Flights by Region from the US

Most big US airports have nonstop flights to Europe, and from the East Coast the flight to London, Paris or Dublin is about seven hours. US citizens do not need a visa for short trips to the Schengen Area or the UK, but since April 2026 your fingerprints and photo are taken at the Schengen border under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), and the UK requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). ETIAS is not in operation yet, so there is nothing to apply for.

Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei have nonstop flights from many US cities, while mainland China has fewer nonstops, mostly from the West Coast and New York. US citizens need no visa for short tourist stays in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and South Korea's K-ETA is waived for Americans through December 31, 2026. Mainland China still requires a visa for ordinary tourism, but its 240-hour visa-free transit lets US citizens stop over on the way to a third country.

From the US you can fly nonstop to Singapore and Manila; Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur need one stop, usually in Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong or Singapore. US citizens need no visa for short tourist stays in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore or the Philippines, but each country now requires a free online arrival card before you land. Thailand cut its visa-free stay to 30 days for tourism from September 15, 2026.

As of November 2026 the nonstops from the US to India leave from the New York area: Air India flies New York JFK and Newark to both Delhi and Mumbai, and American flies JFK to Delhi. Air India's Chicago and Washington Dulles flights are suspended, so most other US cities connect through New York, Europe or the Middle East. US citizens need a visa before travel, usually the e-Tourist Visa applied for online at least four days ahead, plus the free e-Arrival Card.

Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad fly nonstop from more than a dozen US airports to Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and El Al flies nonstop to Tel Aviv from New York JFK, Newark, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as of recent schedules. From the East Coast the flight takes about 10 to 13 hours. US citizens need no visa in advance for Qatar or the UAE, but Israel requires an approved ETA-IL before you fly.

You can fly nonstop from the US to Cairo on EgyptAir, to Nairobi on Kenya Airways from New York JFK, and to Johannesburg and Cape Town on Delta from Atlanta and United from Newark and Washington Dulles. The nonstops take about 11 hours to Cairo and 15 to 16 hours to Nairobi and South Africa. US citizens need a visa for Egypt, an eTA for Kenya, and no visa for short stays in South Africa.

Cancun and Mexico City have nonstop flights from most large US airports, about four hours from New York and two to three from Texas. US citizens flying to Mexico need a US passport book, which must stay valid for the whole stay, and no visa for tourism. At Mexico's international airports immigration now issues a digital tourist form (FMMd) on arrival, and the officer sets how long you may stay.

Miami, Houston, Atlanta and New York are the main US gateways to South America, with nonstops on American, United, Delta, LATAM and Avianca. Flights take about 4 to 5 hours to Bogota, about 6 to Lima and about 8 to 9 hours from Miami to Santiago, Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires. US citizens need no visa for Argentina, Colombia, Peru or Chile for tourist stays of up to 90 days, but Brazil requires an e-visa obtained before travel.

Canada is one of the shortest international trips from the US: New York to Toronto is under two hours and Los Angeles to Vancouver about three. US citizens flying to Canada need a valid US passport, and no visa or eTA. On the way home, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver have US preclearance, so you clear US immigration before you board and land in the US as a domestic arrival.

As of November 2026, the nonstop flights to Australia and New Zealand leave from the West Coast, Texas and New York: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and New York JFK. Plan on about 13 to 18 hours in the air. US citizens need an Australian ETA, applied for in the Australian ETA app, or a New Zealand NZeTA before they fly.