Can fly into either La Guardia or JFK. Which is preferred? (Going to Manhattan for weekend)

You could use either airport, it would just be a matter of preference as to which is closer to your hotel. Also transportation into the city might be a factor to consider, you could save a buck or two depending on whether you choose a limo or taxi. Distance will help you decide which airport to use.

Assuming you're going to midtown, a cab from Laguardia will cost about $25 and take 25 minutes. A cab from JFK will cost about $40 and take an hour (mainly sitting in traffic).

JFK has the easier public transportation...take the free shuttle bus to the subway (A/C train) which takes you to midtown in 1-1.5 hours for $1.50.

Both airports have "NY Airport Service" buses which stop at Grand Central (E 42nd St), and also (I think) at Penn Station (W33th St) and Port Authority (W 41st St). I believe the cost is $11 from LGA and $18 from JFK.

Susan, The following website has the transportation options from JFK and La Guardia airports. I would pick the airport with the lowest fare. La Guardia does tend to have more of a problem with delays than JFK.


http://www.panynj.gov/aviation.html

Try http://www.nyairportservice.com/ for the shuttle, I think it's less than Suzanne quoted if you purchase round trip in advance.

I fly in/out LGA often, and have taken both this shuttle, and public transportation. You could take M60 bus & transfer .. if you do, purchase a Metrocard at the newstand in the baggage area of LGA, rather than use cash. BTW, buses in NYC only accept coin, not currency, if paying cash.

The last two times I've flown from Miami to Laguardia, we sat on the plane on the ground in Miami waiting for a clearance -- not from Miami, but from Laguardia. There are more planes scheduled for LGA than can be managed. Rather than circle the airport, the planes now wait on the ground at their departure points until they get a clearance from LGA as to when they will be able to land.

I keep telling myself next time I'll go to JFK or Newark, but then I remember that the transportation is so much quicker and easier from LGA, so I stick with it. I just make sure I'm not on a tight schedule and don't HAVE to arrive on time in New York.

Everyone has a prefernce in NYC airports if you fly into them often enough. I avoid JFK at all costs because of horrid experiences, and LaGuardia is almost as bad in my experience.

I always use Newark when available. The airtrain makes getting to and fronm Penn Station a breeze, and the airport itself is easy to navigate on the monorail. If that's an option, I'd consider it.

HANDS DOWN La Guardia far less confusion and head ache. JFK is a JUMBLE OF CONFUSION, traffic, walking detours for patrons. A COMPLETE ZOO. I have been using all of the area airports for about 15+ years now. As a rule I only use jfk if the price is right or if no other service is available through LGA OR EWR.

Regarding transportation THERE IS FREQUENT switching of pick up stations. I have been waiting 1 hour plus for reserved bus service back into town. I have been dropped off at British Airways terminal and then told on return (reserved) pick up that the bus did not pick only dropped off here.

Just seems to be so much confusion at JFK that often ground transportation is effected.

LGA I have no problems, just hop into a cab and guess what you will actually get a cab here!

It's me again.
You should probably just fly into whatever airport is cheaper.

Though LGA is closer to Manhattan, it often has terrible delays, especially when flying in/out in the afternoon or evening. My last experience turned me off forever. I had a 7 hour delay going out and a 4 hour delay coming back...all for a short weekend trip. I have now resolved to always fly out of Newark or JFK.

In the 30 or so times I've flown into LaGuardia since September 11th, I've only had one delay and that was because of weather. Prior to September 11th, 99% of my flights were delayed.

please be sure to always listen to the person who talks the loudest or writes with the most CAPS in their message.

also, always listen to be people who say things like "hands down" and "i've been doing this for 15+ years"

Good advice loud

I can't help it I am a passionate person and you can't always hear that in an email!!!

OR IN A POST REPLY I SHOULD SAY!!!

I'VE BEEN LOUD FOR 15+ YEARS.

No brainer -- LGA over JFK any day, if you have the option.

I'm biased towards EWR simply because it's so much closer to where I live but I also find it easiert o negotiate than airports ni many other cities and more efficient. Have never flown from or to JFK but consistently hear negatibve things about it from many people, especial re/the length of time to get into Manhattan when arriving. LGA did in fact have one of the worst ontime records in the US prior to 9/11 but has seen a subtantial reduction in traffic. I have flown from there three times since then and it was a breeze - ontime departures and returns and traffic issues reaching the city were minimal. I have reassessed LGA and although I still prefer EWR, LGA is not a bad alternative.