Which airport to NYC?
Mar 30th, 2005, 04:09 PM
#21
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Okay, how about a more unbiased analysis? I don't fly into or out of NYC that often, but have used all three. Here are the plus and minuses of each one, concerning the OP.
- LGA. There's no non-stop SEA-LGA. Only to EWR or JFK from SEA. So, that's a big minus. LGA is the closest to mid-town, and with 4 people travelling together, a taxi or a car service can get you to the hotel fastest and least hassle. So, that's a big plus. Don't bother with buses/subway.
- JFK. Alaska, Jetblue, Delta and AA all have non-stops from SEA. And the AirTrain-to-subway (E Train) connection can get you to mid-town for $7 per adult, in about an hour. Or AirTrain-to-LIRR if your hotel is closer to lower midtown (~34 street), for slightly more. By road, it's the furthest of the three to Mid-town.
- EWR. Alaska and CO fly non-stops from SEA. AirTrain-to-NJTransit can get you to NY Penn Station for <$12. And you probably need another taxi/subway ride to your hotel. With 4 persons, a car service may be better. [If you're staying downtown, get off the NJTransit train at Newark Penn Station and switch to PATH train; don't follow GoTravel's mistake.]
So, each has its advantage and disadvantage. JFK and EWR both have non-stops. JFK has cheaper public transport, but EWR is probably faster to get to mid-town by car service. [But all depends on traffic.]
LGA is also great for 4, as you can just jump into a taxi and be in mid-town quickly. But it means a flight connection somewhere (Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, etc...), which easily adds two hours to the trip, and double the chance of a delay/cancellation.
As for flight delays, your mileage may vary. But by official numbers, LGA is the worse of the three. Last summer (as well as before 9/11), delays were terrible there as many airlines try to add flight to LGA; now there's some sort of a slot system to control the number of flights there.
- LGA. There's no non-stop SEA-LGA. Only to EWR or JFK from SEA. So, that's a big minus. LGA is the closest to mid-town, and with 4 people travelling together, a taxi or a car service can get you to the hotel fastest and least hassle. So, that's a big plus. Don't bother with buses/subway.
- JFK. Alaska, Jetblue, Delta and AA all have non-stops from SEA. And the AirTrain-to-subway (E Train) connection can get you to mid-town for $7 per adult, in about an hour. Or AirTrain-to-LIRR if your hotel is closer to lower midtown (~34 street), for slightly more. By road, it's the furthest of the three to Mid-town.
- EWR. Alaska and CO fly non-stops from SEA. AirTrain-to-NJTransit can get you to NY Penn Station for <$12. And you probably need another taxi/subway ride to your hotel. With 4 persons, a car service may be better. [If you're staying downtown, get off the NJTransit train at Newark Penn Station and switch to PATH train; don't follow GoTravel's mistake.]
So, each has its advantage and disadvantage. JFK and EWR both have non-stops. JFK has cheaper public transport, but EWR is probably faster to get to mid-town by car service. [But all depends on traffic.]
LGA is also great for 4, as you can just jump into a taxi and be in mid-town quickly. But it means a flight connection somewhere (Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, etc...), which easily adds two hours to the trip, and double the chance of a delay/cancellation.
As for flight delays, your mileage may vary. But by official numbers, LGA is the worse of the three. Last summer (as well as before 9/11), delays were terrible there as many airlines try to add flight to LGA; now there's some sort of a slot system to control the number of flights there.
Mar 30th, 2005, 04:19 PM
#22
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Wow, thanks, such great replies. I was leaning more towards EWR as I'd like to fly on Alaska, possibly use air miles and the flight is nonstop.
It's a 1 1/2 hour (usually) hassle-filled ride to the airport on this end so I'm looking for the quickest, least hassle way to get from airport to hotel. Sounds like a car service is the way to go. I won't want to deal with much else with luggage and kids in tow. Thanks for the referrals.
While I know it's not really rational to worry about things like short runways, near misses etc. This kind of stuff does factor in my decisions as I am a very uncomfortable flyer. DH works for Boeing so I know most of the stuff I worry about isn't rational, but none the less I do make choices based on my own paranoia. So, thanks for the info, Anabel.
I know the city is very hot that time of year. We were in the Aug 14th blackout. Walked about 50 blocks back to our hotel, and then up about 70 flights stairs with no air! But, we love the heat and its part of the city's charm I think, all that steam and humidity. Reminds me of my RI childhood years. I miss that weather now that I live in WA state!!
Again, thanks for all the info. I'm sure I'll be back for more!!
