Tag: NYC to Toronto flights

New York to Toronto is one of the busiest cross-border air routes in North America. It links the largest city in the United States with the largest city in Canada, it is short enough to fly in about an hour and a half, and it is served by several airlines from three New York airports to two Toronto airports. That combination is good news for anyone looking for a cheap flight: lots of competition and lots of choice. It also means there are more ways to get it wrong, from picking the airport pair that looks cheapest but costs you an hour in traffic, to booking a fare that charges for the bag you assumed was included, to arriving at the airport without the right document for the border. This guide explains how to pick the right airports, when to fly and book, how airlines and fares compare on this route, what to know about the border in each direction, how to get downtown at both ends, and when the train or the car is worth considering. It is part of our flight booking series, which starts with our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.

The short answer

Compare all six airport pairs: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark in New York, and Toronto Pearson and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in Toronto. Billy Bishop is on an island next to downtown Toronto and can save a long transfer. Fly midweek or on Saturday if you can, because the route is heavy with business travelers on weekdays and weekend visitors on Fridays and Sundays. Book roughly one to three months ahead, earlier for holidays and big event weekends. Price the total, including bags and seats and the cost of getting to and from each airport. And bring the right document: U.S. citizens need a valid passport to fly to Canada, and most other visitors need an eTA or a visa. Compare fares across a whole month on our Toronto flights page or from the other direction on New York flights.

Know your airports on both sides

The choice of airports shapes the fare, the airlines available, and how long the trip takes door to door. On a short flight, the ground transfer can take longer than the flight itself, so choose with your final destination in mind.

New York

Check each airport’s official site for current transit options: LaGuardia, JFK and Newark. Our JFK airport guide covers terminals and transfers, and our guide to getting around New York explains why most visitors skip the car.

Toronto

Toronto Pearson is Canada’s busiest airport, with two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Check which one your airline uses on the Toronto Pearson website or our Toronto Pearson airport guide. The UP Express train connects Pearson with Union Station downtown; the operator describes the trip as 28 minutes, with trains every 15 minutes.

Billy Bishop is a small airport on the Toronto Islands, reached by a pedestrian tunnel or a very short ferry ride from the foot of Bathurst Street, with a shuttle to Union Station. For a trip to downtown Toronto it can save a lot of time. Porter Airlines has long flown between Billy Bishop and Newark, and other airlines have added service at the island airport in recent years; check the current schedule when you search. The airport’s official site lists destinations and ground transportation, and notes that U.S. preclearance is now open there.

Which airlines fly New York to Toronto?

The route is served by Canadian airlines including Air Canada and Porter, and by major U.S. airlines from their New York hubs. Porter, for example, flies Billy Bishop to Newark and has added Pearson to LaGuardia service. Schedules and airport pairs change, so search all combinations rather than assuming. On a route this competitive, the cheapest airline varies by day and time, and the airlines often match each other’s fares on popular flights.

Check the current baggage and fare rules on each airline’s own site before you pay. Our carry-on size guide explains how to measure your bag and how limits compare between U.S. and Canadian airlines, and our flight details guide decodes fare brands and codeshares.

When to fly and when to book

Days and times

This is a classic business route. Weekday morning and early evening flights are popular with people traveling for work, and Friday afternoon and Sunday evening flights fill with weekend visitors. Midweek flights, Saturday flights and midday departures are often cheaper. Very early morning and late evening flights can be good value, but check how you will get to and from the airport at those hours.

Seasons

Remember that the two countries celebrate Thanksgiving on different dates, Canada in October and the United States in November, and each country’s long weekends affect demand in its own direction. For more detail on each city’s seasons, see our guides to the best time to fly to Toronto and the best time to fly to New York.

Booking window

For ordinary dates, booking about one to three months ahead is a sensible window. For holiday weekends and major event dates, book earlier. Set a price alert, watch the route for a few weeks to learn what a normal fare looks like, and book when a fare lands at or below that level. For flights to or from the United States booked at least seven days out, most airlines let you cancel within 24 hours of booking without penalty, which is a useful safety net.

