JFK to West 35th ave
 

We fly into JFK at approx 830 on a Thursday. We need transportation to West 35th near Madison Square Gardens. We will not have a lot of luggage. Would like to keep expense down. Any suggestions??

My suggestion is to type in the words "jfk airtrain" in the search box...you'll get exact directions for how to take the train into manhattan from jfk.

dmlove or anyone else - I have a question for you - how long does the train take? I am traveling on Thursday into JFK - we are staying at the Marriott Marquis. I HATE cab rides in NYC.
We were there several weeks ago on business and either I was getting a bug or the driver was REALLY hurky jerky and I thought I was going to..well, you get the picture.

I am thinking the train might be a better option.

JFK AirTrain to Jamaica Train Station.

From there you can take the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station in Manhattan, which is directly under MSG, for about $9-$13, depending on the time of day and whether it is a weekend.

OR From Jamaica take the E subway train to Manhattan to Penn Station/34th St and 8th Avenue, the same place as the LIRR, for a total of $7.

The subway will take longer.

dawn,

The LIRR train ride from Jamaica to Penn Station is about 20 minutes, but you might have to wait a little while for a train depending on the time of day. Thne you'd have to take a subway or taxi to the Marquis in times Square.

The E train might take 40-60 minutes. For the Marquis, you could get off at 42nd and 8th Ave and be a walkable distance from the hotel.

Kmadsen - I am sorry for hijacking your thread - I am just really confused -
and I am the one who is afraid of the subway ;-).

How long would it take via train/subway? Wondering if dh will go for this.. anything for me to avoid a cab ride...

Ellenm - we were posting at the same time! Thank you!

kmadsen, I just want you to be aware that where you are going is West 35th *Street* (not Ave). You will need to be clear about this, especially if you area taking a cab, or you will end up in an entirely different part of town!!

FWIW, there are numbered streets, avenues, and other roadways in all five of NYC's boroughs. If you are at JFK, which is in Queens, and say "West 35th Ave" ~ you could end up in another part of Queens (like Flushing) and not Manhattan or Madison Square Garden at all!

There is also a private bus service that goes to Penn Station, Grand Central and the Port Authority which is separate from the Super Shuttle.

The last few times I went to JFK, I took the Airtrain and it usually works nicely. Please note that there is always some sort of track work on the weekends and late nights and to check MTA.org. The Airtrain is rarely effected but the train line or the LIRR might be.

For dawmmoelm, why not order a car service from dial7.com or carmellimo.com ? They cost about the same (or sometimes less) as a taxi and the cars are usually more comfortable and the drivers a bit better. Your other option is to use the Airport Express bus and go to Port Authority bus terminal. This is ~$14/person and Port Authority is 3 short blocks south and 1 long block west of the Marriott Marquis.
http://www.nyairportservice.com/jfk_manhattan.html

Both of you should avoid at all costs anyone who approaches you at JFK and offers transportation and you should also avoid Super Shuttle, a shared van service that's absolutely awful in NYC.

For kmadsen, because of your location destination, the train makes a lot of sense, but are you arriving am or pm? If am, you're in the middle of rush hour and you won't likely get a seat on the train. There are 2 train options and has been discussed. For either option you take the AirTrain from JFK to the Jamaica station. You pay $5 for that ride when you get off the train. You then have a choice of taking the Long Island Railroad which requires no stairs and costs another ~$7/person or the E train subway which does require stairs and costs $2/person. For either, you get off at Penn station which is 34 st. The LIRR train is more comfortable and usually faster.

The MTA's website is <b>http://mta.info</b>, not mta.org. It's useful for maps, pricing information, and schedules for LIRR and MetroNorth commuter lines. It also communicates schedule changes due to scheduled track work.

again Kmadsen - sorry for jumping in - Mclaurie - I am going to do just that - order a car service - thank you!

Since you are staying so close to Penn Station, I'd actually urge you quite strongly to reconsider the Airtrain. Coming into the city by car on a weekday morning can be really slow. Granted, you won't pay extra if you have a car service, but why do that when you can come into town for less than 1/3 the price and do it in much less time?

I would never ever take a taxi or car service into the city on a weekday morning unless I had a lot of luggage, kids, or someone who can't manage walking 2 blocks.