Jenn
It's a 1 1/2 hour (usually) hassle-filled ride to the airport on this end so I'm looking for the quickest, least hassle way to get from airport to hotel. Sounds like a car service is the way to go. I won't want to deal with much else with luggage and kids in tow. Thanks for the referrals.
While I know it's not really rational to worry about things like short runways, near misses etc. This kind of stuff does factor in my decisions as I am a very uncomfortable flyer. DH works for Boeing so I know most of the stuff I worry about isn't rational, but none the less I do make choices based on my own paranoia. So, thanks for the info, Anabel.
I know the city is very hot that time of year. We were in the Aug 14th blackout. Walked about 50 blocks back to our hotel, and then up about 70 flights stairs with no air! But, we love the heat and its part of the city's charm I think, all that steam and humidity. Reminds me of my RI childhood years. I miss that weather now that I live in WA state!!
Again, thanks for all the info. I'm sure I'll be back for more!!
Jenn
Mar 30th, 2005, 05:25 PM
#23
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Well - if you're a very nervous flyer and will be worrying about this the whole time - I wouldn't do LGA.
However, the report that the poster is talking about is not near-accidents - but go arounds - which happen at every busy ariport - just because there are so many flights coming and going.
I'm sure the poster had a problem with a flight. My point is that this occurs at every busy airport. I've had it happen numerous times at all 3 NYC airports (and I've flown in and out of EWR dozens of times and in/out of JFK and LGA many hundreds of times each) as well as at CVG, O'hare, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, LA, Pittsburgh (don;t talk to me about Pittsburgh - that is an airport to avoid IMHO) and numerous other airports.
But - if you're going to be really worried - no amount of saved time or money is worth it.
However, the report that the poster is talking about is not near-accidents - but go arounds - which happen at every busy ariport - just because there are so many flights coming and going.
I'm sure the poster had a problem with a flight. My point is that this occurs at every busy airport. I've had it happen numerous times at all 3 NYC airports (and I've flown in and out of EWR dozens of times and in/out of JFK and LGA many hundreds of times each) as well as at CVG, O'hare, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, LA, Pittsburgh (don;t talk to me about Pittsburgh - that is an airport to avoid IMHO) and numerous other airports.
But - if you're going to be really worried - no amount of saved time or money is worth it.
Mar 31st, 2005, 02:20 AM
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Obviously, the main reason for choosing an airline would be the convenience of the flight schedule for where you are coming from or going to!
That aside, I'm with GoTravel, Gekko and others who favor Laguardia for the reasons mentioned.
One additional reason is that I drive and and I find the parking is the most convenient at that airport. (My trips are short enough that I dnn't have to use the long-term lots.)
That aside, I'm with GoTravel, Gekko and others who favor Laguardia for the reasons mentioned.
One additional reason is that I drive and and I find the parking is the most convenient at that airport. (My trips are short enough that I dnn't have to use the long-term lots.)
Mar 31st, 2005, 04:36 AM
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Just as a point of info - last week when we (2 adults, one 10 year old, three pieces of luggage & 3 small carry-ons) were arriving home from the Carribean, the cab ride into Manhattan from EWR was a flat $42. , not including tolls or tip. We use our own EZ pass for the toll, but it is normally $6 for the tunnell. A smart cab driver will avoid taking the Jersey turnpike, which adds another couple of bucks.
The most annoying thing about taking the cab was the stupid cab line system they've set up. It would be quite efficient if the workers would only leave the booth at the head of the line and walk up and down the sidewalk, assigning cabs to the passengers, instead of waiting for each cab to load one at a time. What should have been a perhaps 10 minute wait stretched to almost thirty - and that's happened the last 3 times we've arrived at EWR. But it's still better than trying to find your car service circling the pick-up area.
Once you're in the cab, depending on traffic, the trip can be 20 minutes or 3 hours. Try to arrive very early (take a red eye from Seattle!) on a weekend, or evening.
The most annoying thing about taking the cab was the stupid cab line system they've set up. It would be quite efficient if the workers would only leave the booth at the head of the line and walk up and down the sidewalk, assigning cabs to the passengers, instead of waiting for each cab to load one at a time. What should have been a perhaps 10 minute wait stretched to almost thirty - and that's happened the last 3 times we've arrived at EWR. But it's still better than trying to find your car service circling the pick-up area.
Once you're in the cab, depending on traffic, the trip can be 20 minutes or 3 hours. Try to arrive very early (take a red eye from Seattle!) on a weekend, or evening.
