Routes / JFK–LAX
3,974 km great circle · Over 3,500 km
New York JFK to Los Angeles LAX delay compensation
John F. Kennedy International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport is 3,974 km by great circle, a domestic United States route. Neither EU nor UK rules reach it, and US law pays no cash for a delay.
- 1New York JFK
- 2Los Angeles LAX
- 3Great circle 3,974 km
- 4US DOT Refund only
Which rules cover JFK–LAX
New York → Los Angeles
Whatever the airline, this direction is covered by US DOT (the flight is within the United States (14 CFR 260.2, "covered flight")).
Los Angeles → New York
Whatever the airline, this direction is covered by US DOT (the flight is within the United States (14 CFR 260.2, "covered flight")).
What you could be owed by hours late
Arrival delay at LAX (or JFK on the return), for a delay caused by the airline, per passenger, where each rule applies:
| Hours late | US DOT |
|---|---|
| 2 hours | Nothing |
| 3 h 30 min | Refund if you decline |
| 4 h 30 min | Refund if you decline |
| 6 h 30 min | Refund if you decline |
| 9 h 30 min | Refund if you decline |
The US column is the refund right only: a domestic itinerary needs 3+ hours.
The distance and the band
EU261 and UK261 measure distance "by the great circle route method" between the departure airport and the final destination. From the published coordinates of John F. Kennedy International Airport (40.639722, -73.778889) and Los Angeles International Airport (33.9425, -118.40806) that is 3,974 km. The nearest band boundary is 3,500 km, 474 km below this route, so the band is not in doubt. Among the 18 routes on this site in the over 3,500 km band, it is number 18 by length.
Other routes from John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) on this site: London (5,540 km), Paris (5,834 km), Frankfurt (6,189 km), Amsterdam (5,848 km), Rome (6,866 km), Toronto (588 km), Cancún (2,506 km).
Other routes from Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) on this site: London (8,760 km), Vancouver (1,741 km), Cancún (3,407 km).
If JFK–LAX is only one leg of your booking, measure to the final destination instead: a connection that makes you late at the end is compensated over the whole journey's distance.
Help at the airport while you wait
US law sets no meal or hotel duty; the large US airlines' published commitments do, and they are on the airline pages. Keep receipts for anything you buy: it is claimed back separately from any compensation.
Claiming on this route
Claim from the operating airline directly — it costs nothing.
US DOT: If it refuses, file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection office.
US airlines' dashboard commitments: Alaska Airlines · Allegiant Air · American Airlines · Delta Air Lines · Frontier Airlines · JetBlue Airways · Southwest Airlines · United Airlines.
Airport coordinates: Wikipedia: John F. Kennedy International Airport (infobox coordinates); Wikipedia: Los Angeles International Airport (infobox coordinates). Rules: 14 CFR 260.2 (eCFR). Checked 2026-10-20. General information, not legal advice.