JFK to LGA
 

What is the shortest amount of time you would leave between flights, arriving at JFK on a Wednesday in April at 10:40 a.m. from Amsterdam (AA), and leaving from LGA to SFO (miles, students, cheap, no choice)? Right now, their flight from LGA to SFO is at 1:40 p.m. Carry-on luggage only.

Are they US citizens or green card holders?

US citizens.

I think they should make it. There's a bus that costs about 15 bucks.

Hi sf7307 - Sometimes international arrivals can be sluggish (waiting on line thru customs), but barring a flight delay, they should be fine. I would spring for a cab or car service to be safe. I'm not aware of a flat rate between airports in a yellow cab. Car service quotes are easy to obtain.

They're cheap, but we're not, so we'll spring for the cab or car service (after all, they're coming HOME!)

Thanks all.

I was thinking of my own when I made the recommendation!!!

CPG, since this is my thread, I figure I can go OT -- have you been out with your son to look at Stanford and Palo Alto? The reason our son is coming home from Uganda is to do the "admitted students" thing at the law schools to which he's been accepted.

The bus, NY Airport Service, charges $13pp one-way. So if there's more than one person (which sounds that's the case), it's not that much more to take a cab instead.

I would allow 1 hour to get through immigration at JFK. The question is, how bad is traffic at noon on a Wednesday? From the websites I've read, a taxi ride can range anywhere from 20 minutes to 60 minutes.

Thanks. So even if it takes an hour to get through immigration, and an hour to get from JFK to LGA, they'll still make the next flight unless their first flight is delayed. And yes, there are two of them.

sf - it's becoming a nightmare. Stanford is 3/10, UCLA is 3/6 and UCSD is 3/13 - 3/15 and there's one more in Ca that he didn't hear from yet. He heard from Stanford first and I had a brilliant idea to meet him in SF on 3/6 and spend a long w/end with him. I literally spent almost a day trying to make travel arrangements for him from RI - not easy - and the fares went up by the hour. Now, he may need to go to UCLA first. To complicate things, he's still in school with a heavy load and two TA jobs. I'm anxious, but he seems ok. Is your son going home first and then heading back east for the admitted student sessions?

I'm assuming that the flight AMS-JFK is a separate ticket from the LGA-SFO flight, correct?

To be on the safe side, I'd have them do Online check-in for their LGA-SFO flight before they depart AMS. If possible, have their BPs printed out, so if they're really running late, they can just go straight to the security lines and run to their gates.

this would be much better than waiting until they arrive at LGA to check in. I think most airlines have a cut-off time for flight check-in at 45 minutes prior to departure. So if they arrive at the check-in desk 44 mins prior to departure, they could be denied boarding. Not a problem if they have already checked-in with BPs in hand.

My son's was just as complicated, but now isn't. Now they're planning on coming home for a week, then to New York, New Haven and Boston, I think in that order. We might meet them in Boston for a few days if they end up apartment-hunting. Originally, the schedule was Boston, NY, San Francisco, NY, New Haven, Boston!

YK, I'm pretty sure it is separate tickets. I'll suggest to them that they print out their boarding passes while at AMS. Thanks for the suggestion.

Let me know if your son needs help/suggestion for apartment-hunting in Boston.

From those cities, I'm certain of at least one school - all I can say is WOW!

Thank you both. CPG, I didn't specify the schools because I hate to brag, but honestly, it's worth bragging about! Yes, he got into a lot of good schools!

You're not bragging; you're proud! - as you have every right to be. Is he leaning toward any one in particular? Have any offered scholarships?

email me at dmlove51 at hotmail and I'll be happy to share more!

I will, but it will be tomorrow. NYC ballet awaits!

There's no non-stop flight LGA-SFO.

If this is a on separate tickets, why not just take Jetblue or Virgin America JFK-SFO? They are not that expensive, and save on time and taxi fare.

RK is correct - there is no LGA -SFO non stop, so he'd be connecting in Chicago or DFW.

Nor does AA fly JFK to AMS so pls confirm what flights he's actually on. It could be BA AMS-LHR then AA LHR-JFK, or it could be another airline, but not an AA partner as far as I know. If he is flying AMS-JFK non-stop then he'd likely arrive at a different terminal. Getting to LGA would be the same process.

What I would actually do is contact the AA a day in advance and try to get same-day standby on one of the afternoon or evening JFK to SFO AA non-stops. If they have an opening he can do that for $25 guaranteed standby.

Alternatively upon arrival at JFK I'd check with the AA agent just outside customs and try the same thing, only this time free same day standby. Those are 767's and aren't always full except on Monday am and Friday pm.

They're flying KLM non-stop from AMS to JFK, then AA from LGA-DFW-SFO. Believe me, I didn't arrange their flights! (and rkkwan, it's a long story, but anything more than $0 from JFK to SFO is too much to them)

Anyway, what's done is done so we just have to hope the flight from AMS arrives on time. They'll take a cab to LGA.

I'd still try for the free same day standby on the non-stop, even if it means a quick stop at AA JFK terminal 8 by AirTrain from the KLM arrivals (T1?) I think they are currently around 3pm and 6pm, although they do shift the times around a little bit.

The good thing about AA LGA is that there are loads of flights to DFW and ORD, with numerous (albeit fewer) connecting options on to SFO (or SJC even). If you know they are running late and are at risk of missing the LGA departure then he or you can call AA and get moved to a later flight for free - better that than showing up late and unannounced.

No - for flights out og LGA they want you to check in 2 hours in advance. Is it absoltuely necessary - maybe. Security may take 15 minutes 0 or it may take an Hour (I've seen it).

So, it you plan is on tie, if there isn;t bad weather or an accident between the ariprots and if the security line at LGA isn;t too bad you wil make it. But with 3 hours - there are no guarnatees. (I wouldn;t do it with less than 5 if I wanted to be safe.)

I assume this is a single ticket with asingle airline - so they - not you - are responsible if youmisss the flight of of LGA.

Security at LGA usually isn't too bad. As long as the flight coming into JFK is on time, they should be good. Definitely cab it though. Its a short trip and traffic should be ok. Did you say Uganda? That sounds very interesting and exciting. Sounds like you have a kid to be very proud of SF!

For someone coming back from Uganda (and through AMS), even if he's US Citizen and is totally clean cut and no records of anything, he should still expect to be sent through secondary customs and agriculture inspection.

rkkwan, I'll check with him - he and his girlfriend have each been back and forth several times so he knows what to expect at customs. I'll remind him though.