Flights to Australia and New Zealand from the US

Quick answer: 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.

Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.

Australia and New Zealand flights at a glance

Where you can fly in Australia and New Zealand

Each city links to every route guide we publish into that airport; each guide covers the airlines, connections and baggage rules, with live fares when the page loads.

• Flights to Sydney (SYD)9 route guides
• Flights to Melbourne (MEL)7 route guides
• Flights to Auckland (AKL)7 route guides

Which US airports fly nonstop to Australia and New Zealand

Los Angeles has the most choice. As of recent schedules, Qantas and Delta fly from LAX to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and United flies to Sydney and Melbourne. To Auckland, LAX has Air New Zealand and American all year, and Delta in the southern summer.

From San Francisco, United flies to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with a seasonal flight to Adelaide, and Qantas flies to Sydney. United and Air New Zealand fly to Auckland, and United adds a seasonal flight to Christchurch on the South Island, scheduled from December 2026 to March 2027.

Texas is the second gateway. From Dallas-Fort Worth, Qantas flies to Sydney and Melbourne and American flies to Brisbane. American has also run a seasonal Dallas-Fort Worth to Auckland flight, so check with the airline whether it operates on your dates. From Houston, United flies to Sydney and Air New Zealand to Auckland.

From New York JFK, Air New Zealand flies nonstop to Auckland, and Qantas flies to Auckland and carries on to Sydney. Air New Zealand has paused its Chicago flight. Schedules in this region change by season, so check with the airline for your dates.

Most flights from the US leave in the late evening and land in the early morning, local time. That helps you sleep on board, but plan for an early hotel check-in or somewhere to rest on the first day.

Entry rules for US citizens

Australia: US passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) before they board. The Australian ETA app is the only way to apply. The app scans your passport chip and takes a photo, and every traveler applies separately, children included. An ETA allows multiple visits over one year, or until your passport expires if that comes first, with stays of up to three months each time. A new passport means a new ETA. The Australian government asks you to apply at least four weeks before travel and to watch your email for a decision within 72 hours.

New Zealand: you need an NZeTA, requested on the official app or website. It is valid for two years and allows visits of up to three months each, with no more than six months in New Zealand in any 12-month period. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is charged with it, so there is no separate payment. Allow 72 hours for processing. Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave New Zealand, and you need the NZeTA confirmation email at check-in.

A connection in Auckland also needs an NZeTA, but the transit version does not carry the levy. Only use the official government app or site, because copycat sites charge extra for the same authorization.

Gateway airports and getting around once you land

Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL) and Brisbane (BNE) take most US arrivals in Australia. Auckland (AKL) is New Zealand's main international airport, and Christchurch (CHC) serves the South Island.

Distances inside Australia are long. Arriving in one city and flying home from another often saves a full day of backtracking. Qantas and Virgin Australia fly the domestic routes, and Air New Zealand covers New Zealand.

Flights across the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand take about three to four hours. That makes one trip covering both countries practical, for example landing in Sydney and flying home from Auckland.

If you are flying on within Australia after landing, you clear immigration and customs at your first airport, then check your bags in again for the domestic flight. In Sydney and Melbourne, international and domestic flights use separate terminals, so allow time to transfer between them.

Best months to go and the quieter times

December to February is summer. It is the peak for beaches, the Christmas and New Year holidays, and Australian school holidays, so flights fill early.

March to May and September to November are the shoulder seasons. The weather is mild in Sydney, Melbourne and most of New Zealand, and outside the Easter and school holiday weeks demand is usually lower.

June to August is winter. It is the season for skiing in Queenstown and the Australian Alps, and the best time to visit tropical northern Australia, where the summer wet season is hot and humid.

Alliances and booking tips

Qantas and American are both oneworld airlines and sell each other's connections. United and Air New Zealand are both in Star Alliance. Delta partners with Virgin Australia for onward flights inside Australia. Booking the long flight and the domestic flight on one ticket protects your connection if the first flight is late.

Overnight flights from the US cross the International Date Line, so you land two calendar days after you leave. On the way home you arrive on the same calendar day or the day before. Check the dates on hotel bookings and day-one tours carefully.

Arrival: biosecurity is strict

Both countries enforce strict biosecurity rules on arrival. Declare all food, plant material, animal products and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots, even if you think they are allowed. Undeclared items can lead to penalties.

Route guides to Australia and New Zealand

Frequently asked questions