Times Square Area to JFK Airport
Sep 5th, 2010, 04:04 PM
#1
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Times Square Area to JFK Airport
What is the best route / way to get from the Times Square area to JFK airport? We are flying out of JFK on an 11:15am flight this coming Friday (Sept 10th). Our hotel is the Wyndham Garden Hotel - Times Square South.
I did a Google directions search and it said it would take the following times based on these two routes:
Route 1: I-495 E and I-678 S
17.2 mi - 26 mins no traffic
1 hour 50 mins in traffic
Route 2: Grand Central Pkwy E
22.5 mi - 36 mins no traffice
1 hour 30 mins in traffic
Those are huge differences with traffic! This is an international flight to Africa so we obviously want to be there 2 hours early. Should we just have our hotel call us a taxi? What time should we plan on leaving from the hotel? I was thinking 7:30am but is that even early enough?
Lastly, any clue on how much a cab ride will cost to JFK from here? I'm guessing pretty expensive especially if it takes 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!
Thanks for any insight!
I did a Google directions search and it said it would take the following times based on these two routes:
Route 1: I-495 E and I-678 S
17.2 mi - 26 mins no traffic
1 hour 50 mins in traffic
Route 2: Grand Central Pkwy E
22.5 mi - 36 mins no traffice
1 hour 30 mins in traffic
Those are huge differences with traffic! This is an international flight to Africa so we obviously want to be there 2 hours early. Should we just have our hotel call us a taxi? What time should we plan on leaving from the hotel? I was thinking 7:30am but is that even early enough?
Lastly, any clue on how much a cab ride will cost to JFK from here? I'm guessing pretty expensive especially if it takes 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!
Thanks for any insight!
Sep 5th, 2010, 04:18 PM
#2
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I would be comfortable with 7:30. Others will tell you nothing later than 7, and still others may say 8:00 is ok.
What airline, and what is the check in cutoff time?
I would just take a taxi. Manhattan to JFK is a flat $45 fare + tolls & tip.
What airline, and what is the check in cutoff time?
I would just take a taxi. Manhattan to JFK is a flat $45 fare + tolls & tip.
Sep 5th, 2010, 04:27 PM
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Thanks for the response. It is South African Airways. I'm having trouble finding what the check in cutoff time is but I'll keep searching.
What is a standard tip for that type of cab ride?
What is a standard tip for that type of cab ride?
Sep 5th, 2010, 04:42 PM
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Toll (Queens Midtown tunnel) is either $5 or maybe it's now $5.50.
10% tip (low) would be $4.50
20% tip (generous) would be %9.00
I'd just give a straight $60 all totaled. Easier just to hand over 3x $20 than fuss over $1 bills to get a $57 or $58 total.
10% tip (low) would be $4.50
20% tip (generous) would be %9.00
I'd just give a straight $60 all totaled. Easier just to hand over 3x $20 than fuss over $1 bills to get a $57 or $58 total.
Sep 5th, 2010, 04:42 PM
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On a Friday morning, I strongly recommend the LIRR to the air train. You're staying on west 36th, and that's close to Penn Ststion. The trip will take you less than hour even if you take a short taxi ride to Penn Station as long as you check train schedules to make the connevtion with a minimum of waiting. It will cost about$12 each not including the cab to Penn Station. Because traffic can be so bad during the day out of the city on a Friday, this is what I prefer. And I realize it's a little easier to just take a car service. This isn't about saving money. It's about being certain of your travel time so you don't waste your time.
If you have large bags there are escalators at all points, but they can be a little hard to find at Penn Station.
If you have large bags there are escalators at all points, but they can be a little hard to find at Penn Station.
Sep 5th, 2010, 05:22 PM
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Surprisingly I think we'll go with the LIRR to the air train option over the cab. Like you said, not for the $ savings but for the quicker/more guaranteed time frame. We will have a pretty good amount of luggage, but nothing unmanageable.
We might just walk to Penn station since it's only a 5 minute walk according to Google Maps. I'm pasting in the detailed info that I found on this link for other people that might read through this:
http://www.nysubway.com/airport/jfk.html#rail
------
Most Reliable Method – LIRR and the Airtrain Combo to JFK Airport
This method is not just the most reliable, but also a relatively cheap and quick way to travel from Penn Station to JFK International Airport during the day or night. Catch the LIRR train from Penn Station to LIRR's Jamaica hub, which takes 20 minutes. From there take the JFK Airport Airtrain on the upper level that gets you to the airport terminals in 12-15 minutes. LIRR trains and the JFK Airport Airtrain run 24 hours a day. Be sure your LIRR train stops in Jamaica though, because some trains bypass that station.
