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NFT: NYC Airport Help Needed

Mike in St. Louis : 11/29/2016 3:49 pm
Just found out I have to be on Madison Avenue next Thursday morning for a meeting (200 block)...I usually go back East to visit my Jersey relatives...

which is the best airport to fly into - LaGuardia, Kennedy or Newark? Thanks
None  
Sec 103 : 11/29/2016 4:08 pm : link
!
Newark if you are flying United... Delta = Lag but distant second choice... JFK = forget it
I prefer to fly Southwest...  
Mike in St. Louis : 11/29/2016 4:15 pm : link
they go into Newark and LaGuardia...
LGA is a mess right now due to construction  
Overseer : 11/29/2016 4:20 pm : link
(and was awful to begin with), but it's by far the closest to midtown. Short cab ride or M60 bus to 125th where you can jump on the 4 or 5.

Newark: bout a 1/2 hour/40 mins to get into Penn. Pretty easy.

Really not gonna matter much which you choose.
Mike  
Samiam : 11/29/2016 4:27 pm : link
It's Newark and it's really no conversation. Anyone who tells you otherwise is steering you wrong. You don't want to go near LaG and Kennedy is far. Newark is by far the easiest way
I never did it  
Fred-in-Florida : 11/29/2016 4:42 pm : link
but there's a train to Penn station from Newark
RE: I never did it  
BillT : 11/29/2016 5:00 pm : link
In comment 13240275 Fred-in-Florida said:
Quote:
but there's a train to Penn station from Newark

I have. Not bad. Airtran to the train. Change at Seacaucus to Penn.
I fly all the time  
armstead98 : 11/29/2016 5:13 pm : link
Yes LGA sucks but it's your best bet assuming you don't have all day to get to midtown.
...  
christian : 11/29/2016 5:23 pm : link
Air/Train in from Newark is fine, it's basically the same concept as JFK air train to the subway.

LGA is a mess, I would opt for Newark if you are on SWA.
Nothing more painful than the LGA experience.  
adamg : 11/29/2016 5:32 pm : link
Just sayin...
Newark is a piece of cake. take air train to jersey  
gtt350 : 11/29/2016 7:42 pm : link
transit 1 stop to NY. Air train is clearly signed in the airport. you can also go outside to the cab cue and take it directly to your address for abou t$45 on the expense account. Never ever fly into Laguardia
you do not have to change at Seacucus to go to NY  
gtt350 : 11/29/2016 7:44 pm : link
all trains stopping at NJ transit airport stop go into Penn Station
Track 5 you're all set  
gtt350 : 11/29/2016 7:46 pm : link
.
hah, it's really funny how much people hate LaGuardia  
Overseer : 11/29/2016 7:49 pm : link
(deservedly so).

It's just inexcusable how an airport in the most important city in the US (or world), which is sensationally wealthy, is such an irredeemable shithole. The fact that it was never attached to the 7 train is mindblowing.

America's infrastructure is such a disaster.

In a world with competent politicians and a public that's not shockingly myopic and self-interested, we would couple tax reform & entitlement reform (incl public pensions to free up state money) with an enormous infrastructure investment.

/rant. I'm flying out of there Friday.
When they said they were "improving" LGA  
Ten Ton Hammer : 11/29/2016 7:49 pm : link
I assumed they were going to sink it into the ocean and start over.
I agree with the consensus here  
timintey : 11/29/2016 7:51 pm : link
Newark is your best bet. The train connection is very easy. I only fly into LGA if I'm going out to the island.
I am on 100 flights per year...  
EricJ : 11/29/2016 8:32 pm : link
and it is Newark all day long. Laguardia only if there is a HUGE difference in fare. Otherwise, I wont go near that shit hole.
I fly a lot. Will not go near LaGuardia  
Giant John : 11/29/2016 9:07 pm : link
Newark is preferred.
Eh, LGA has been around for so damn long  
jcn56 : 11/29/2016 11:03 pm : link
it's hard to be too tough on it - it's not as if there's a ton of space nearby for them to expand, or that they're capable of interrupting operations on a large scale in order to get it done.

Having said that, if your choices are landing the plane in the Hudson ala Sully or LGA, bring a swimsuit and a towel.
Aside from general convenience, for where you're going  
Mad Mike : 11/29/2016 11:25 pm : link
Newark is definitely the call. The 200 block of Madison is like 35th st. That's a convenient walk from Penn Station, so you'll get into manhattan easily with the train and then be pretty close to where you're going.
Although Newark probably wins...  
Big Blue Blogger : 11/30/2016 3:29 am : link
...I'm not sure the transportation links are such a slam-dunk over JFK. If you don't hit the connection right, you can cool your heels for a long time at the EWR train station after the short monorail ride - especially during off-peak hours.

Although the JFK AirTrain/E Line combination is crap by 21st-century standards, it does have the virtue of being highly predictable: From Terminal 8 to your destination will take an hour, give or take a few minutes, at most times of day. Add 2-10 minutes for lower-numbered terminals. By the way, my least favorite option is the JFK AirTrain connection to the A Line, which serves downtown Manhattan. It's the worst of both worlds: an unpredictable wait (because a lot of A trains don't go to Howard Beach) and a long, slow ride when it finally comes.

