New York to San Jose Flight Distance
John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Primary sources · 6
- [1] Vincenty (1975) — Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
- [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84 — WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
- [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factors — Per-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
- [4] Lee et al. (2021) — Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
- [5] OpenFlights — Airport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
- [6] Sack (2010) — Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838
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Your Route Summary
What This Means For Your Trip
Flight Duration: At 2,204 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 4h 50m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.
Time Adjustment: San Jose is 2 hours behind New York. You should experience minimal jet lag.
Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 553 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs—planting 51 trees could offset this flight.
Flight Options: 3 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.
Complete Flight Analysis
| Metric | Value | Category / Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (Miles) | 2,204 mi | Primary frequent flyer unit |
| Distance (Kilometers) | 3,548 km | International standard |
| Distance (Nautical Miles) | 1,916 nm | Aviation standard |
| Flight Time | 4h 50m | Based on 850 km/h cruise + ground time |
| Route Classification | MEDIUM HAUL | Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km) |
| Flight Direction | 200° SSW | South-Southwest |
| Cruising Altitude | 37,000 ft | FL370 (11,278 m) |
| Time Difference | -2h | Jet lag: none |
| CO2 (Economy) | 553 kg | DEFRA 2024 factors |
| CO2 (Business) | 1605 kg | 2.9x economy |
| CO2 (First Class) | 2214 kg | 4x economy |
| Trees to Offset | 51 | Economy class, per passenger |
| Fuel per Passenger | 106 L | ~19,080 L total (180 pax) |
| Operating Airlines | 3 | Direct flights available |
Tips for This Route
John F Kennedy International Airport
New York, United States
Juan Santamaria International Airport
San Jose, Costa Rica
Airlines Flying This Route
3 airlines operate flights between New York and San Jose.
Flight Details
Flight Midpoint
The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:
Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class
CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.
Jet Lag & Travel Tips
- Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely
Seat Recommendations
Distance in Perspective
Distance & Speed Reference
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Statute Miles | 2,204 mi |
| Kilometers | 3,548 km |
| Nautical Miles | 1,916 nm |
| Meters | 3,548,000 m |
| Feet | 11,637,120 ft |
| Flight Time (850 km/h) | 4h 50m |
Travel Speed Comparison
How long would it take to cover the 3,548 km between New York and San Jose at different speeds?
| Mode | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Jet | 850 km/h | 4h 50m |
| Turboprop Aircraft | 500 km/h | 7h 6m |
| Bullet Train | 320 km/h | 11h 5m |
| Car (highway) | 100 km/h | 35h 29m |
| Walking | 5 km/h | 710h (30 days) |
| Speed of Sound | 1,235 km/h | 2h 52m |
Round Trip Summary
Quick Facts
Routes from JFK
View all routesFrequently Asked Questions
How far is New York from San Jose?
The flight distance from John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is 2,204 miles (3,548 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.
How long is the flight?
A direct flight takes approximately 4h 50m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).
What is the time difference?
San Jose is 2 hours behind New York.
What airlines fly this route?
3 airlines operate this route: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, US Airways.
What is the carbon footprint?
Economy class: 553 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 1605 kg. First class: 2214 kg. Offset with ~51 trees.
Which seat side is best?
For this South-Southwest flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.
Can I drive from New York to San Jose instead of flying?
Driving is not practical for this 3,548 km distance, especially across international borders. It would theoretically take over 44 hours of driving. Flying at 4h 50m is the recommended option.
What aircraft typically fly this route?
This medium-haul route is typically served by Airbus A321, Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo aircraft. A mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft may operate this route depending on demand.
How can I offset the carbon from this flight?
An economy class seat on this route produces 553 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 51 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.
External Resources & References
Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.