John F. Kennedy Airport is one of the largest international airports not only in the United States, but also in North America as a whole. In terms of annual passenger turnover, it ranks twentieth in the world, receiving flights from more than ninety airlines from all inhabited continents, so we decided to devote a separate article to all possible ways to get from New York airport to the city center.
General information
New York’s main international airport (IATA code – JFK) until 1963 was called Idlewild after the name of the golf course on which it was built. After the tragic death of US President John F. Kennedy, the airport was named after him.
Kennedy Airport has eight terminals connected by the AirTrain.
- Terminal 1 receives international flights from major airlines; this is where the largest A380 passenger airliners land.
- 2 – specializes in Delta Air flights.
- 4 is the main international terminal of the airport, receiving flights mainly from Asia. This is the second terminal capable of receiving Airbus A380s and the only one open 24 hours a day.
- 5 – serves flights of low-cost regional airlines, as well as the Irish Aer Lingus.
- 7 – receives and dispatches flights from British Airways and several smaller carriers.
- 8 – operated by British Airways and is the hub for the Oneworld alliance.
All terminals have waiting rooms, ATMs, currency exchange offices, chain cafes, restaurants and bars, clothing, cosmetics and perfume stores, newspaper and souvenir kiosks, and car rental offices.
The airport has a medical aid station, changing rooms, travel agencies, and a lost and found office. Luggage storage is available in Terminals 1 and 4.
In the central area of JFK Airport there are short-term parking areas adjacent to the terminals. Long-term parking is located on Lefferts Boulevard, 6.5 km from the terminals.
Airport map Kennedy Airport New York
John F. Kennedy Airport is quite large; signs and a map of the airport will help you navigate its territory:
Transportation from Kennedy Airport
How to get to Manhattan from JFK airport ? After passing the security check and collecting your luggage, you are surely looking forward to heading to your accommodation.
So take note: we tell you all the ways to get to Manhattan from JFK airport (with options for the other boroughs as well).
The airport is located in Queens, 20 kilometers from Lower Manhattan. Transport links between the airport and the city are well established – you can get to the center by bus, train, taxi, and even fly by helicopter.
AIRTRAIN + METRO (TO ANYWHERE IN NYC)
he cheapest option to get anywhere in New York or Manhattan from JFK airport is the Airtrain + subway combination.
If you go to Manhattan, with this combination it will take between 60 and 75 minutes to get there, depending on the area.
WHAT IS AIRTRAIN?
The AirTrain is the train that connects the JFK airport terminals to each other.
It is not a train that goes directly to Manhattan, but it connects with two New York subway stations and a train station, so you can transfer and get to any point in the city.
AIRTRAIN LINES AND STOPS
The AirTrain has 2 different lines that run 24 hours a day :
- The Red Line (Jamaica) goes to Jamaica Station, where you can take the E, J and Z subway lines or the LIRR train (which connects to stations in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan).
- The Green Line (Howard Beach) goes to the Howard Beach Subway Station, where you can take the A Subway Line.
Before you get on the train, you’ll need to consult the New York City Subway map to decide which AirTrain line you’ll take and which subway you’ll take to get to your destination.
JFK AIRPORT AIRTRAIN PRICE
The AirTrain and the subway are separate transportation, so they have different prices.
Even so, both are paid with the same subscription, the MetroCard , a card that you buy at the machines and on which you can load the necessary money.
You can share it between a maximum of 4 people and, the first time you buy it, you will be charged an additional $1.
- The AirTrain costs $8.25 per person (if you’re just going from one airport terminal to another, it’s free).
- You pay when you get off, once you arrive at Jamaica Station or Howard Beach and want to leave the station.
There you will find machines to buy the MetroCard, which you will have to go through the turnstiles to be able to leave the station. - A New York subway ticket costs $2.90. As soon as you leave the AirTrain station, you will have to pass your ticket through the turnstiles again to enter the subway station.
AIRTRAIN + LIRR TRAIN (TO MIDTOWN MANHATTAN)
If you are staying in the Midtown Manhattan area (more or less between 34th and 42nd Streets), another option to get to Manhattan from JFK Airport is to take the Airtrain + a LIRR train , the Long Island Railroad .
It is a slightly faster option than the metro, but also more expensive and, in addition, the trains do not run at night.
LIRR STOPS
To get to New York with the LIRR, the process is similar to taking the subway:
- Board the Airtrain red line (Jamaica) and get off at Jamaica Station. There, in addition to the E, J and Z subway lines, you can transfer with the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) train.
- The LIRR stops at two major Manhattan stations: Grand Central Madison, in eastern Manhattan at 42nd Street, and Penn Station , in west-central Manhattan at 34th Street.
- It also stops at other stations in Brooklyn and Queens, depending on the line, although we put emphasis on those in Manhattan because that is where most travelers go.
- Here you can check the LIRR schedules to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison.
