyn-Hoboken-NJ travelers compared to JFK-CDG carriers. The Orly-to-Left-Bank Orlybus drops at Denfert-Rochereau in 30 minutes; CDG-to-central via RER B is 35-50 minutes. Combined ground+air time savings make this the genuinely fastest NYC-to-Left-Bank-Paris pairing in 2026, even before factoring lie-flat sleep on the overnight.
👥 Who flies this route — and what they should know
Couples and honeymoon travelers
Featured this monthJetBlue Mint at $1,800–$2,500 round-trip is the honeymoon hack — lie-flat suites with closing doors, craft cocktails, and free Wi-Fi to share your excitement in real time. Arrive in Paris refreshed. Stay in the Marais (romantic walking streets) or Saint-Germain (café culture, Luxembourg Gardens). Book Musée de l'Orangerie instead of the Louvre — smaller, no crowds, Monet's water lilies in the oval rooms are genuinely moving. A Seine dinner cruise (€80–€120/person) is cliché but actually wonderful at sunset.
Families with kids
Air France's Economy on the 777 has the most legroom in its class (32-inch pitch). The overnight flight works well with kids — they sleep, you arrive in the morning. CDG has a children's play area in Terminal 2E. In Paris: the Jardin du Luxembourg has a vintage carousel, sailboat pond, and puppet theater. Skip the Eiffel Tower elevator (2-hour queue with kids) — walk to the second floor instead. Budget: $2,500–$3,500 for a family of four on Air France Economy plus 7 nights in a 2BR Airbnb in the 11th.
Business travelers
La Compagnie at $1,500 one-way ($2,800–$3,000 round-trip) is the business traveler's secret — all-business-class, lie-flat, Newark to Orly. For SkyTeam loyalists, Air France Business JFK–CDG ($3,500–$5,000 round-trip) includes La Première lounge access and lie-flat with direct-aisle access in the 1-2-1 cabin. Delta One is similar quality but typically $200–$400 more. For short trips: take the 5pm departure, arrive 6am, work the full day, fly home 1pm the next day — Paris in 36 hours.
Budget travelers and students
French bee in January: $369 round-trip with carry-on only. Hostel in the 10th arrondissement (Canal Saint-Martin area): $30–$40/night. Eat baguette-jambon-beurre sandwiches (€4.50), crêpes from street stands (€5), and €12 prix fixe lunch menus (3 courses with wine — yes, this still exists in the 5th arrondissement). Many major museums are free on the first Sunday of the month. The Métro 10-ride pack (€16.90) covers all transit. Total 7-night trip: $1,100–$1,400.
Wine-and-food traveler (Paris bistro / Michelin)
Air France's evening JFK-CDG departure lands you in Paris at 9-10am — drop bags at your hotel and head straight to Marché d'Aligre (12th, Tue-Sun) for the city's best produce-and-wine market lunch. Pre-book Michelin counters (Septime, Le Servan, Frenchie) 6-8 weeks ahead via TheFork or hotel concierge — most refuse foreign-email walk-ins. Skip the Eiffel Tower restaurants — overpriced for the view. Plan a 7-day food trip as 2 Michelin dinners, 2 bistro lunches, 1 wine bar crawl in the 11th, plus a Champagne day-trip via TGV (1h 15m to Reims, €40 round-trip booked 2 months out).
Art-museum lover (Louvre / Orsay / Rodin Golden Triangle)
Air France or Delta economy on the JFK-CDG morning bank works for this trip — value is at the destinations, not the cabin. Base in the 7th arrondissement (walking distance to all three Golden Triangle museums plus the École Militaire). Buy the Paris Museum Pass (€55/4-day) for skip-the-line access across 50+ museums; pays for itself in 3 visits. Allocate 4 hours minimum to the Louvre (open 9am, closed Tuesdays), 3 hours to Orsay (closed Mondays), 90 minutes to Rodin's outdoor sculpture garden. Avoid the first Sunday of the month — free entry triples queues.
⚖️ Flight delayed or canceled?
This route has dual protection. US DOT rules apply on the outbound: airlines must refund canceled flights in cash (not vouchers, per the October 2024 Final Rule). On the return from Paris, EU261 regulation applies — one of the strongest passenger protection laws in the world. If your return flight is delayed 3+ hours arriving at JFK, you're entitled to €600 (~$650) compensation from the airline, regardless of ticket price. For cancellations: full refund plus €600. Airlines must also provide meals and accommodation for overnight delays. EU261 covers all flights departing the EU — that's Air France, Delta, JetBlue, American, French bee, and La Compagnie on the return leg from CDG or Orly. Compensair can handle the EU261 claim process for you on a no-win-no-fee basis — they typically recover the full €600 and take a 25% fee.
📱 Stay Connected — Travel eSIM
Free option: T-Mobile Magenta includes free EU roaming (throttled to 256kbps — fine for maps, not for streaming)
Your US phone will work in Paris on T-Mobile (free EU roaming, throttled to 256kbps — fine for maps and WhatsApp, unusable for video). AT&T and Verizon charge $10–$12/day. A Europe eSIM from Airalo, Yesim, or Saily costs $9–$15 for a week of full-speed data — install before you fly and activate on landing. Paris also has free city-wide Wi-Fi in parks and public buildings.
🛡️ Travel Insurance
France has excellent healthcare, but as a non-resident you'll pay full price for treatment — and it's not cheap. A simple ER visit can run $500–$1,500. EKTA covers Americans from $29/week, including trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and lost baggage. EU261 also gives you legal compensation rights for delays and cancellations on the return leg.
🚗 Airport Transfers & Car Hire — Paris
CDG to central Paris is 35–60 minutes depending on your choice. The RER B train (€11.80, 35 min) is the cheapest and fastest unless you have heavy luggage. Pre-book a private transfer if you're arriving with kids, lots of bags, or after midnight when trains stop. Driving in central Paris is genuinely awful — rent a car only for day trips to Versailles, Giverny, or Champagne.
Emergency contacts in Paris
Frequently asked questions about New York to Paris flights
January is the cheapest month, with round-trip fares averaging $369–$420. November is a close second at $410. These months offer mild weather (cold but not freezing), minimal tourist crowds, and Paris at its most Parisian. Avoid June–August (peak summer, fares $700+) and December (holiday pricing pushes fares to $650).
Flights from New York
🎟️ Things to do in Paris
4,719 activities · Live data from Viator
Family Friendly Louvre Museum Private Guided Tour
The Essential Louvre Masterpieces Tour - Limited to Six Guests
Paris E-Scooter Tour with fun & informative guide (small groups)
Paris Highlights: Half Day Private Walking Tour
A Day of Exploring Black Paris
Louvre Evening Tour Semi Private 6ppl Max BEST Avoid The Crowds
Researched by Mubboo Editorial Team · Reviewed by Richard Lee, Founder
Prices from Aviasales. Seasonal advice updated: May 2026 · Last editorial review: 2026-04-11 · Government info: travel.state.gov
Prices last updated 3h ago · cached fares aggregating 800+ airlines and agencies · Check real-time prices →
M verdicts are based on editorial research — not pulled from a database.