Peak season
The United States of America, USA for short, sprawls across the middle of North America, and is composed of 50 states. First time travellers arriving on flights to the USA have a huge choice of fascinating destinations to choose from in this vast nation. From breathtaking natural wonders, to mammoth and fascinating man made cities of towering steel and glass. Generally the peak tourist season runs from May to September, and the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are the most picturesque months to visit the east and west coasts. The best time to visit really depends on where in the USA you are going and what you want to see. For travel during the shoulder seasons book at least a month in advance and for the high season book at least six months in advance. Holidays and annual events are major reasons for many visitors to arrive on flights to the USA, so check city events calendars before booking flight tickets.
Off season
Cheap flights to the USA can always be found in the winter. Flight ticket prices and temperatures drop markedly in the winter months in the northern states, with the exception of ski resorts. Most attractions in the larger cities remain open all year round but the smaller coastal towns and seasonal destinations close during the winter.
There's never really a bad time to catch flights to the USA, it’s a fabulous place to visit at any time of year, the vast spread of the country means a great deal of variety in climate and seasonal events throughout the year. The West Coast enjoys fine weather year-round, while the Pacific Northwest Coast (Washington, Oregon) has cool summers and mild winters. The Midwest is known for its intense summers and winters and frequent tornadoes and thunderstorms, while Florida enjoys the warmest winters on the eastern coast. Popular tourist spots like New York, Las Vegas and Orlando are most pleasant in spring and autumn as summers are uncomfortably warm. West Coast cities like LA and San Francisco enjoy temperate winters usually not dipping below 10C.
Flights from Sydney to USA – 14 hrs 10 mins
Flights from Melbourne to USA – 14 hrs 50 mins
Flights from Brisbane to USA - 13 hrs 30 mins
Flights from Perth to USA – 20 hrs 45 mins
The best city for flights to the USA from Australia is Los Angeles. This is a popular flight route and with several airlines competing for direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane you should have plenty of options for cheap flights to the USA. Popular carriers include Virgin Australia, Qantas, United and Delta, or consider airlines that offer a stopover in San Francisco such as China Southern and American Airlines. Once in Los Angeles, there are many low-cost domestic airlines, including no-frills leaders Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, to fly you anywhere in any state.
Most major cities in the USA have reliable public transport options to transfer you to the city centres. For example, LAX has a shuttle bus ‘G’ to the Metro Green Line and JFK has the AirTrain connecting to the New York subway. Buses and taxis are also plentiful if you don’t want to negotiate traffic. However, in some cities hiring a car may be the quickest and convenient option to get around especially if you plan on doing a road trip. You’ll find all the major car rental agencies at most US airports, including Budget, Dollar, Hertz and Thrifty.