Doug, the OP kmadsen is staying near Penn station and I agree AirTrain is best, but dawmnnoelm is at the Marriott Marquis. It was she I was suggesting consider a car service.

Doug and Mclaurie - I am also a bit of a priss. I admit it at least. I did resevere the car already - and was pleased it was 40.00 plus tip and tolls. No problem. I paid 45.00 flat rate a few weeks ago.

I am arriving at 6:50 pm - not am - I actually wanted to do the helicopter but was unable to get the reservation. I figured 10 minutes of being airsick is better then 1 hour of being car sick.

Poor dh married to me!

Sorry ... so many interconnected threads, and I didn't read it carefully enough. But I still think the Airtrain would be best for this itinerary. I'd only switch to a cab from Penn Station for the short ride to the Marriott Marquis, saving both time and money.

dawnnoelm, I don't mind you riding my thread. I learned a lot reading all the replys. Just one question for the rest of you. When you say &quot;take the train&quot; do you mean train or air train are they interchangeable?
I think I am suppose to take the air train to Jamaica Station and then either the subway or the LIRR (which I think is a train train) to Penn Station. Just clarifying.

kmadsen, Since you need to get to Madison Square Garden, the faster but slightly more expensive LIRR train would be perfect for you.

But again for clarification's sake: here in NYC, we call everything &quot;the train&quot;! :D You will often hear people say something like &quot;take the E train to Port Authority&quot;; &quot;take the L-I-R-R from Jamaica&quot;; &quot;take the AirTrain to get to JFK&quot;. The distinctions are very slight, and I can understand the confusion!

While it's possible to take the E Train to Penn Station from Jamaica, I don't recommend it. Definitely take the Airtrain to Jamaica and then get on any Manhattan-bound LIRR train, getting off at Penn Station. Unless you really have to pinch pennies, the Airtrain-to-subway route is just too slow.

Sorry ggreen I am a slow learner. So are the &quot;air train&quot; the &quot;E train&quot; and the &quot;LIRR&quot; the same thing just different destinations?? Still confused. :)

I'm so sorry, I'm probably making you more confused! I was trying to say that we use the same term for different types of rail lines. Let's see if I can be better about this! :)

In NYC, we have:
- 1 subway system with multiple lines reaching 4 of the 5 boroughs, such as the A, C, E, 1, 2, or 3. We colloquially call this system &quot;the train&quot;.
- 3 suburban commuter rail systems. One of these is the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) which services stations in Queens and Brooklyn on its way east into suburban Long Island. (The other two commuter systems are NJ Transit and MetroNorth, for west and north of the city, respectively.) The western terminal for the LIRR is at Penn Station. These systems are also referred to as &quot;the train&quot;.
- 2 monorail systems. (Well, technically in NYC proper there is just the one servicing JFK airport; the other goes between Newark, NJ, and its airport.) This is the AirTrain, which only makes one stop on each end of its route.
- There is also the national Amtrak service, worth noting primarily since you'll see signs for it at its NYC location at Penn Station.

My apologies again for confusing matters - I hope this helps!!

FWIW, the transfer from AirTrain to LIRR (or subway) is very easy at the recently renovated Jamaica station. I scoped it out one day and wrote some detailed info towards the bottom on this thread:

<i>JFK to Midtown at 4pm</i>
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35051099

Scroll down towards the bottom for the post (8/20, 1:08pm), and then ellenem's clarification below that. The whole thread could be helpful, I think!

I agree that the subway is probably not worth the extra time it takes. Here's a link for the LIRR schedule:
http://mta.info/lirr/html/ttn/jamaican.htm (click the Weekdays link under To Penn Station on the left side; and check that the schedule is current...).

:) ggreen

ggreen and ellenem thanks so much for the last links. The way you share your knowledge with those of us that are novices is terrific. I feel like I am ready to tackle the transportation dilemma in Manhattan.

Glad to help you and others. I like to encourgae everyone to use our public transportation system without fear. Save your money for the unfortunate hotel rates.

