New York to South Florida by private jet: the complete guide

Every winter, a wave of private jets flies between the New York area and South Florida: snowbirds heading south, business travelers commuting between offices, and families going down for the holidays. It's the densest private jet corridor in the US from Thanksgiving to Easter. Here's how to fly it well.

Flight time and distance

The trip is about 900–950 nautical miles (roughly 1,050–1,100 statute miles) depending on the airports. Typical times, Teterboro to Fort Lauderdale:

A light jet does it nonstop comfortably; you don't need a big jet unless you have a big group or lots of luggage.

Choosing your New York airport

• Teterboro (TEB), New Jersey: the classic choice, about 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan, with many FBOs. Aircraft over 100,000 lb aren't allowed (heavier models can operate only if kept under that weight, with a form filed in advance), which only affects the very largest jets.
• Westchester County (HPN): easier for Westchester, Connecticut and the northern suburbs. It has a voluntary night curfew from midnight to 6:30 a.m. and strict noise rules; aircraft over 120,000 lb need permission.
• Republic (FRG), Farmingdale: best for Long Island and the Hamptons. Customs is by appointment (request 4 hours ahead).
• JFK and LaGuardia: have private terminals too; handy when you're connecting from an international flight.

Choosing your South Florida airport

• Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE): central Broward, quick to Fort Lauderdale beaches and Las Olas. Customs is open 8 a.m. to midnight, every day.
• Miami-Opa-locka Executive (OPF): about 12 miles from downtown Miami, open 24/7, with a long 8,000-ft runway for bigger jets. Customs 9 a.m. to midnight with an hour's notice.
• Boca Raton (BCT): ideal for Boca and Delray. One 6,276-ft runway, no curfew (pilots are asked to avoid 10 p.m.–7 a.m.).
• Palm Beach (PBI): for Palm Beach and Jupiter. Customs is free of charge at both PBI and FXE.
• Miami Executive (TMB) and the big airline airports MIA and FLL also have private terminals.

What it costs

Typical one-way prices for the whole aircraft:

• Light jet: about $15,000–28,000
• Super-midsize: about $20,000–35,000

Prices are highest around the holidays and spring break. For the full breakdown of taxes and fees, see how much a private jet costs in 2026.

The season, and when the deals appear

Demand follows the snowbirds. Busy periods this season:

• Thanksgiving week (Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026)
• Art Basel Miami Beach, early December
• Christmas to New Year
• Presidents' Day weekend (February 15, 2027)
• Spring break, roughly mid-March to mid-April

Because so many people fly the same direction at the same time, jets often have to fly back the other way empty. That's when empty legs appear on this route: around the start of the season, jets that flew clients down need to go back north; around the end, the reverse. Set an alert for your route and you'll see them.

Alternatives for one or two travelers

If it's just you, a shared seat can be a good middle ground: JSX flies between Teterboro and Fort Lauderdale Executive, Opa-locka and Palm Beach from private terminals (some of these flights are for its club members only). See private jet vs first class for the comparison.

Questions & answers