JFK TO MANHATTEN
 

We are visiting New York for the first time and will be arriving on a British Airways flight at JFK. We do not want to take any subways (we are both over 70) and do not want to pay the huge taxi fare. I see there is a shared shuttle service but I have read on trip advisor that this is terrible as it takes so long to load the van and then empty it again. We are landing at 11.30 so don't really mind if its takes long as we will be riding through the New York streets and enjoying the view!! Any advice?

Please note it is spelled Manhattan. And I assume 11:30 means in the late morning.

If you are patient and have time then the shuttle bus may be good for you.

You can also take The Airporter

http://www.nycairporter.com/Schedule...FKAirport.aspx

They either stop near Grand Central or Penn Station.

If you are staying on the East Side you take the bus to Grand Central, on the West Side Penn Station.

Thank you for your input. I will have a look at the Airporter link. Yes I do know it is Manhattan - it was just a typo. We are staying on East 49th just North of the United Nations. Does not look too far from Grand Central on E42nd but I know maps can be deceiving. Thanks once again!

Be aware that the Supershuttle, which takes you direct to the hotel should NOT be used under any circumstances. They are totally unreliable. They may not pick you up at all (in either direction) and often drive you around in traffic for hours at a time and have caused a number of people to miss their flights.

The Airporter that goes to one Central point is not as bad, but can still be very time-consuming as it drives around all of the various terminals (9) at JFK picking people up before even heading out for the hour trip into Manhattan.

So if your plane lands at 11:30 figure you may get on an Airporter at 1:30 pm or later (depending on how long your luggage takes to turn up) and get to your hotel sometime around 4 pm or so. You may want to take a cab from where the Shuttle drops you to your hotel rather than trying to negotiate very crowded sidewalks with your luggage. Remember 20% tip for the driver.

Look into taking shared services such as VIA and UBER. I think they now both do JFK pickups.

No need to tip on those.

Fifteen percent is adequate tip for yellow cabs within Manhattan.

Sometimes you can share with someone standing on the taxi line at JFK if their destination is near yours. Do not use service from men who try to solicit inside the terminals.

No sure what you mean by "huge" taxi fares but you might want to look into Carmel 212 666 6666

To/From JFK and any location in Manhattan: ◦Onscreen rate is ‘Rate #02 – JFK Airport.’
◦This is a flat fare of $52 plus tolls, the 50-cent MTA State Surcharge, the 30-cent Improvement Surcharge, and $4.50 rush hour surcharge (4 PM to 8 PM weekdays, excluding legal holidays).
◦Passenger is responsible for paying all tolls.

and you should tip the driver

the flat rate is not a per person rate.

after a long flight and jetlag I would prefer to be taken right to my hotel.

It is not a long flight from London to NY and you will not be jetlagged on arrival. 1130am JFK time is 4.30pm UK time. You might be jetlagged in the next few days.
Nevertheless, I would and do take the taxi from outside the terminal, it is the easiest, most convenient and quickest way. The taxi fare is not huge and it is a flat rate.

Thank you all so much for all your great suggestions. I have lots to digest and will make a decision before we go.

We will be flying from South Africa so might need to take that taxi if we are very tired. We are both very good travellers so hopefully we will be fine.

In SA money the taxi fare works out at about R850 for the two of us and the Airporter works out at about R510 so we must decide what's best. Thanks once again for the help.

Odin- have no idea how you know people will be jet lagged or not. I find the trip from europe back to the US causes much more jet lag for me than the trip TO europe.

Every one is different in how they are affected so you really should't declare what they should or should not feel.

nytraveler: Yep you are correct, jetlag has a different effect on armchair travellers,

Sorry - I have been to europe more than 100 times and do really understand how jet lag affects me. I wouldn't not presume to tell you where/when you have traveled or not - nor how jet lag affects you.

Don't understand why you feel you have to be in control my reactions - or those of other travelers you don't know.

I recommend taking a cab to your hotel--and I am pretty frugal!

Are people missing the idea that they are coming from South Africa. I'm not sure, but last time I checked South Africa was not in Europe. Does someone need to correct me?

Geez, people get more obnoxious here every day.

My suggestion is that a taxi is still the best option and not that much more expensive than two shuttle tickets.

Geez, people get more obnoxious here every day.

And we have you to thank for setting the the bar so high.

Oh sure. Clearly I was the one hurling insults here. LOL. Time to let go of your unfounded grudge, IMDonehere.