I'm trying to find out the best option to get from JFK to LGA. We will be arriving on Alitalia Air at JFK and then need to get to LGA for a Southwest flight. I've looked up some options, but I would like some inside info. Anyone think just getting a cab would be close to the same price as a shuttle? What do you think?

We have 5 1/2 hours in between flights and only have carry ons. Assuming the flights are on time and no crazy weather, we will be fine with the timing.

Thanks

The fastest way is by cab. Those shuttle buses usually make a lot of stops. The highway that you must use called the Van Wyck is jammed at 2 AM on Tuesdays, it is always a mess.

I would take a cab for the same reason. Those shuttles roam around the airport, trying to find more people to add to the ride, and make stops along the way.

This ride could take 20 minutes or it could take more than an hour depending on traffic conditions on one of the most congested stretches of highway in the New York metropolitan area. You might reserve with a car service such as Dial7 or Carmel if you want to be sure of the price before you get into the car.

Mr. Pickle had to do this, but in the opposite direction, two years ago. He used the NYC Airporter, which, IIRC, doesn't make stops between the airports.
https://www.nycairporter.com/ourserv...atojfkshuttle/

Lee Ann

Tickets for the NYC Airports bus are $16 each, so $32 for two. A taxi may not cost significantly more.

NYC Airporter bus! Spellcheck strikes again

If you are two people, then a taxi is not going to be much or any more than a shuttle bus. In normal times it's a 10-minute trip that can be 30 minutes with traffic, and that's what really impacts your metered taxi fare. You could also price a car service, which will charge a flat fare. There are no tolls along this route, so the fare is the fare (but drivers expect a 20% tip).

The difficulty with the route is that traffic is unpredictable. You'll be arriving (I presume) in the morning. If it's a weekday, the Van Wyck can be backed up tremendously with rush hour traffic into Manhattan.

The other unpredictable thing is how long it takes to get through US Immigration and Customs. During the busy morning period that could take 90 minutes on a bad day, but much less on a good day. Of course, it's faster if you have already traveled to the US before and have a picture logged into the system.

Thanks everyone. There are 2 of us and we both have global entry. I'll look into a few car services. Knowing that some of the shuttles may have many stops is good to know.

ALL of the shuttles will have stops - if they didn't, they'd be a private car service!

5 1/2 hours is plenty of time. Even if your plane arrives 30 minutes late with GE it will take longer to walk from the plane to Passport Control than it will for you to use the GE Kiosk. Since you only have Carry-on you should be walking out of the airport within 15 to 20 minutes after your plane lands. That leaves you with something like between 4 1/2 and 5 hours to get to LGA.

Do yourself a favor and arrange for a car service. The driver will be waiting for you when you exit airport and you'll be riding in comfort to LGA. Even if traffic on the Van Wyck is backed up the trip will take under an hour.

If you reserve a car service, your driver will almost certainly NOT be waiting for you on your exit unless you pay something double or triple instead of $30. The way it works is that you tell them what flight you are on and when it is expected to leave. When you are through with immigration and customs, you call the service and let them know you are ready, and then they send the car from a holding area, a process that can take 10 or even 15 minutes on a very busy day (this is why I usually take a taxi from JFK). But unless you pay for super-expensive special service, there will be no driver waiting for you with a sign with your name on it. They will more likely drive by the outer roadway holding up a number.