Crossing the border in each direction

Flying New York to Toronto

When you fly into Canada, you clear Canadian border formalities on arrival in Toronto. The documents you need depend on your citizenship:

• U.S. citizens do not need an electronic travel authorization (eTA). The Government of Canada says they must carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport.
• U.S. lawful permanent residents are also exempt from the eTA, but must travel with a valid passport from their country of nationality and a valid green card or equivalent proof of status.
• Other visa-exempt travelers generally need an eTA before boarding a flight to Canada, and some nationalities need a visitor visa.

Check your requirements on the Government of Canada’s eTA page before you book, and read the Canada Border Services Agency’s travel documents guidance. Declare any food, alcohol, cash and goods according to CBSA rules.

Flying Toronto to New York

On the way back, you usually clear U.S. border formalities before you leave Toronto. Toronto Pearson has U.S. preclearance facilities, and Billy Bishop now offers preclearance too, so you land in New York as a domestic passenger with no immigration line. That is convenient, but it means you need to arrive at the Toronto airport earlier than for a domestic flight, because check-in, security and preclearance all happen before departure. Our guide on how early to arrive for an international flight explains how to plan it.

Getting downtown at each end

In Toronto, the TTC runs the subway, streetcars and buses; the TTC website has routes and fares. Our guide to renting a car or using transit in Toronto explains when a car is worth it, and you can compare prices on Toronto car rentals if you plan day trips to Niagara Falls or cottage country.

Fly, drive or take the train?

For most travelers, flying is the fastest way between the two cities, but it is worth knowing the alternatives.

• Flying: about an hour and a half in the air, plus airport time. Best for most trips, especially short ones.
• Train: Amtrak’s Maple Leaf, operated with VIA Rail, runs between New York Penn Station and Toronto Union Station, with border inspection along the way. It takes most of a day, but it is scenic, runs city center to city center and suits travelers who prefer not to fly.
• Driving: a long day’s drive through New York State, with a border crossing near Niagara Falls or Buffalo. It makes sense if you want a car in Toronto or plan to stop along the way.
• Bus: usually the cheapest fare but the longest trip.

For a weekend or a business trip, a flight almost always wins. For a slow trip with stops in upstate New York or Niagara, the car or train can be part of the fun.

A step-by-step booking routine for this route

• Decide where you are staying in both cities, so you know which airports are really convenient.
• Search a flexible range of dates and all airport pairs; our flights from New York and flights from Toronto pages show fares across the month.
• Shortlist a few options and add bags, seats and ground transfer costs to each.
• Check your documents for the border before paying.
• Book, then use the 24-hour cancellation window to double-check names and details.
• Book a refundable hotel for the same dates, then recheck the price before the free cancellation deadline.
• Check the events calendar. Our Toronto events and New York events pages show what is on.

If you fly this route often

New York to Toronto is a commuter route for many people: consultants, bankers, lawyers, people with family in both cities and couples splitting time between them. If you fly it several times a year, a few habits pay off.

• Consider NEXUS. NEXUS is a joint Canada and U.S. trusted traveler program for low-risk, pre-approved travelers. According to the Canada Border Services Agency’s NEXUS page, members can use self-serve kiosks and automated gates at major Canadian airports, expedited security lines where available, and TSA PreCheck lanes at participating U.S. airports. It involves an application, a fee and an interview, and it lasts five years.
• Pick an airline and stick with it where it makes sense. On a short route, the fare difference between airlines is often small, and the perks of status, such as free bags, better seats and priority boarding, can matter more than a small saving.
• Learn the airport pair that works for you. Many regulars settle on one combination, such as Billy Bishop and Newark for downtown Toronto and west Manhattan, or Pearson and LaGuardia for a wider schedule.
• Watch fares for your usual days. Set a standing price alert for your typical departure days so you notice when the route gets cheaper.
• Keep a flexible fare in mind. If your plans change often, a fare that allows changes can cost less over a year than repeatedly forfeiting cheap nonrefundable tickets.

Making a same-day business trip work

A day trip between the two cities is very doable. Book the first or second flight of the morning, which is less likely to be delayed by knock-on problems, and a return in the early evening with a later backup option on the same airline. Travel with a carry-on only, keep your passport and boarding pass on your phone and in your pocket, and leave extra time in Toronto for U.S. preclearance on the way home. If your meetings are downtown, Billy Bishop can save an hour or more of ground travel compared with Pearson, which is a big share of a short day.