AIRTRAIN + LIRR PRICE
As we mentioned, this combination is more expensive than using the subway:
- First, you will have to pay the $8.25 Airtrain to Jamaica Station. You have all the details in the previous section.
- Next, you will have to buy an LIRR ticket. Prices change depending on the destination season and what time of day you travel: peak , during rush hour, or off-peak , during the rest of the day.
Off -peak , they can cost between $5 and $7.75 , and on peak , up to $10.75 .
Here you can calculate how much the LIRR train costs depending on the route you want to take and see the schedules. - LIRR tickets cannot be paid with the MetroCard. You will have to buy them separately from the machines at the station, before getting on the train.
🌟 Total price Airtrain + LIRR: between $13 and $18.75 per person. Getting to Manhattan from JFK Airport by AirTrain + LIRR will cost you at least $8.25 for the Airtrain and $5 for the LIRR during off-peak hours.
TAXI TO MANHATTAN FROM JFK AIRPORT
The most comfortable option to get to New York from JFK, especially if you are carrying suitcases, is to go by car , whether it is a taxi, an Uber or Lyft or a private transfer.
HOW TO TAKE A TAXI
Exit the terminal and you will find the queue for the official taxi service. As the cars arrive, an employee asks you the destination and tells you which one to get into .
Many unofficial drivers will stop you along the way to offer their services. We recommend that you ignore it and use the official service .
Even with the official service, it is important that you check the price and ask for the receipt , since from time to time there are those who try to overcharge tourists.
Although you can claim it later (that’s why we recommend you always use official taxis), it is a slow and tedious process, so it’s better to be safe.
HOW MUCH DOES A TAXI COST FROM JFK AIRPORT TO NEW YORK?
The price varies depending on whether you go to Manhattan or the other boroughs, but remember that you will always have to add a 15-20% tip .
You can pay in cash or by card and you pay per trip, not per person.
- The trip to Manhattan has a fixed price of $70 per taxi. To this we must add the tip, the supplements ($1.25 for airport pick-up, $0.5 state tax, rush hour supplement of $5 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays) and, if applicable , tolls.
Therefore, the final price can be around $85 – $100 per taxi. - The trip to Brooklyn, Queens and other districts does not have a fixed price and depends on the taximeter. In addition to the tip, fees may be added such as a peak hour supplement ($5) or a peak hour supplement ($3).
- On the official JFK website you have all the information.
Here are the approximate prices for a taxi from JFK airport to New York (the tip and possible supplements would need to be added):
| From JFK… | Price |
|---|---|
| To Manhattan | $70 + supplements and tolls |
| To Brooklyn | $63 – $78 |
| To Queens | $30 – $43 |
| To the Bronx | $73 – $103 |
| To Staten Island | $95 – $100 |
TAXI FAQ
- How many passengers can fit in a taxi? New York taxis have capacity for 4 passengers. There are also taxis with capacity for 5 passengers, but they are very few and it is more difficult to find them.
- Are there child seats? No, in New York it is not mandatory for children to travel in a car seat in taxis and public transport.
Children under 7 years old can sit on the lap of an adult in the back seat.
But the safest thing is that you bring a chair, as we tell you in the guide to traveling to New York with children . - How do you leave the tip? When paying, several options appear on the touch screen: 15%, 20%… Or the option to choose the amount yourself. In this article we tell you what tipping is like in New York .
UBER OR LYFT FROM THE AIRPORT TO NEW YORK
If you can connect to the airport Wi-Fi (or have internet on your mobile , something we recommend), an option very similar to a taxi is the Uber or Lyft applications .
Install them at home, associate your card with them and, as soon as you arrive at the airport, you just have to enter your destination and request the trip .
- The driver will pick you up at the pick-up area you indicate . The application lets you choose between the pick-up areas of the terminal you have arrived at (A, B, C…), which are usually in front of the departure gate.
Once you choose the area, you will have to walk there and wait. - As there are usually drivers at the airport, they usually arrive quickly, in about 5-10 minutes . The application tells you at all times how long until the driver arrives and you recognize him by the license plate number and car model .
- You don’t need to take out money or the card , since the trip is paid automatically through the mobile application once you get out of the car.
- The price is closed. You will know as soon as you check the route, and this way you can decide if you want to order an Uber or not.
- The price is similar to that of the taxi, but the tip is not mandatory . If you want to leave it, at the end of the journey the application will offer you the option.
TRANSFER WITH DRIVER TO YOUR HOTEL
Another very convenient option to get to New York or Manhattan from JFK airport, especially if you are traveling with someone and can share the costs, is to hire a private transfer to the hotel.
It is also a good option if there are more than 4 of you, since you can choose a vehicle with capacity for 6 people , or even vans with capacity for 10 or 14 passengers .
In addition, the price is fixed and includes everything , both supplements and tips.
Of course, we recommend purchasing tickets several days in advance , since they will ask for your flight number and arrival time so you don’t have to wait.