New York airports

Is there much difference between travel times from Newark Airport and JFK if destination is New York City? Is either airport easier to navigate and/or better facilities?

Here's an entire "Wiki" devoted to that very question
Which is the "best" airport?

If I were you I'd fly into JFK and take a yellow taxi to my destination in Manhattan. Seriously, make sure it's yellow - - they are licensed and regulated to charge a fixed rate.

But if you want european-style connections, a monorail to a light rail train, then it's Newark.

JFK has the AirTrain

The AirTrain from JFK is simple, inexpensive and quick. From JFK it is about an 11 minute trip to Jamaica station in Queens where you can connect to either the E subway or the Long Island Railroad into Penn Station in Manhattan. The airtrain is $5, the subway is $2 and the LIRR is $7 peak and $5 off peak.

Depending on your final destination in Manhattan, if you choose the subway, you can connect to other subways along the route. You can find all the information you need at http://mta.info/index.html

Not being a local, but having traveled to Manhattan many times, I find JFK most cost/stress-effective when traveling light (air train/subway) and LGA the best when traveling with my wife and a plethora of luggage (cab). My usual destination is midtown to UES. I've even taken the train in from HPN and SWF a few times on mileage runs. Never been through EWR.

Be advised Keith that JFK reminds me a lot of LHR, so, if you like the chaos of LHR, you'll like JFK

Recent unrestricted (outbound) cab fare midtown to JFK was about 54.00 with toll and tip not during rush. Usual fares to/from LGA have been in the 35.00 range, depending on how we cross the river. NYC cabbies are real characters, not unlike their London counterparts

Since wide-bodies don't normally service LGA, of the two, I'd be inclined to try EWR. If I ever do some SkyTeam runs, I will.

Safe travels!

Pat

Anecdotally, I've found JFK to be the pits when returning from overseas and having to clear customs there - really disorganized, clueless and unhelpful staff, very stressful when we had to catch connecting flight. But I can't compare it to Newark in this scenario.

You can take the airport shuttle vans from any of the 3 airports, and this transportation is what we have always used in recent years to get into Manhattan with luggage. You don't even have to book these in advance (at least we didn't) from the airport, just take the next one out - their desks are close together. If this is your first NYC trip, I wouldn't try to navigate the subway with luggage, these shuttle vans drop you right at the door of the hotel or timeshare, and rates are reasonable, about $15 per person from JFK, another few dollars from Newark, and they leave the airport very frequently. I think this was cheaper than a cab and they load your luggage for you, if you care.

I wouldn't fool with the Airtrain. Take a shuttle or it's a flat $45 to Manhattan. A cab from Newark with cost you about the same, maybe a little more. The train from Newark into Penn is an option as well, but again, I wouldn't do that with a bunch of luggage.

If prices were the same, I would fly into JFK. It is closer to Manhattan and transportation options into the city are multiple. But, if you find a much lower fare to Newark (EWR), take that and spend a little more getting into Manhattan.

International my preference is Newark. I dislike JFK a lot. I don't believe international flights go into LGA you have to connect somewhere in the states then proceed to LGA. By cab travel time is about equal to any of the airports. By subway you can take Airtrain from both JFK, or Newark. From Newark the train would take you to Penn Station 34th street and its easy to get a taxi to your destination. From JFK Airtrain to the LIRR to Penn Station

Air train works best (and is a terrific option) if you only have carry on luggage or a big wheelie bag. Navigating Air train with several bags can be difficult.

Physically, Newark is closer than JFK. JFK is a world class airport, but not nearly on par with airports like Hong Kong, but certainly better than LHR. Ever since I was a kid growing up about 20 minutes from JFK, that airport has been under construction in one way or another, and it's never ever stopped. Your experience at JFK will largely depend on which terminal you arrive at. It was designed in the 50's and 60's and consists of separate terminals, where each terminal services one or a few airlines, except for the International Arrivals terminal, which services most smaller airlines arriving and departing from JFK. AA, UA, BA, DL, etc all have their own or shared terminals with their own international arrivals and departures. I don't remember which terminal BMI uses, but you can check the Port Authority of NY and NJ web site. The Port Authority runs all 3 NYC area airports (LGA, JFK and EWR) and they also operate bridges and tunnels connecting NYC and NJ.

