Byrd

We have a possible itinerary which has us arriving at LGA and departing three hours later from JFK for an international flight.

Is this enough time? And what are your suggestions for transfer methods? Taxi? Shuttle?

Any help will be appreciated.

Byrd

Italyagain

Depends on the time of day and weather. Worst case scenario I have experienced is an hour on a rainy friday at 5pm.
Best case is maybe 15 minutes at midday.
You don't have much time-will want to cab it.
The bigger concern is that flights into LGA are delayed all the time, for almost any reason-wind, rain, someone sneezed. Your three hours could easily turn to two. Are you trying to come in from 8-10am or 3-7pm? Those are really bad times. Hate to sound so nagative, but I travel the LGA route all the time.

Neopolitan

We did it only once, when LGA shut down due to weather. The shuttle was full so we had to take a taxi. Later I learned that the taxi was very little more than two tickets for the shuttle.

Even with the snow and the total weather and traffic chaos, we got there in less than a half hour, I'd say.

janisj

&quot;<i>three hours later from JFK for an international flight</i>&quot;

Besides the delays that italyagain mentions, now some airlines are requiring or recommending a 3 hour advance check in for international. Others 2 hours. So even in the best case this is cutting it close. The check in procedure/queue for international can take an hour or more. And secutity lines can be short to verrrrrry long. Plus - if you are checking bags you will have to wait for them at LGA.

Now - you might be able to get your boarding pass for the International flight when you check in for the flight into LGA. That would be a big help and then it might be doable.

Byrd

Italyagain and Neopolitan,

Thank you for the help.

This schedule has us arriving at LGA at 4:45 and leaving from JFK at 7:50.

Sounds like pretty bad timing, but it is on a Wednesday (not the dreaded Friday).

Taking a cab definitely sounds like the way to go. And if this is the best we can find, we'll probably try it.

After all, Italy awaits!


Thanks again.

Byrd

Italyagain

Ar 4:45 any day-it's risky. Sounds too tight, to me. Good luck.

Italyagain

PS- and it takes usually 15 min to get off the plane down to the cab stand. Don't check any luggage.

Neopolitan

Oh, and do you need to claim luggage? I don't know if this is a trend, but my wait for luggage seems to be getting longer and longer each time at LGA.

You need to be at JFK at 5:50 for an international flight?

Byrd

janisj,

All of those reasons have us concerned, obviously.

We do hope to take just carry-on bags. The tip about trying to get boading passes for the JFK flight when we leave home is a good one.

Hmmm...Decisions, decisions.

Byrd

J62

I believe 3hrs is plenty of time. Yes, airlines ask you to be at JFK for international flights 2hrs ahead, but in all my travels I've never seen a bouncer standing at the end of tht line rejecting anyone who arrived at 1:59, or even 1:00hr remaining.

Take a taxi. It took me 15min to get from LGA area to JFK on a recent Fri in bad weather, at 6pm rush hour.

Robdaddy

Hi, all;

Could someone please tell me the cost of the taxi? Two passengers, two bags.

Byrd

J62,

Now that sounds encouraging...

Still working on this schedule.

Byrd

panecott

Assuming your flight into LGA arrives promptly, that should be more than enough time. The airports are not that far from each other.
And do try to take a carry on, it will surely cut down on any delays. You can play it by ear whether to shuttle or taxi it, depending on your arrival time into LGA. Good Luck.

panecott

Robdaddy,
I've never taken a taxi between the two airports, but I'm certain the ride would be under $20 or thereabouts.
You pay for the ride, not the number of passengers, and there's no charge for luggage.

Robespierre

On October 6, 1969, two co-workers at TWA and I were on our way from Kansas City to the company's data center in London. We caught an early afternoon flight from MCI to LGA and grabbed a cab for the 15-minute ride across Long Island for the 20:00 departure.

Cabbie: where to?
Us: Kennedy.
Cabbie: yer kiddin', right?
Us: Huh?
Cabbie: where ya been, Mars? The Mets just won the pennant!
Us: yer kiddin', right?

Long story short: he got us there by avoiding the expressways, which had become parking lots within five miles of Shea Stadium. So it <u>is</u> possible to make the trip in 25 minutes in a worst-case scenario.

Italyagain

Looks like I have been overruled...but as frequently as I travel (weekly for years) odds are that I have seen every problem in the book-several 100 times. Once I showed up 2 hrs ahead of an international flight-and even though I had called and confirmed- they gave my seat away-2 hrs ahead-Alitalia!
So- whatever you decide-may the Force be with you. We can only hope the Miracle Mets win the Pennant again also.
Let us know how it works out.

Byrd

Well, we decided to take the safe (but also inconvenient) route.

Now we leave home at 6:45 a.m. and arrive at LGA at 10:15 a.m. So we have most of the day to get to JFK and board our 7:50 flight!

It's not perfect, but better than several possible alternatives.

Robespierre, I love your tale of the Mets' victory.

Thanks to everybody for your help and aadvice.

Byrd

sandi

It's much easier for a taxi to get off the highway if there's traffic, then for the shuttle bus to do so.

Without any delays, the ride is barely 15-minutes.

I've made it from the upper east side to JRK is 20-minutes.

sandi

... that's JFK!