Until the AirTrain, getting to any NY area airport by public transportation was a doable but interminable experience. With the AirTrain and the upgrades at the Jamaica Train Station, using public transportation to JFK is finally a reasonable alternative--especially if you're traveling light. And I especially love looking out the windows of the AirTrain as you're riding over the same route you would take in a taxi . . . looking down on the snarled traffic . . . sailing by for one-quarter the cost.

You're welcome, kmadsen! I too enjoy helping others to figure out our crazy but invaluable public transit system - and for that matter, the city I love! :)

Have a great trip!

One last confirmaiton before my big trip. After arriving at JFK.....We will get on the air train for free.... as we leave the air train @ jamaca station we will pay 5$. Is that cash or credit card?!?!?

After we leave the airtrain we look for mta stations that sell cards for riding the train or subway. We should pay ahead of time for these (not on the train) and can't get into subway without paying first to get through turnstile. Correct?? I believe we will take the LIRR to Penn station.

We arrive in NY around 9am so hoping it will be towards the end of rush hour traffic.

kmadsen, I can't confirm, but I'd imagine the AirTrain takes credit and ATM cards, as all the machines for LIRR and MTA both do.

When you exit the AirTrain, walk to the front and down a small corridor to exit. Once through the turnstiles, the connection for both LIRR and MTA is through the door on the end to the left. Immediately through *this* door on your left is an automated machine for LIRR tickets. This takes cash, ATM and credit cards. (Or follow signs to go across the platform and down via elevator to the ticket counter; you'll have to re-ascend to get to the trains.)

The AirTrain is on the same level as the connecting walkway for LIRR trains. The ticket machine I mentioned is at the closer end of this walkway; the elevator is at the far end. LIRR trains going towards Manhattan will depart from platforms reached at the far end of the walkway. (Walkway is elevated so you'll decend to the platform. Train schedules are identified at the top of the stairs for each platform; you want a train to Penn Station.)

If you decide to take the subway, you would cross the LIRR walkway and follow the signs for the E subway line. You would buy your MTA pass from the token booth or an automated machine in the subway station. (Just to confuse matters, you can also buy your MTA pass when you pay for the AirTrain.) Take the E subway towards Manhattan; Penn Station is the stop after 42nd/Port Authority - the sixth station once you cross to Manhattan.

Have a great trip!!

Oh yeah, and yes:
- Buy your ticket for LIRR in advance. You can purchase it on the train, but there is a large surcharge. Trains to/from Penn Station and Jamaica are frequent enough that there's no need to forgo a prepaid ticket! If you plan on returning to JFK the same way, do buy a round trip ticket while you're at it.
- You cannot go through the subway turnstile without first swiping your MetroCard (MTA pass). The card goes through the reader with the magnetic stripe towards you and held so the stripe is at the bottom of the card. Swiping has its glitches: swipe fairly quickly and smoothly, but not too fast or too slow! Push through the turnstile when the reader message says OK.

:) ggreen

To pay for the AirTrain, I believe you will be buying a MetroCard and swiping it. You can buy one with cash, credit, or debit card. Here's where it can get tricky:

You can't use an &quot;Unlimited&quot; MetroCard (one-day, 7-day . . .) to pay for the AirTrain. You have to buy a Regular Metrocard.

But

If you buy a Regular MetroCard for $10 to get the extra fare ($2 added for every $10 spent), you'll have $12 on the card, swipe it for the AirTrain ($5 fare), and have $7 left.

Subways and buses in NYC will delete $2 every time you ride, so you'll have a stray $1 on the card at the end. You can always add money to the card in odd dollar amounts to get back to an even amount, but I'm mentioning this because it confuses people when they first see $1 left.

However, you will be two people, yes? Therefore, if you share one Regular MetroCard for the AirTrain, you'll swipe $5 + $5 = $10, so you'll be back to even increments for future rides.

ALSO! If at first your don't succeed, swipe, swipe again AT THE SAME TURNSTILE.

If you switch turnstiles after an unsuccessful swipe, you'll probably be charged an additional fare. There's a little screen on the turnstile that will read &quot;GO&quot; after a successful swipe or &quot;SWIPE AGAIN AT THIS TURNSTILE&quot; after an unsuccessful swipe.

