United States

The United States has the world's largest domestic aviation market, with over 5,000 public airports and 19,000+ daily domestic flights. The country serves as a major connecting point between Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

For international travelers, the main entry points are the coastal gateway airports: JFK and Newark (New York), LAX (Los Angeles), MIA (Miami), and SFO (San Francisco). Domestically, the hub-and-spoke system means most connections route through major hubs like Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver.

The US is unique in requiring passengers on international arrivals to clear customs and immigration at their first point of entry, even if connecting to another US destination. This adds significant time to connections.

International Gateways

Airport	City	Role	Major Airlines
JFK	New York	Transatlantic gateway	Delta, JetBlue, BA, Emirates
LAX	Los Angeles	Transpacific gateway	United, American, Delta
MIA	Miami	Latin America hub	American Airlines
SFO	San Francisco	Asia-Pacific gateway	United
EWR	Newark	United hub, transatlantic	United
IAD	Washington	Star Alliance gateway	United
ORD	Chicago	United/American hub	United, American

Domestic Mega-Hubs

Atlanta (ATL) — The world's busiest airport by passenger traffic. Delta's primary hub with connections to virtually every US destination. Efficient single-terminal design despite massive size.

Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) — American Airlines' largest hub. Central US location makes it ideal for coast-to-coast connections. Five terminals connected by Skylink train.

Denver (DEN) — United hub and Southwest focus city. Major western US connecting point. Single terminal with three concourses accessed by train.

Chicago O'Hare (ORD) — United and American hub. Second busiest US airport. Four terminals, domestic terminals connected airside, international (T5) requires re-screening.

Regional Considerations

• New York area: Three major airports (JFK, EWR, LGA) not connected—choose based on airline and destination
• Los Angeles area: LAX dominates, but BUR and SNA offer alternatives for domestic
• San Francisco area: SFO is main gateway; OAK and SJC serve low-cost carriers
• Washington DC: Three airports—DCA (closest to downtown), IAD (international hub), BWI (Southwest)

Major Legacy Carriers

The "Big Three" dominate US aviation:

• American Airlines (AA) — Largest by fleet and revenue. Hubs: DFW, CLT, MIA, PHX, PHL, ORD, LAX
• Delta Air Lines (DL) — Highest customer satisfaction among legacies. Hubs: ATL, MSP, DTW, SLC, SEA, LAX, JFK
• United Airlines (UA) — Strongest Pacific network. Hubs: ORD, DEN, IAH, EWR, SFO, LAX

Low-Cost Carriers

• Southwest (WN) — Largest LCC, no hub system, no assigned seats, two free checked bags. Strong at MDW, DAL, LAS, DEN, PHX
• JetBlue (B6) — Premium LCC with more legroom. Focus cities: JFK, BOS, FLL, LAX, SJU
• Spirit (NK) — Ultra-low-cost, fee-heavy model. FLL hub
• Frontier (F9) — ULCC, DEN focus

International Carriers

Major foreign airlines serving the US:

• British Airways, Virgin Atlantic — UK routes
• Lufthansa, Air France, KLM — European networks
• Emirates, Qatar, Etihad — Middle East connections
• ANA, JAL, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific — Asian routes
• LATAM, Avianca, Copa — Latin American connections

Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

Citizens of 40 countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days with ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).

• Cost: $21 (valid 2 years)
• Apply: esta.cbp.dhs.gov (official site only—avoid third-party scams)
• Processing: Usually instant, allow 72 hours minimum before travel

VWP Countries include: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and most EU/Schengen states.

Visa Required

Citizens of most other countries need a B-1/B-2 visitor visa:

• Apply at US Embassy or Consulate in your country
• Interview required in most cases
• Processing times vary from days to months
• Fee: $185

Passport Requirements

• Valid for duration of stay (6 months recommended)
• Machine-readable passport required for ESTA
• Must have at least one blank page

Global Entry

Frequent travelers can apply for Global Entry ($100, 5 years):

• Expedited customs and immigration clearance
• Includes TSA PreCheck for domestic security
• Apply at ttp.cbp.dhs.gov

Official information: travel.state.gov

Domestic Flights

Flying is often the fastest option for distances over 300 miles. The US has frequent service between major cities:

Route	Daily Flights	Duration
NYC ↔ LAX	40+	5.5 hours
NYC ↔ Chicago	30+	2.5 hours
NYC ↔ Miami	25+	3 hours
LAX ↔ San Francisco	20+	1.5 hours

Booking tips:

• Book 2-4 weeks ahead for best prices
• Tuesday/Wednesday flights often cheapest
• Southwest includes 2 free checked bags
• Basic economy fares restrict changes and seat selection

Trains (Amtrak)

Limited high-speed rail. The Northeast Corridor (Boston-NYC-Washington) is most useful:

• Acela: 2h50 NYC-Washington, 3h30 NYC-Boston (business class service)
• Regional: Slower but cheaper

Other useful routes:

• Pacific Surfliner: LA-San Diego (scenic coastal route)
• Empire Builder: Chicago-Seattle (2 days, scenic)

USA Rail Pass: Available for multi-city trips (15, 30, or 45 days).

