What time to leave midtown for 7:30pm JFK flight
 

Our flight leaves JFK at 7:30 pm on Thanksgiving. I want to make Thanksgiving Day reservations for lunch, but want to know what time we should plan on leaving midtown Manahattan (Staying at Affinia 50 - on 50th between 3rd and Lexington). We will probably take a taxi or car service. As this is our last day (of a 5 night stay) I just want to be relaxed and not feel rushed, and get to the airport with plenty of time. Thanks for your help.

To be honest, I wouldn't take any chances as that is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and traffic will be more than likely horrendous, including long lines at the airports.

Not to mention, from your hotel, the route a taxi would most likely take would be the Long Island Expressway to the Van Wyck, both of which have been known to have it's share of traffic under normal conditions.

When you should leave also depends on whether or not your flight is a domestic or international one.

For a domestic, I would leave at 4pm the absolute latest. For an international, I would leave at 3pm.

A 5:30 departure from Manhattan will get you to JFK in plenty of time.

If you are flying international, you should allow more time at the airport. Both terminal 1 and terminal 9 (new AA) have consistently quick checkin and security lines. Terminal 8 (AA to Caribbean) typically has long lines due to the large crowds with loads of baggage. Use a self service kiosk or curbside for checkin if you don't want to wait in line (domestic only).

Wednesday is usually the big travel day. Do you think there will be that much traffic on Thanksgiving Day? Most people are off work. ((b))

Hmmm, janna and I have a little different opinion.

Maybe jgg you can tell us more about which airline/destination and we can give you more info.

A 4pm departure from Manhattan is a bit early IMO, but if you don't mind hanging out at the airport for a few hrs go for it.

I know Wednesday is a big travel day, but Thursday is the big local travel day, ie people traveling to families that live within NYC or driving distance.

I wouldn't push it too late because of the traffic possibilities, but you could leave a little later, although personally I think 5pm might be closest you could leave.

I agree with the 4pm time suggestion. There WILL be traffic on the highways, families driving home after a day with the family. If we are wrong, then all you have is a little more time at the airport and if we are right you will spend some of the trip out snarled in traffic, and if you leave later you could very well miss your flight.

Thanks all. We will be flying Jet Blue from JFK to Portland, Oregon. We are travelling with our kids (age 10 and 13) who are fairly seasoned travellers, and responsible for wheeling their own luggage.
I was trying to determine how late to make our Thanksgiving dinner/lunch reservations. I think I will try for noon, which should give us plenty of time to have a nice dinner, and still have time to take in a good last stroll through the city.

We are not parade people, so won't wake up early for that, but I did think it would be fun to see them blowing up the balloons the night before!

Consider public transportation (subway and air train) which does not get stuck in traffic, but would take more time than a taxi if there is no traffic.

Don't forget that you can use the JetBlue kiosk to check yourself in at JFK, that will save you some time. We never have checked luggage and check in for the flight takes under 5 minutes if you can use the kiosk, but allow time for security of course.

At that location, you might want to consider the E train subway to the AirTrain if you can all handle your own luggage. There's an E train stop right near your hotel on Lexington & 50th st. and I think it has an escalator. If you take it to Jamaica to the AirTrain connection it will cost $7/person and may be faster than a taxi or car service if there's lots of traffic. What I don't know is how frequently the trains will run since it's a holiday.

I love these posts -- they show the world split, as it is, between the way-early people and the cut-it-close people. Subgroupings include the save-money vs. save-time people on both sides. I'm unashamedly in the way-too-early, save-time and spend money to avoid hassle group. I'm related by marriage and blood to some serious cut-it-close, don't-spend-a-dime-you-don't-have-to people. One such relative left San Mateo at 6:02 to take an international flight from SFO departing at 7:05. He made it and I'm still shaking my head!

However, he did miss a flight from JFK once because he thought the subway ran more often than it did on a Sunday and because he underestimated the connection and transit time for the bus. Think you should take into consideration that possibility that Thanksgiving may be a day of slightly fewer cabs (MAYBE...), esp. if it's raining, and also that public transport will not run as frequently as on regular weekdays.

I'm one of those who favors not taking chances with getting to the airport. Still, I think leaving the city by cab at 5 p.m. that day should give you more than enough time, no matter what the traffic.

I agree with HowardR on this one. Traffic on T'giving in NYC is always a nightmare. The parade will be long over, and the crowds will be gone, but people will be heading home from early afternoon Thanksgiving dinners. Getting from midtown to JFK has never taken me less than an hour, even on a good day, with much of the traffic being on the Van Wyck going right into the airport. Leaving at 5 should give you plenty of time. Book a car service in advance (your hotel should be able to arrange this for you), so that you will not be looking for a cab on Thanksgiving afternoon - you will never find one. This will also mean that the fare is fixed in advance, so you don't have to watch the meter run up while you sit in traffic.

The subway will take you at least 2 or 3 hours on Thanksgiving (they run a drastically reduced schedule on holidays), probably much more. The AirTrain is great if you work at the airport, but not if you (and your kids) have to actually drag luggage around the Jamaica train station, and remember, it also involves either taking a subway (about an hour) or the Long Island Rail Road (35 minutes) to Jamaica.

Take the kids to watch the balloons being inflated around the Museum of Natural History the night before Thanksgiving. It's a madhouse, but a lot of fun for the kids and an Upper West Side family tradition. My daughter isn't old enough to enjoy it yet, but my husband can't wait until she is. Have a great visit.

I would vote for 4:30. There will be tons of non-drivers on the roads on Thanksgiving - plus those who have too many drinks at dinner - and accidents are frequent. So to play it safe (accident, slow security lines - since who wants to work on Thanksgiving? and possible bad weather.)

But then I would much rather spend an hour sitting in the airport than biting my nails and hoping I'm going to make my flight.

Thanks again everyone. I think we will shoot for 4:30 and will take a private car, probably Carmel Car Service. I agree with NY Traveler - I would much rather spend an hour sitting in the airport than biting my nails in traffic. As Cassandra pointed out I fall into the " way-too-early, save-time and spend money to avoid hassle group."