From LGA to Midtown
 

We (2 of us) arrive at LGA around 2PM this Friday.

What are better options getting to midtown?

Thanks.

Better than what?

Options include car services (such as Dial & or Carmel), taxi (on the meter) or public transportation (Q70 express bus to Roosevelt Station, transfer to the subway--which one depends on the specific location of your hotel).

When you say "better options," which is more important--price or ease and comfort of reaching your destination?

Fridays are always busy with traffic, especially in the summer. But I almost always take a regular taxi unless I am taking a city bus and subway combo. You can take a car service, but LGA is a bit hectic to find a specific car.

this from the MTA website:

M60 bus from Manhattan and Astoria
With the M60 bus, you can travel to all terminals at LaGuardia from the West Side, the East Side or Astoria (Queens). The M60 runs between 106 St and Broadway in Manhattan and LaGuardia Airport 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The M60 serves all airport terminals. Connections can be made with all north-south Manhattan subway lines or with the N train icon and Q train icon trains at the Astoria Blvd station.
If you pay your fare with MetroCard, you can transfer free between the subway and the M60 bus. The M60 also makes convenient connections with MTA Metro-North Railroad at the 125 St station. Travel time between Broadway and 116 St and the Delta Terminal is approximately 40 minutes.


Q70 Limited from Woodside and Jackson Heights
Q70 Limited from Jackson Heights provides limited-stop bus service between Woodside, Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport (Terminals B, C and D). Service operates non-stop between Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport. Connections can be made with the E train icon F train icon M train icon R train icon and 7 train icon trains at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74 St-Broadway and with the Long Island Rail Road and 7 train icon train at Woodside-61 St. Travel time between Woodside and LaGuardia Airport is approximately 10-15 minutes and between Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport is approximately 8-10 minutes. Free transfers between any bus or subway are available if you pay your fare with MetroCard.
CLICK here for more Q70 information


Q47 from Jackson Heights and Glendale (Marine Air Terminal)
The Q47 provides local bus service between Glendale, Jackson Heights and LaGuardia Airport’s Marine Air Terminal only (Terminal A). Connections can be made with the E train icon F train icon M train icon R train icon and 7 train icon trains at Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74 Street-Broadway. Travel time between Glendale and the Marine Air Terminal is approximately 50 minutes and between Jackson Heights and the Marine Air Terminal is approximately 30 minutes.



Q48 from Flushing, Queens
The Q48 provides local bus service between Flushing and all terminals at LaGuardia Airport. It loops through LaGuardia Airport and makes a stop at Mets-Willets Point. Free transfers between the Q48 any bus or the subway are available if you pay your fare with MetroCard. The Q48 operates from 4:30 AM to 1:00 AM. Travel time from the Main St 7 train icon station to LaGuardia Airport is approximately 30 minutes.
.

if you are taking public transit be sure to check the website for any last minute changes

if you have a lot of luggage or bulky things,, take car service or a taxi

there is also a bus that goes to the port authority if you need to be on the west side of midtown

Please note that the bus and subway are not special airport services - they are just regular services for commuters - so can be very crowded and there is no place to put luggage. You can hold on your lap if you are lucky enough to get a seat - but whatever you do - don;t let go of it on public transit.

sorry - if it were me and 2 people with luggage I would just grab a cab.

Agree with posters above about just using a cab. As you exit after baggage, there is a line for cabs. It's very organized and the cab fares are regulated. We think it feels good to get taken directly to your hotel and begin your enjoyment of NYC. Enjoy your stay!

The Q70 bus had luggage racks.
IMHO, it depends on how much luggage you have and how big it is.
We used the Q70 bus to the subway with just roller bags and it wasn't a problem. They fit between our legs as we stood on the subway, so really didn't take up much extra room.

Last time, several years ago, we took a cab.

I think a cab it is. I thought possibly there was some new miracle.

Thanks.

This is NY we keep the miracles to ourselves.

I have used bus to subway no problem at all.

I like fixed prices, even if they are not the absolute cheapest. On a Friday afternoon, I would not think twice about taking a car service for two people.

Just when you thought you had a clear answer . . .

Actually, all the bus lines from LGA have luggage racks.

Cab

I've used this service with complete satisfaction:
http://www.nycairporter.com/Schedule...LaGuardia.aspx (also goes the other way, so don't be misled by URL)

From LGA - but not the other buses or subways you will need to get to your final destination.

Cab or Dial 7.

I wouldn't drag my stuff on bus+train.

I might consider a bus if it went to somewhere in midtown and then I could take a cab from there to mid-50s and Ave of Americas.

And of course, only if that saved a bundle.

What would a cab cost these days?

The cab will cost about $35 to $40 depending on traffic and which route (some have tolls, some don't). Could be as much as $50 if traffic is horrendous (that's happened to me).

Public transit costs $2.50 and drops you either at 125th Street (M60 ... bus only) or 42nd Street, east or west (M60 to the 7 Subway at Astoria Blvd.). So I consider saving up to $48 a bundle. But it's obviously less convenient. For example at Astoria Blvd. you have to climb up a long flight of stairs. So obviously if you have a lot of luggage that's not very practical. There's no elevator at that station, and it's a lot of stairs. On the plus side, I've done this in the middle of the day and gotten back to the office from LGA in less than 30 minutes (less time than a taxi).

The people who say "I won't schlep luggage" obviously can afford not to. If you've taken taxis before, you can too, but perhaps you don't want to.