As others have said, the whole airport transfer situation in New York is an embarrassment.
RE: Although Newark probably wins...  
Mike in NY : 11/30/2016 7:10 am : link
In comment 13240740 Big Blue Blogger said:
Quote:
...I'm not sure the transportation links are such a slam-dunk over JFK. If you don't hit the connection right, you can cool your heels for a long time at the EWR train station after the short monorail ride - especially during off-peak hours.

Although the JFK AirTrain/E Line combination is crap by 21st-century standards, it does have the virtue of being highly predictable: From Terminal 8 to your destination will take an hour, give or take a few minutes, at most times of day. Add 2-10 minutes for lower-numbered terminals. By the way, my least favorite option is the JFK AirTrain connection to the A Line, which serves downtown Manhattan. It's the worst of both worlds: an unpredictable wait (because a lot of A trains don't go to Howard Beach) and a long, slow ride when it finally comes.

As others have said, the whole airport transfer situation in New York is an embarrassment.


It is more expensive than AirTrain to E train, but if you grab first LIRR train it is faster to Penn Station
I have to agree with BBB here..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 11/30/2016 8:15 am : link
even though Newark is technically the easiest to go through, I used to have 10:30AM meetings in Manhattan and would get flights into JFK and cab it in and it would take about 30 minutes with traffic being light most mid-mornings.
thanks for all the suggestions...  
Mike in St. Louis : 11/30/2016 8:29 am : link
I'm flying in on Wednesday night and staying in the City so that isn't an issue...

I am surprised at how divided people are on the subject...
Agree with Fats and Cubed  
JonC : 11/30/2016 9:00 am : link
If cost isn't an issue, I'd fly into JFK and cab it (or car service) into Manhattan. It normally cuts way down on time and logistics in the end.

If you need to be in NJ any way, then Newark makes more sense since LGA is on the opposite side of the metro area.
Mike  
Samiam : 11/30/2016 11:03 am : link
Gonna weigh in again. LaG is definitely out. It's a dump even without the construction. It's an airport that belongs in a 3rd world country. JFK is not a horrible choice but that can ride to NYC would run you $75-$100 (probably closer to $100) and probably a $8 toll. I think public transportation is bad from JFK. With Newark, there's a quick tram to New Jersey Transit and then a half hour ride to Penn Station - you don't have to change trains; costs about $10. And, as mentioned above, it's a quick walk to Madison Ave - maybe 10-15 minutes. With any of the airports, a traffic issue or train breakdown or any delay will screw things up but all things considered, Neward is your best bet and it's not even close.
Cab ride..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 11/30/2016 11:04 am : link
from JFK to mid-Manhattan for me runs $55 + tolls - it is always under $70.
Newark is the move, if you dont want to take the train  
gtt350 : 11/30/2016 10:07 pm : link
the cab cue is fast and you're in NY in 15 minutes and cheaper than JFK.
I worked on Madison ave for 30 years , The only time I woulf fly into JFK were Orient trips otherwise given the choice always Newark
RE: Cab ride..  
Matt M. : 11/30/2016 10:59 pm : link
In comment 13241072 FatMan in Charlotte said:
Quote:
from JFK to mid-Manhattan for me runs $55 + tolls - it is always under $70.
Depending on the time of day, it's less than $55. From the TLC site:

To/From JFK and any location in Manhattan:
Onscreen rate is ‘Rate #02 – JFK Airport.’
This is a flat fare of $52 plus tolls, the 50-cent MTA State Surcharge, the 30-cent Improvement Surcharge, and $4.50 rush hour surcharge (4 PM to 8 PM weekdays, excluding legal holidays).
Passenger is responsible for paying all tolls.
Please tip your driver for safety and good service.
Although LGA is cheaper, I prefer Newark.  
Section331 : 12/1/2016 9:37 am : link
It has rail directly to midtown, and using public trans from LGA requires a bus. Who wants to wait in that traffic? And yeah, forget JFK.
LGA is not as bad as some here make it seem  
pjcas18 : 12/1/2016 9:50 am : link
but...I never fly into NY anymore, I only take the Acela train. however i'm coming from Boston not STL.

who wants to get off a plane and then go wait for a train?

most travelers just want to get in a cab and go where there going, unless it's rush hour it's 35 - 45 minutes in a cab to Manhattan from LGA. And the US Air (if it's still called that) terminal was redone in the past 5 years or so and isn't as dumpy as the rest of the airport.

that being said, I was in NYC for UN week and I was in a cab from Penn Station to 650 Madison Ave and after 45 minutes and two block I got out and walked, just saying the traffic in NYC is unpredictable sometimes.
Matt...  
FatMan in Charlotte : 12/1/2016 9:52 am : link
that sounds right. It did seem to be a flat fee. If I went from JFK to my hotel first (I usually stay in LIC), the cab was only about $35, then taking the subway to Manhattan is another $2.
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