Car Rental

Essential for:

• National parks
• Road trips (Pacific Coast Highway, Route 66)
• Areas with limited public transit (most of the country)

Notes:

• International licenses accepted (varies by state)
• Drive on the right
• Gas (petrol) sold by the gallon
• Minimum age usually 21-25, extra fees for under-25

Buses

• Greyhound: Nationwide network, budget option
• FlixBus: European-style express buses, growing network
• Megabus: Northeast and Midwest routes

Peak Season (June-August, December)

Summer is busiest for family travel. December peaks around holidays. Expect highest airfares and full flights.

Shoulder Season (April-May, September-October)

Best overall value. Good weather in most regions, lower prices, fewer crowds. Flights 20-30% cheaper than peak.

Off-Season (January-March, November)

Lowest fares, especially January-February. Cold in northern states. Good for: ski destinations, Southern California, Florida, Hawaii.

Regional Timing

Region	Best Time	Avoid
Florida	Oct-Apr	Jun-Nov (hurricane season)
Southwest	Mar-May, Sep-Nov	Jun-Aug (extreme heat)
Pacific Northwest	Jun-Sep	Oct-May (rain)
New England	May-Oct	Jan-Mar (harsh winter)
Hawaii	Apr-Jun, Sep-Nov	Dec-Mar (peak prices)
Alaska	Jun-Aug	Oct-May (limited access)

Major Cities

City	Airport	Known For
New York	JFK, EWR, LGA	Business, culture, Broadway, Times Square
Los Angeles	LAX	Entertainment, beaches, tech
San Francisco	SFO	Tech, Golden Gate, wine country
Miami	MIA	Beach, Latin culture, Art Deco, cruises
Las Vegas	LAS	Gaming, shows, Grand Canyon access
Chicago	ORD, MDW	Architecture, food, museums
Washington DC	DCA, IAD, BWI	Politics, Smithsonian museums

National Parks

Most parks require car access from nearest airport:

Park	Nearest Airport	Drive Time
Grand Canyon	PHX or LAS	4-4.5 hours
Yellowstone	JAC or BZN	1-2 hours
Yosemite	FAT or SFO	2.5-4 hours
Zion	LAS	2.5 hours
Glacier	FCA	30 min

Hawaii

• Honolulu (HNL) — Oahu, Waikiki Beach
• Maui (OGG) — Road to Hana, Haleakala
• Kona (KOA) — Big Island, volcanoes
• Lihue (LIH) — Kauai, Na Pali Coast

Direct flights from LAX, SFO, SEA, DEN, PHX, and more.

Money

• Currency: US Dollar (USD)
• Cards: Widely accepted. Visa/Mastercard universal, Amex common
• Tipping: 15-20% at restaurants, $1-2 per bag for porters, $2-5 for hotel housekeeping
• ATMs: Widely available, avoid airport exchange bureaus (poor rates)
• Tax: Prices displayed exclude sales tax (varies 0-10% by state)

Connectivity

• Mobile carriers: T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon
• eSIM: Supported by all carriers. Airalo, Holafly work well
• WiFi: Free at most airports, hotels, cafes, Starbucks

Safety

Generally safe for tourists. Standard precautions:

• Keep valuables secure in crowded areas
• Uber/Lyft safer than street hails in unfamiliar areas
• 911 for emergencies
• Avoid leaving valuables visible in parked cars

Electrical

• Voltage: 120V, 60Hz
• Plug type: Type A/B (two flat prongs)
• Adapters: Most hotels have USB charging available

Measurements

The US uses imperial:

• Distance: miles (1 mile = 1.6 km)
• Temperature: Fahrenheit (°F = °C × 9/5 + 32)
• Gas: gallons (1 gallon = 3.8 liters)

• Tourism: Visit USA
• Visa/ESTA: US Travel State Dept
• ESTA Application: esta.cbp.dhs.gov
• TSA Security: tsa.gov
• Global Entry: ttp.cbp.dhs.gov
• National Parks: nps.gov
• Amtrak: amtrak.com