connection in jfk for only 90 minutes
 

I will arrive on terminal 8 at 4:58 PM , and my next flight is at terminal 4 at 6:30 PM,I will have no checked in luggage and I got a business class ticket. is it doable or should I change the ticket to earlier arrival at jfk ?

Is it a domestic connection? There are of course things that cannot be controlled such as weather or ATC holds and the like but everything else being equal, it's no problem. It's even probably no problem if you are arriving on an international flight although there would be an extra step involved.

Agree, assuming your inbound flight is a domestic flight and it arrives "on-time" a 90 minute connection is doable but don't dilly-dally along the way. If you are arriving JFK on an international flight then I disagree with xyz123 - you are cutting it real close unless you have Global Entry.

Once you deplane and exit Terminal 8 take the Air Train to Terminal 4. It runs every 3 minutes and takes only about 5 or 8 minutes to get between terminals. You'll have to re-clear TSA at Terminal 4 before proceeding to your depart gate for your connecting flight.

If you are traveling on the same or a partner airline you'll get boarding passes for both flights when you check-in for your "first" flight and that will speed up your connection. If you are unable to do that, then if at all possible, check-in on-line and print your boarding pass for your connecting as soon as you can (most airlines let you do that up to 24 hours in advance. If you are unable to get your boarding pass before you board your "first" flight then you'll have to check in for your connecting flight at JFK and that will cut into your connection time.

Here's a rough timeline for your connection assuming you are arriving on a domestic flight: If you are in Business Class on your inbound flight, it will probably take you around 15 minutes to deplane, exit the terminal and walk to the Air Train station at Terminal 8. Add another 10 to 15 minutes to ride the train and walk to the TSA Checkpoint in Terminal 4. Allow 15 to 20 minutes to clear TSA (less time if you are TSA-PreApproved) and another 5 minutes to walk to your connecting gate. That comes to just under an hour. If you have to get your boarding pass for your connecting flight you'll need another 5 to 10 minutes (Business Class check-in shouldn't take very long). If that's your situation you'll still have 15 to 20 minutes to spare.

If you arriving JFK on an International flight then you'll have to add more time to clear Immigration & Customs and that will make your 90 minute connection time VERY TIGHT with no margin for error or possibly not doable at all.

Remember, your connecting flight will begin the boarding process about 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure so plan accordingly.

JFK immigration for the most part has become very quick for US citizens. You go to one of the maachines, answer a few questions and a slip is printed and you hardly have to wait. OP says no checked baggage so I would still say 90 minutes is sufficient. Non US citizens have a bigger wait at immigration with thumb prints and pictures and the rest of the bs imposed on them by our very friendly government.

Here's the thing about JFK. For an international-to-domestic connection it matters tremendously which terminal you are flying into. Some are fine for immigration, some not. Terminal 8 is usually ok because it's well-designed and reasonably new, but luggage delivery still lags. Terminal 7 is dreadful and overcrowded for both immigration and customs, unable to cope with the crowds if more than one flight lands close together.

Having Global Entry always helps because it allows you to do the short line at both immigration and customs. It is Customs where JFk usually falls apart. It's a dreadful experience there and not handled properly at all. And customs lines are now usually much longer than immigration lines. But luggage delivery at JFK is still uniformly awful and often takes in excess of 30 minutes.