The JFK Air Train has an inner loop train (free) connecting all the terminals. The outer loop connects all the terminals with the rental car center, Howard Beach subway station and Jamaica with the connection to the LIRR train to Penn Station which is located at 33rd Street between 7th and 8th Ave. The connection is pretty good, with elevators to move you from the upper level where the Air Train is to the LIRR train platforms. There are elevators at Penn Station to get you from the train platform levels to the concourse level, and escalators that lead up to street level. The Air Train to Jamaica is $5, and then the LIRR ticket to Penn Station is about another $7 - $10 depending on when you are going. (LIRR has rush-hour pricing for rush hour direction, to the city in the morning rush hours, from the city in the afternoon/evening hours.) There are ticket machines to buy both your Air Train and LIRR tickets when you arrive at Jamaica. (just before the exit, on the right when you enter the exit hall.) Jamaica Station is the LIRR hub, so trains leave from there to Penn Station very frequently, and depending on which train you take it's either 0, 1 or 3 stops to Penn Station, and that part of the trip takes about 25 minutes.

Newark is (well, for lack of a better word) Newark. (Sorry in advance to you Newark fans.) It's a lot smaller than JFK and closer to the city. I assume you mean Manhattan when you say New York City. From Newark you take the Air Train to the Newark Airport train stop, and pay $5. From there you take the train to Penn Station. I have no idea what the cost is for the NJ train or how frequently they run.

If you're making your decision based on airfare cost, then it doesn't matter. Either one works. If you're making your decision based on convenience, I think it's a toss-up. I'm not sure if Newark's runways can handle 747s or not. Somebody that frequents Newark will know.

-David

Linda74 said:

If prices were the same, I would fly into JFK. It is closer to Manhattan and transportation options into the city are multiple. But, if you find a much lower fare to Newark (EWR), take that and spend a little more getting into Manhattan.

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This is incorrect. JFK is much furthur from Manhattan then Newark is.Travel time is much longer.

Newark is much smaller and easier to navigate.JFK is much older and is stressed to the max.I'd suggest taking the 45 passenger bus that goes from either airport and takes you to Times Square(mid-town)Its cheaper than a cab for partys of three or less,is much more comfortable,has a bathroom, and the driver will handle your bags for you.Depending on traffic,it can be an hour or more from either airport.Late at nite,it is about twenty minutes.
Airtrain works well if you have almost no luggage and it isn't rush hour.

I still think for the money, the airport shuttle is the best/easiest way to go door-to-door for first-timers - with luggage - after an international flight - especially for us folks with knees and backs that get wrecked when toting luggage while climbing up and down even a few steps. (I try really hard to avoid that, especially at the beginning of a trip these days!) You'll have plenty of time to master the various public transportation systems, to save a few dollars... or pence, given the exchange rate?! I'm almost a native New Yorker, and still love the shuttle vans when arriving, even after a short flight.

JFK shuttle: $15 ... Newark shuttle: $19.

www.epinions.com/Newark_International_Airport/display_~reviews
www.epinions.com/JFK_International_Airport/display_~reviews
www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-07-09-jfk-cover_N.htm

Laurie said:

after an international flight - especially for us folks with knees and backs that get wrecked when toting luggage while climbing up and down even a few steps.

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How did you know about the state of my knees?? You're right though. After an 8/9 hour flight all I want to do is get to my destination by the easiest means available. I don't want to drag cases etc on and off trains or buses just to save a couple of bucks.

lynne said:

The AirTrain from JFK is simple, inexpensive and quick. From JFK it is about an 11 minute trip to Jamaica station in Queens where you can connect to either the E subway or the Long Island Railroad into Penn Station in Manhattan.

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Although I did it as a round trip, and timed it. It is about a 1 1/2 to 2-hour trip, each way, from JFK to the Manhattan Club, using the Airtrain and subway. A cab usually does it in about 30-45 minutes in light to no traffic.

I would highly recommend Carmel Limo Service. My teenage daughter and I arrived late at night and they were great. They're about the same or even less than a cab and we didn't have to wait in the taxi line(it was about 20-30 deep). Big Frank and someone else (can't remember who now) recommended them and it was great. Here'e the website if you're interested.

http://www.carmellimo.com/Airports.

The rates don't include the toll which I believe is $5.

Actually Frank had recommended this car service
New Pubelo Car service
718 458 3772
718 458 6464

I used Carmel but either one would be great from what I understand.

Keitht said:

I don't want to drag cases etc on and off trains or buses just to save a couple of bucks.

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Ditto. The $45 yellow cab flat fare per carload (plus toll and tip) for door-to-door service from JFK makes perfect sense, especially if you're not travelling alone. The way the U.S. dollar is headed, by the time you travel that'll be 20 pounds sterling!