This article presents the numerical studies on predicting onset of flow separation and vortex shedding in flow past unconfined two-dimensional elliptical cylinders for various Axis Ratios (AR) and a wide range of Angles of Attack (AOA). An efficient Cartesian grid technique based immersed boundary method is used for numerical simulations. The laminar separation Reynolds number (Res) that marks separation of flow from surface and the critical Reynolds number (Recr) which represents transition from steady to unsteady flow are determined using diverse methods. A stability analysis which uses Stuart-Landau equation is also performed for calculating Recr. The shedding frequency (Stcr) that corresponds to Recr is calculated using Landau constants. The simulated results for circular cylinder are found to be in good agreement with the literature. The effects of AR and AOA on Res, Recr, and Stcr are studied. It is observed that the Res, Recr, and Stcr exhibit a direct/inverse relationship with AR depending upon the given AOA. Correlations of Res, Recr, and Stcr with respect to AR and AOA are proposed with good accuracy. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.