Where to stay

In Toronto, staying downtown puts you close to the CN Tower, the waterfront, the Financial District and the theaters; the Entertainment District is a popular base and is close to both Union Station and Billy Bishop. Compare prices on our Entertainment District hotels page or all Toronto hotels. For ideas on what to do, read our guide to things to do in Toronto.

In New York, Midtown Manhattan is the classic base for first-time visitors, with easy access to Broadway and the major sights, but Brooklyn, Queens and Lower Manhattan can offer better value. Compare on our Times Square hotels page or all New York hotels, and see our guides to things to do in New York and visiting New York on a budget.

Making the most of a weekend in Toronto

Many New Yorkers fly to Toronto for a long weekend, and the city rewards it. Downtown is compact, transit is straightforward and most visitors can see the waterfront, the CN Tower, a museum and a couple of neighborhoods in two or three days. Flying up on Thursday evening or Saturday morning and back on Monday often costs less than the classic Friday-to-Sunday pattern, and downtown hotels that fill with business travelers midweek often cut rates on Friday and Saturday nights. Check a Blue Jays, Maple Leafs or Raptors home schedule if you want to catch a game, and remember that prices are in Canadian dollars once you arrive, which can make the trip feel better value for visitors paying in U.S. dollars, depending on the exchange rate at the time.

Points, miles and packages

Short cross-border flights can be good value for loyalty points, especially when cash fares are high on busy weekday flights. Compare the points price with the cash fare, and remember that taxes and fees still apply. If you fly the route often, airline status or a co-branded credit card can add free checked bags and better seats, which changes which fare is really cheapest. Flight and hotel packages are sometimes available; compare the package price with booking separately and read the change rules. For more on getting better seats, see our guide to business class upgrade hacks.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Searching only one airport pair. The cheapest and most convenient options may be at different airports.
• Forgetting the transfer. A cheaper fare to a farther airport can cost more in time and taxis.
• Arriving without the right document. U.S. citizens need a passport to fly to Canada; many other travelers need an eTA.
• Underestimating preclearance. On the way back from Toronto, U.S. border formalities happen before departure; allow time.
• Assuming a bag is included. Check the fare rules on transborder basic fares.
• Booking a large carry-on on a small aircraft. It may be checked at the door; keep valuables in your personal item.
• Ignoring holiday calendars on both sides. Canadian and U.S. long weekends fall on different dates.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the flight from New York to Toronto?

About an hour and a half in the air, depending on the airports and routing. Allow extra time for the airport and ground transfers at both ends.

Which airport in Toronto is best?

Billy Bishop is best if you are staying downtown and a flight suits you. Toronto Pearson offers the most flights and airlines, and the UP Express connects it with Union Station.

Which New York airport is cheapest for Toronto?

It varies by date and airline. Search JFK, LaGuardia and Newark together, and include the cost and time of getting to each one.

Do U.S. citizens need a passport to fly to Canada?

The Government of Canada says U.S. citizens must carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport. They do not need an eTA. Check the official page before you travel.

Do I clear customs in Toronto on the way back to New York?

Usually yes. Toronto Pearson has U.S. preclearance, and Billy Bishop now offers it too, so you clear U.S. border formalities before departure and arrive in New York as a domestic passenger.

What is the cheapest day to fly between New York and Toronto?

Midweek and Saturday flights are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday flights. Use a fare calendar to check your dates.

How far in advance should I book?

About one to three months ahead for ordinary dates, and earlier for holidays and big events. Set a price alert and book when the fare is at or below the normal level.

Is it cheaper to book a round trip or two one-way tickets?

On this route, one-way fares are often priced reasonably, so two one-ways, even on different airlines or between different airports, can give you better times at a similar total. Compare both ways, and remember that each separate ticket has its own bag and change rules.

Is the train a good alternative?

It is a scenic city-center-to-city-center option, but it takes most of a day. For short trips, flying is much faster.

Ready to book? Compare fares across a whole month on our Toronto flights page, check both Toronto airports and all three New York airports, then find a room for the same dates on our Toronto hotels page. For more on timing, read our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels.