newark, 2 hours before intnl flight, enough time?
 

Hi all, I'm catching a flight to Europe from Newark at 7:20pm on a Sunday. There is a train from NY Penn that gets to Newark Airport exactly 2 hours before the flight. Is this enough time or would you take an earlier train? How long does it take from the train station to the actual terminal?

About 10 minutes on the AirTrain direct to the terminal.

2 hours is enough, unless it's a busy holiday weekend. And if you're flying Continental, you can do online check-in even for international flights. Bags need to be dropped off 1 hour before flight time.

I would take an earlier train. You still have to take the monorail from the train station to your terminal. Better to be too early than too late.

I would also take an earlier train. I thought trains were like the subway; there is a printed schedule somewhere but no one, least of all the trains, follow the schedule.

As a frequent NJ Transit commuter, I've made it from Penn Station to Terminal C in about 40 minutes. But, make sure you know what other options you have as NJ Transit, while generally reliable, is beholden to Amtrak as Amtrak owns the rail into NY Penn Station.

Said another way, make sure the train you are planning to catch isn't your only option in the time leading up to your flight.

(BTW, both NJ Transit trains and Amtrak trains stop at Newark Airport. But, not every train the lines that pass the airport stop at that station.)

Thanks all. I'm more inclined to take the earlier train now...
Indeed there are an Amtrack train and a NJTransit train roughly at the same time. What I don't get it is why Amtrak $44 and NJT $14.

Amtrak stops in less places than the NJ Transit train. For that short distance from NY Penn to Newark take the NJ Transit. No question.

I'd also vote for the earlier train. Better safe than sorry. Sometimes the security checkpoints at EWR are jammed!

There are no trains directly from NY Penn Station to any of the terminals. You - and your luggage - have to chance to the airport train.

What time does your airline require that you check in? I would give yourself plenty of time based on that - since security can be almost any amount of time at all depending on circumstances.

To second rkkwan, if you are taking Continental, do an online check-in the day before. You won't have to wait for the desk clerk. We did that 3 weeks ago going to Aruba, and wound up waiting around for 2 hours.

For the Security Checkpoint waiting times:

http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/search?a...;submit=SUBMIT ((*))

If one's flying Continental, there are three sets of security checkpoints at EWR Terminal C. I never go through them at late in the evening, so I can't say which set will have the shortest line. But know that you have options. If you see a very long line, it's worth checking out the other 2 sets.

thanks all again. Indeed I'm flying Continental, good to know I can check-in online.