For a Regular MetroCard, changing turnstiles in this way might cost you the extra fare mentioned. With an Unlimited MetroCard, changing turnstiles in this way might mean you have to wait 18 minutes for your card to allow you to swipe again.

ellenem, Where do I buy

&quot; a Regular MetroCard for $10 to get the extra fare ($2 added for every $10 spent), you'll have $12 on the card, swipe it for the AirTrain ($5 fare), and have $7 left. &quot;

the above mentiond card??
I must buy it at JFK before I leave??

No no, no worries - that's the MTA Metrocard I mentioned before. You can buy it, as ellenem said, when you pay for the AirTrain. OR buy it just before you get on the subway: if you take the subway from Jamaica, or later when you are in Manhattan.

There are two kinds of MetroCards: pay-per-ride and unlimited. Both are good on NYC subways and buses interchangeably. However, ellenem has said that you cannot use the latter to exit the AirTrain, so you must get a pay-per-ride MetroCard at that time.

If there are an even number of you traveling together (i.e., two of you), buy the two AirTrain fares at the same time on one card. This will make the amount on the card an even amount, so you don't have a random ($1) amount remaining on the card at the end of your trip. The easiest way to share the card is one person swipes and goes through, then hands it off to the other person.

To make things a little more confusing, as ellenem said, for every $10 you put on a per-ride card, you get the equivalent of one ride free: a $2 credit. So the AirTrain scenario would be that you purchase a Metrocard for $10, but it's worth $12 - you have one free subway/bus ride on it even after you swipe it twice for the both of you to go through the AirTrain turnstiles at Jamaica.

Lastly, if you anticipate riding the NYC subway and buses a fair amount during your visit to the city, it's preferable to invest in an unlimited card. A one-day pass is $7 (so you'd need to ride at least 4 times in a day to make it worth your while). The one-week pass is $24. You cannot easily share an unlimited card since it makes you wait 18 minutes between uses (except for with transfers).

No worries! Don't overthink it too much and try not to get anxious about this part of your trip. The system is straightforward, and at the time of day you're traveling, if you need further assistance I'm sure there will be people you can ask. See, you already know how helpful us NYers can be! :)

Happy travels!

I thought it might help to see what you're looking for. So I found an image for you of the LIRR ticket machine. It's very similar to the MTA Metrocard Machine, only the LIRR machine is a little smaller and less colorful. (In fact, to complicate things further, you can buy the Metrocard during the same transaction when you purchase your LIRR tickets.)

From a search for &quot;nyc subway machines&quot; on viewimages.com:
http://tinyurl.com/34fgpz

And here's an image of the LIRR walkway at Jamaica, looking towards the AirTrain terminal (i.e., heading in the opposite direction than you will take):
http://tinyurl.com/2rdkxj

:) ggreen

I am not Kmadsen but got advice on this thread and wanted to say thank you. The car service carmellimo.com, was great. It was the same as a taxi and the ride in was much smoother. We arrived Thursday no problems. :-)

We were in TimeSquare and rented a car on Sat. to take us to Brooklyn and then out to Long Island for the reception - so we drove ourselves back to the airport. No issues.

Oh right, dawnoelm! I remember our discussions a while back on how you would get from point a to b to c... I'm so glad to hear it all worked out! How was the wedding, and were you able to have your visit with your friend on LI? No driving issues?

And of course it's a relief to hear that Carmel was a smoother ride than the &quot;hurky jerky&quot; one you experienced recently!

:) ggreen

ggreen, thanks for the links. They were helpful. I also went to Jet Blues website. They had nice links to explain the air train - LIRR - subway. MTA cards etc....

dawnnoelm glad your trip was a success.

ggreen and ellenem can you give me a local weather prediction for 25-30th?? I am using accuweather and weather.com. They are conflicting for satuday and sunday one says rain the other sunny. Just want to know how to pack.
Thanks for the time.

Also ggreen FWIW- can't figure that one out.???

Dawn, I'm sending you a PM (Private Message) regarding carmellimo.

No, I'm not - there is no private messaging on Fodor's! (I was thinking TripAdvisor). So, since you had a good experience with Carmellimo, can you share the name of your actual driver? I wonder if I can make a reservation with the same person/car?