Isn't there a public bus from Manhattan to JFK? Does anyone know where you pick it up? I can remember a friend taking it from the UWS to JFK years ago.

Thanks,
Thingorjus

You could take a subway. Or LIRR.

I don't know about the buses from the Upper West Side, but you can definitely get buses to JFK at both Grand Central and Port Authority areas in midtown.

The "public bus" to the airport from the UWS is only to LGA (M60 bus)--maybe you were thinking of that? To JFK, it has to be the private airport buses from midtown, or the subway/airtrain combo

I agree with janie. The airtrain is relatively new and runs from the Jamaica train/subway station to JFK.

Private buses are reasonably priced and leave from a number of midtown locations in addition to GC and PA as mentioned.

Or you can take the subway (A train) out to JFK, which connects to the airport shuttle bus system. Not difficult, but to be honest I've only done that upon arrival, not departure.