January 01, 2003

NewYorkology Basics: From the airport to Manhattan

(Updated July 2007)

There are three major airports serving New York City -- JFK, LaGuardia and Newark -- and the easiest way to get into Manhattan from any of them is to take a taxi. The reason you want a cab is this: it’s low-stress and reliable. Outside baggage claim, line up at the main taxi stand, ignoring the guys who yell "taxi" as you walk by. They're not legit.

The attendant at the taxi kiosk will direct you to a cab. It's a $45 flat-rate (plus tips and bridge or tunnel tolls,) to Manhattan from JFK and as of Nov. 30, 2006, it's the same rate from Manhattan to JFK as well. There's no flat rate for LaGuardia or Newark. (A trip to Newark, New Jersey from NYC carries a $15 surcharge.) There is no extra charge for bags or per-passenger rate. In general, allow at least 45 minutes for a trip into the city.

Hitchsters.com is a new free service that hopes to match up travelers looking to share a cab to or from the airport.

Provided you don't have gobs of baggage, a cheaper alternative is AirTrain, which runs to Newark and JFK airports. The Newark branch links to Amtrak or NJ Transit and dumps passengers off at Penn Station in Manhattan; the JFK branch links up with the subway or Long Island Rail Road. Keep in mind there may be stairs to climb if you transfer to the subway.

For under $200, you can take US Helicopter from JFK or Newark to the Wall Street or 34th Street heliport. The JFK heliport is now located at the Delta terminal, so if that's not your airline, it will add time and an additional security checkpoint to your travels. At Newark, it's Continental. (Service to LaGuardia is in the works.)

The city operates buses to and from LaGuardia, allowing a passenger to get into Manhattan for a mere $2 (MetroCard or exact coin change required.) Again, this option takes more time and a little travel savvy. The M60 bus is an especially popular choice for Columbia University. (Full M60 schedule in pdf format.)

Super Shuttle buses are good for getting to the airport if you are a solo traveler but not so great if you're headed into Manhattan as waits can be excessive.

Full bus, taxi and car service listings are available at the websites for JFK LaGuardia and Newark.

And finally, the much-anticipated plan for ferry service to LaGuardia is on hold.

Related links:
New at JFK: cell phone lot, virtual fence, more delays
The unanswerable airport car service question
Fastest way to JFK still by taxi - Wall Street Journal
AirTrain transfers absolutely miserable with luggage
Pricing a cab ride from LaGuardia to Manhattan

January 1, 2003 11:47 AM in Basic NYC Guide

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