The cost of using the LIRR/Airtrain combo to get to JFK International Airport depends on when you travel. The JFK Airport Airtrain always costs $5, payable with a pay-per-ride Metrocard (Unlimited-use Metrocard's won't work on Airtrain). The LIRR fare varies with travel time: during the afternoon rush, the LIRR fare to Jamaica is $7, making your total cost $12. During other weekday hours, the LIRR fare is $5, for a total fare of $10. On weekends, you can ride the LIRR to Jamaica for a special City Ticket fare of just $3 – making the total cost of your trip to JFK Airport only $8.
LIRR trains run to Jamaica every 15 minutes during the day, and every half hour at night, except between 2 and 5 AM, when the trains run hourly. Travel time is uniformly 35-45 minutes, and transfers between the LIRR and the JFK Airport Airtrain are easy to make. If you consult www.mta.info for nighttime LIRR schedules, your trip should be painless, no matter when you travel. Announcements at Penn Station, on the LIRR trains, and the JFK Airport Airtrain are always clear and concise.
We might just walk to Penn station since it's only a 5 minute walk according to Google Maps. I'm pasting in the detailed info that I found on this link for other people that might read through this:
http://www.nysubway.com/airport/jfk.html#rail
------
Most Reliable Method – LIRR and the Airtrain Combo to JFK Airport
This method is not just the most reliable, but also a relatively cheap and quick way to travel from Penn Station to JFK International Airport during the day or night. Catch the LIRR train from Penn Station to LIRR's Jamaica hub, which takes 20 minutes. From there take the JFK Airport Airtrain on the upper level that gets you to the airport terminals in 12-15 minutes. LIRR trains and the JFK Airport Airtrain run 24 hours a day. Be sure your LIRR train stops in Jamaica though, because some trains bypass that station.
The cost of using the LIRR/Airtrain combo to get to JFK International Airport depends on when you travel. The JFK Airport Airtrain always costs $5, payable with a pay-per-ride Metrocard (Unlimited-use Metrocard's won't work on Airtrain). The LIRR fare varies with travel time: during the afternoon rush, the LIRR fare to Jamaica is $7, making your total cost $12. During other weekday hours, the LIRR fare is $5, for a total fare of $10. On weekends, you can ride the LIRR to Jamaica for a special City Ticket fare of just $3 – making the total cost of your trip to JFK Airport only $8.
LIRR trains run to Jamaica every 15 minutes during the day, and every half hour at night, except between 2 and 5 AM, when the trains run hourly. Travel time is uniformly 35-45 minutes, and transfers between the LIRR and the JFK Airport Airtrain are easy to make. If you consult www.mta.info for nighttime LIRR schedules, your trip should be painless, no matter when you travel. Announcements at Penn Station, on the LIRR trains, and the JFK Airport Airtrain are always clear and concise.
Sep 5th, 2010, 05:26 PM
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Unless it has changed and I missed it, the flat fare of $45 only applies from JFK to Manhattan. In the other direction the meter fare applies. Depending on traffic, it is comparable to the flat fare.
You can also take the airport bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd St and 8th Av. The buses are very reliable and their schedules allow for traffic. Check the schedules to see which bus gets you there at a comfortable time for you - probably the 7:20 or the 7:50 a.m.
http://www.nyairportservice.com
One way fare is $15 pp.
You can also take the airport bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd St and 8th Av. The buses are very reliable and their schedules allow for traffic. Check the schedules to see which bus gets you there at a comfortable time for you - probably the 7:20 or the 7:50 a.m.
http://www.nyairportservice.com
One way fare is $15 pp.
Sep 5th, 2010, 06:53 PM
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At 7am you are fighting alot of traffic coming into the city, so I would agree that the fastest option would be to take the LIRR to Airtran to JFK.
Check the train departure times, so you won't miss one and end up waiting for the next train. The entrance to the LIRR is on 34th St, just west of 7th Ave, with a large overhang sign so you can't miss it. Take the escalator down and buy your ticket at any of the booths, and ask for the next departure and gate.
Have a wonderful trip and let us know how it all works out for you.
