JFK & LGA.....please help me!!!!

[mackeymouse4eva]

Hi.....if you are familiar at all with JFK & LGA could you please advise me...?


Brief background....I am from Massachusetts, decided that our spring break airfares were seriously WAY to expensive to go ANYWHERE. After seeing so many air specials over past couple of months I finally got antsy and decided to check out some of the non-blocked spring break airports ( read as: those 4hrs away!). Normally I either wouldnt bother or would pay the higher fares and fly local. This time I said why not...we'll try it just to see and save OVER $300 each person each way!

We are flying from JFK.....to complicate things, my mother (who did not want to bother with the airport ordeal) seems to have changed her mind at the last minute and is seriously considering going.....we leave this Friday ....ok so I found some decent prices from LGA.


SO.......

*on paper it appears that Laguardia is about 11 miles from JFK......HOWEVER I know that it could seem more like 100 if its a difficult drive!



Under typical conditions....how hard is it to get between the 2 airports??

We will spend the night before in the vicinity....do you have any recommendations on areas, not necessarily specific hotels. Ie: at LGA if they have hotels, or at JFK ( which I know does)...or even somewhere on CT border if you think accomodations a bit better.

Is there an easy public transit between airports with luggage as a newbie? I figured we'd drop her first but if public transport is easier she could use that from JFK to LGA.

Am I completely out of my mind to attempt this? We travel a LOT but rarely to NYC area, and honestly Im a bit intimidated by NYC


We will be coming initially from I 95

We are headed to DL

ANY thoughts or advice would be so appreciated!!!

TIA

 

[NotUrsula]

There are shuttle services between the airports; the usual advice is to leave a minimum of 5 hours between expected arrival time at one and departure time at the other, to allow for getting luggage, traffic, and going through security, though it is normally only about a 30-minute drive between them. Here is the official Port Authority page with the links to recommended sservices: http://www.panynj.gov/airports/lga-airport-connections.html

There are now quite a few hotels in Queens near LGA, and good prices can often be found.

I'm a bit confused about what you are doing, though. Are you ALL coming in from BOS to JFK and then continuing to MCO via LGA, or are you trying to meet your mother in NYC because she is coming from somewhere else?

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

What time are you flying?

If it is an off-peak time, travel between the two airports can be less than 20 minutes. During peak travel times, it can take 90 minutes to transverse the same travel path.

If you need to stop at LGA, I would recommend staying in either CT or the Bronx. No need to pay higher hotel rates if you are going to have to travel anyway. Especially since LGA isn't that far out of the way coming from the bridges...

If you don't, I would stay at one of the JFK hotels and then utilize one of the offsite long-term parking lots.

If you are travelling between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM or 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM, my advice would change. If you are travelling between those times, stay at JFK and check your mother's baggage as part of your allottment (even if you have to pay for it). Have her take a cab to LGA (approx $40 with tip) or utilize one of the shuttles.

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

Thank you all for your quick responses.

We are all driving from Massachusetts to JFK & LGA.

My moms flight is from LGA @ 1235p

Ours will be from JFK @ 140p

I did find an inter-airport shuttle for $10 one way

Do you think it would be better to stay in CT, near LGA, or JFK? In terms of convenience & quality accomodations....we dont need the Ritz , just something safe & clean. Maybe a Marriott.....

TIA

 

[msjprincess]

Thank you all for your quick responses.

We are all driving from Massachusetts to JFK & LGA.

My moms flight is from LGA @ 1235p

Ours will be from JFK @ 140p

I did find an inter-airport shuttle for $10 one way

Do you think it would be better to stay in CT, near LGA, or JFK? In terms of convenience & quality accomodations....we dont need the Ritz , just something safe & clean. Maybe a Marriott.....

TIA

The LaGuardia Marriott has a shuttle to the airport. Could your mother take the airport shuttle while the rest of you drive to JFK?

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Thank you all for your quick responses.

We are all driving from Massachusetts to JFK & LGA.

My moms flight is from LGA @ 1235p

Ours will be from JFK @ 140p

I did find an inter-airport shuttle for $10 one way

Do you think it would be better to stay in CT, near LGA, or JFK? In terms of convenience & quality accomodations....we dont need the Ritz , just something safe & clean. Maybe a Marriott.....

TIA

I work right next to JFK Airport, this would be my advice:

Stay in CT. Plan to be at LGA by 10:30 AM. Shouldn't hit much traffic at that time. After dropping off mom, drive to JFK via the Van Wyck, should take 25 minutes top. I would park in JFK's long term parking lot and take the AirTrain to your terminal. Happy travels.

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

Thank you all so much!!! Your experiences and insights have been a HUGE help!! I have found some fantastic hotel options within 15 miles or so and will drop mom @ LGA by 1030a....then head to long term parking @JFK. We had considered staying near JFK and having her shuttle to LGA for $10 (bargain ), but hotels were a lil pricier than surrounding areas ( understandably).


Again.....thank you for all your assistance!

 

[donnaf516]

Thank you all so much!!! Your experiences and insights have been a HUGE help!! I have found some fantastic hotel options within 15 miles or so and will drop mom @ LGA by 1030a....then head to long term parking @JFK. We had considered staying near JFK and having her shuttle to LGA for $10 (bargain ), but hotels were a lil pricier than surrounding areas ( understandably).

Again.....thank you for all your assistance!

Just be careful of your hotel choice & area.