John F. Kennedy Airport also known as JFK is the main international air passenger and freight (by value of shipments) gateway into the US. It is located on Jamaica Bay, in Queens County in New York City. It is about 15 miles by highway from Midtown Manhattan. The airport is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey which also manages the other airports in the area viz. Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, Stewart and Teterboro.
JFK airport Address: JFK Airport, Jamaica, New York – 11430
JFK Airport Contact Info: 718-244-4444
Terminals at JFK:
JFK Airport has a total of 7 terminals – Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8. All terminals are connected by the JFK Airtrain. Terminal 2 and 3 are in the same area and there is a walkway to terminal 2 from terminal 3. The terminals are placed almost in a circle and each has a parking lot adjacent to each. Buses and Taxis are also easily accessible outside each terminal. Most of them have ATM facilities and currency exchange facilities.
Terminal 5 at JFK was originally the TWA Flight Center. Its futuristic design was created by Eero Saarinen for Trans World Airlines. But After American Airlines bought out TWA, terminal 5 was out of service. Currently (opened in October 22, 2008) JetBlue Airways occupies terminal 5 at JFK and the front portion of Saarinen’s is used as an entry point (though the JetBlue terminal can also be directly accessed).
Luggage storage at JFK Airport – At terminals 1 and 4, luggage storage facilities are available. At terminal 4 it is available for 24 hours while at terminal 1 it is available from 7 A.M. to 11 P.M. Cost of luggage storage ranges from $4 to $16 per day depending on size.
JFK transportation: One good thing in New York City is the 24 hour public transportation available to commuters.
Getting to the city/Manhattan from JFK Airport:
JFK airport is connected to New York’s subway (Metro) system and commuter rail system by AirTrain JFK. The Airtrain JFK stops at all terminals, parking lots, two subway stations, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and hotel shuttle areas. It is also a 10 minute ride each between the subway stations and the closest terminal.
AirTrain cost – $5 to reach subway/commuter stations outside the airport but free within the airport. The trip time from terminal to terminal is 2 minutes each and the entire loop covering all terminals take about 10 minutes.
Travel time between JFK and Midtown Manhattan – Approx. 40 minutes using Airtrain and LIRR at Jamaica Station.
Travel time between JFK and Downtown (Wall St. area etc.) & Midtown Manhattan – Approx. 75 minutes using Airtrain and NYC subway A train at Howard Beach-JFK station or the E , J and Z trains at Sutphin Boulevard/ Archer Av/JFK Station.
JFK Airport map of Airtrain route, subways and terminals. MAP.
Buses from JFK Airport:
At Jamaica Station the following NYC Transit Bus Lines are available – Q6, Q8, Q9, Q24, Q30, Q31, Q40, Q41, Q43, Q44, Q54, Q56 and Q60.
Apart from these there are a number of private bus services being operated between the airport and destinations in Manhattan and also New Jersey.
Taxis from JFK Airport:
One of the most convenient mode of transport, is the taxi. NYC yellow cabs operated by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission offer a flat rate of $45 from JFK to Manhattan, excluding tips and tolls. This rate applies to travel from Manhattan to JFK too. For instance if you want to travel from JFK to Jersey City or Hoboken or Newark, one way is to take a cab to Midtown (flat rate $45), say 34th street subway/PATH station and take a path train ($1.75) to Jersey. Of course if one doesn’t want to spend on the cab s/he can take the Airtrain and subway/commuter system.
There are also private operators who offer taxi services from JFK to city.
This is a convenient option for getting from JFK to Jacob Javits or Times Square or Rockefeller which are all in Midtown.
Car rental at JFK:
A number of major car rental companies operate from JFK. The arrival level at each terminal has car rental counters or courtesy telephones for each car rental company.
Parking at JFK (John F. Kennedy) Airport:
There are over 17,000 spaces available at JFK. Long term parking and daily parking are available. Valet parking facilities are offered if required. The long term parking lot is located at Lefferts Blvd. Long term parking rates at JFK are – $15 for first 24 hours, beyond 24 hours, $5 for each 8 –hour period or part thereafter.
Daily Parking at JFK airport is available adjacent to the terminals 1 through 8. The Parking rates for the Central Terminal Area (CTA) lots (Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange and Red ) are – $3 for the first half or part $6 for up to 1 hour and $3 for each hour or part thereafter, with a $30 max for each 24 hour period.
Hotels at JFK Airport, New York:
The Ramada Plaza Hotel (Bldg. 144, JFK International, Jamaica, NY 11430, Tel. 718-995-9000) is located at JFK Airport.
There are numerous other hotels located close and not that close but close enough to the airport. These include –
Best Western JFK Airport
Toll-Free: (800) 780-7234
Comfort Inn JFK Airport
Toll-Free: (800) 4 CHOICE
Courtyard by Marriott JFK Airport
Toll-Free: (800) 880-1934
Hilton Garden Inn
Toll Free: (800) 675-6272
Holiday Inn Express Kennedy Airport
Toll-Free: (800) HOLIDAY
Holiday Inn JFK Airport
Toll-Free: (800) 692-5350
Howard Johnson Express Inn at JFK Airport
Toll-Free (English): (800) 446-4656
Toll-Free (En Espanol): (888) 709-4053
JFK Inn
Toll Free: (800) 734-5199
Crowne Plaza Hotel, JFK Airport
Toll-Free: (800) CROWNE PLAZA
Days Inn
Toll Free: (866) 331-3414
Double Tree Club Hotel
Toll Free: (800) 222-TREE
Sheraton JFK Airport Hotel
Toll Free: (800) 325-3535
Fairfield Inn by Marriott
Toll Free: (800) 228-2800
Hampton Inn
Toll Free: (800) HAMPTON
The official site for JFK Airport is www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/kennedy.html