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A direct flight from NYC to LA is about 6 hours. Try to get a late night flight because then you don't waste a day. you pass most of the time by sleeping, and it is a lot cooler.
Also remember it depends on the time of year and whether you have headwinds. It could take longer going west than coming back east. Winter head winds have sometimes added almost an hour to our DC--SF flights. Hate when that happens!