Check the train departure times, so you won't miss one and end up waiting for the next train. The entrance to the LIRR is on 34th St, just west of 7th Ave, with a large overhang sign so you can't miss it. Take the escalator down and buy your ticket at any of the booths, and ask for the next departure and gate.
Have a wonderful trip and let us know how it all works out for you.
Sep 6th, 2010, 05:42 AM
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The one thing I would suggest is that you verify the train times and buy your tickets on Thursday evening on the way back to your hotel (the machines are always available) so you don't have to waste extra time in the morning. When you arrive, Penn Station is going to be very busy both with commuters going to work in Long Island, with people headed to the airport, and with commuters coming into the city, so you'll have to wend your way through crowds. Give yourself a few extra minutes to do this (I'd arrive no later than 10 or 15 minutes before the train, assuming you have already purchased tickets the night before) so you can locate an escalator or elevator down to the platform.
Sep 6th, 2010, 08:13 AM
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The bus option sounds good too but I'm going to stick with the trains since I feel a bit more comfortable with that over buses.
Good tip on stopping there the night before and buying the tickets! Wouldn't have thought of that. I checked the times and it looks like it leaves from Penn to Jamaica at 7:31, arrives 20 minutes later and then the airtrains to JFK come every 4 to 10 minutes according to their website so that shouldn't take long to wait for. We'll easily get there 2 hours early for our flight.
Thanks again everyone for the tips and suggestions! Great help as always from the Fodor's forums
.
Good tip on stopping there the night before and buying the tickets! Wouldn't have thought of that. I checked the times and it looks like it leaves from Penn to Jamaica at 7:31, arrives 20 minutes later and then the airtrains to JFK come every 4 to 10 minutes according to their website so that shouldn't take long to wait for. We'll easily get there 2 hours early for our flight.
Thanks again everyone for the tips and suggestions! Great help as always from the Fodor's forums
.
Sep 6th, 2010, 10:20 AM
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Assuming this is an international flight you should arrive at 8:15 for an 11:15 flight (unless you have only carry-on luggage). during rush hour I would give yourself 1.5 hours to get there to be safe. It doesn't really matter how you go - at that hour there is traffic everywhere.
The 26 minute travel time would apply only between 1 and 5 am.
Taxi is a flat fare of $45 plus toll and tip for a total of about $60. But from the city TO the airport I would use a car service (Dial 7 or Carmel) which typically costs the same as a taxi. Go to the web site to see if there are any coupons. For car service you also need to pay toll (if any) and a 20% tip (esp if they help with luggage).
TRain/Air Train is probably faster as long as you are comfortable dealing with your luggage on several flights of stairs at Penn Station.
Have you checked that 2 hours is long enough. Most international flights ask you to arrive 3 ours in advance? (to give time for everyone to deal with all their luggage, get through security etc) IMHO some airlines have VERY slow check in lines (not enough staff) and security (either clueless passengers or extra checks due to destination). I have had it take more than an hour just to get through security at both JFK and EWR.
The 26 minute travel time would apply only between 1 and 5 am.
Taxi is a flat fare of $45 plus toll and tip for a total of about $60. But from the city TO the airport I would use a car service (Dial 7 or Carmel) which typically costs the same as a taxi. Go to the web site to see if there are any coupons. For car service you also need to pay toll (if any) and a 20% tip (esp if they help with luggage).
TRain/Air Train is probably faster as long as you are comfortable dealing with your luggage on several flights of stairs at Penn Station.
Have you checked that 2 hours is long enough. Most international flights ask you to arrive 3 ours in advance? (to give time for everyone to deal with all their luggage, get through security etc) IMHO some airlines have VERY slow check in lines (not enough staff) and security (either clueless passengers or extra checks due to destination). I have had it take more than an hour just to get through security at both JFK and EWR.
Sep 6th, 2010, 01:50 PM
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To reach the LIRR level of Penn Station most easily, walk to the south side of 34th St between 7th and 8th Avenues (closer to 7th). There you will find an entrance to Penn Station with escalators that go directly to the bottom level of the station where you will catch the LIRR. This is the ideal entrance for you to use.
Other entrances will require that you find you way first to the upper level (NJ Transit and Amtrak), perhaps walk a bit, and then find stairs to the lower level for LIRR.
Other entrances will require that you find you way first to the upper level (NJ Transit and Amtrak), perhaps walk a bit, and then find stairs to the lower level for LIRR.
