Need airport help from my fellow NJ residents

[NJDisneymom]

I know there are quite a few of us here, so I'm hoping you can help.

I am in Monmouth County (bordering Ocean County), sort of between the parkway and turnpike. Very close to I-195. We've always flown out of Newark, having been a Middlesex county native it was the closest.

I was going to try Spirit out of AC this trip but then their prices jumped and I hate paying over $1,000 for airfare to FL. So, I am trying to talk my husband into doing one of the NY airports. Can someone tell me which one is an easier drive (I know going into NY neither is probably easy, LOL). He seems to think the $100 per ticket we'd save will be eaten up with gas, tolls, parking etc. Not to mention the extra drive time (for a 7am flight this could be worth more than the money).

Also, does anyone have any idea how much a car service to either NY airport would be?? Is is safe to leave your own car there? Any ideas how much parking is?

My parents flew out of AC in June and rave about it. My mom says she felt fine leaving the car there and was shocked that it only cost about $18 for parking (I think they were gone 4-5 days).

Please help me decide which airport to use. When comparing $600 to $1,000 it sure makes NY look more appealing.

 

[Jamesbyr]

Long term parking at JFK is $10 a day. Then you take the new Air Train (free from parking, I think) to the terminals. For a 7 AM flight, you would have to leave Monmouth County (I grew up there) VERY early. Two hours driving time, plus parking and getting to the terminal by 5:30 or 6 AM.
The airport web site is
http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jfkframe.HTM

and has a lot of car service numbers (under "transportation options") for you to call and ask about their prices.

 

[mickeymost]

I am also on the Mon/Ocean border. Just inside Ocean County and the last couple of times that we flew we flew out of Philadelphia on Southwest. The most I've seen the flights for are $79 each way. We got $39 each way in Dec. It's very easy to get there 195 to 95 straight to the airport. I really prefer PHL over Newark. I don't know about parking I think it's about $8/day or so, but now sure. AC is nice, but it's quite a ride. Good luck with your planning.

K

 

[PatMcDuck]

I am also in Monmouth County, and we have been flying out of JFK for the last few years to Orlando for better fares (once we got a good price out of AC, and that was great). Flights out of NY are simply less in general to Orlando, and Song and Jet Blue are both GREAT. JFK is pretty easy to get to from here, because we can use the outer bridge crossing to get to and from Long Island and the airports. Song has many many flights that are $59 each way out of JFK. JFK generally a better bet than LaGuardia. Last time I parked at Avistar........ I was flying alone, and was coming home late at night. I did not want to go out into long term lot alone that late. Avistar has a coupon on their website for a free day, plus takes AAA for a discount. They shuttle you to and from the terminal. Cost was about the same as the airport, but better security wise..... Tolls and gas are higher, but I fly in a group of 6, so the lower fares are worth it.

I looked into car services. It was about $300 or something nuts. MUCH higher than Newark.

 

[kareneast]

I agree with mickeymost. Look into flights out Philadelphia. We also live on Monmouth/Ocean border in Jackson. Only takes us an hour or so to get to Philly Airport. Airtran, Southwest, & US Air all usually have good prices.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We fly out of Philly, either AIr Trans or SOuthwest about $79 each way. It's not worth the hassle of driving to NY. DH and I had to fly out of LGA when we went to the Bahamas in November and he now said he doesn't care how cheap the airfare is from LGA or JFK he's not using those airports. THe only ones he would consider were Philly, Newark, or AC.

 

[Aunt Cawa]

Last time we went from northern monmouth county to LGA car service was $155 each way. That was about 18 months ago. There was also alot of traffic.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I lived in North Jersey up until last summer. It pretty much was not worth it to fly out of LGA or JFK with regard to either the time, expense or traffic. I'd stick with Newark, Philly, AC and maybe ABE. A cheap fare and inexpensive parking would make it worthwhile.

 

[TOMAR@SSR]

I agree with sticking to Philly, Atlantic city, or Newark. We flew Jet Blue one year, and while the Airline itself was great, the Drive from Monmouth County NJ, to JFK, was just not worth the Hassle (especially in the early morning)!!

 

[salbythec]

I live in Brick and always fly out of Philly. Used to fly USAir but now will be trying South West for this trip.

 

[melanie18]

We live in central NJ and love flying out of AC! We used to fly out of Philly, but we find AC so much less stressful. However, Spirit's prices are not looking too good for our May trip so we may find ourselves back in Philly!

 

[NJDisneymom]

thanks everyone!!! I hadn't even been checking Philly but will start looking at those airlines now.

Unfortunately I've never flown any of the airlines that fly out of Philly before. Any I should stay away from???

Thanks again!! I didn't realize so many people were right in my immediate area. I am in Howell.

 

[kareneast]

thanks everyone!!! I hadn't even been checking Philly but will start looking at those airlines now.

Unfortunately I've never flown any of the airlines that fly out of Philly before. Any I should stay away from???

Thanks again!! I didn't realize so many people were right in my immediate area. I am in Howell.

We have flown Airtran and we thought it was very good. No meals include, just a snack (pretzels) and a drink. I have not flown Southwest but have heard very good things about it. Only downside to Southwest is you are not assigned seats so there is always a possibility of being split up. USAir you have to be careful with. They are having some finacial problems. I believe they will be ok until at least the summer sometime, at least I hope so, we are using them for our April trip.

 

[mhingher]

I live in Keyport, used to live in Belmar. We flew out of Philly for our honeymoon in 2003, and for our last WDW trip in June 2004. The NY airports were much cheaper, but I was worried about the traffic in getting there. From what I found out, it was too expensive to get a car. We travel by Kennedy sometimes b/c we have relatives in Long Island. The traffic could be unbearable. I suggest you check out Philly... and if you fly out of Kennedy or LaGuardia, let us know how it went!

Melissa

 

[njziggy]

We live in Wall & love the ease of using ACY. We find it is always the cheapest way to go when you calculate in the parking fees or the limo fees. I also like the fact that it is a smaller airport and it is easier to get around in with children. You really can't go wrong with ACY (or PHL for a little extra $$$).

 

[MrIncreadable]

We live outside of Philly and we are flying Southwest. We usually fly US air but the prices for southwest at the times we are leaving and returning were a better price 249 compared to 209 a person. I dont' know anything about the NY airports but I do know that the parking at Philly has security. I have left my car there for 5 days with no problems. I think most of the major airports have better security these days.

As far as Southwest and seating I called when we booked our flight and asked about the seating. I informed the person that we have 9 people total and that 5 were children. She asked the ages of the children, DD3, DS6, DS8, DN8, DN11, she said that since we have a DD3 we would be first on the plane(anyfamily with a 4 or under seats first). My DSIL and her family would not but without so much as saying it we could save seats.

My Inlaws just used Southwest this morning to Tampa. My FIL was up at 12:01 and was able to get first seating. They assign seating times as a A, B, or C with a number. So if you are up at 12:00 the day you are leaving you need to register for the seating times in order to get on the plane first.

Hope this helps. Good Luck

 

[NJDisneymom]

My Inlaws just used Southwest this morning to Tampa. My FIL was up at 12:01 and was able to get first seating. They assign seating times as a A, B, or C with a number. So if you are up at 12:00 the day you are leaving you need to register for the seating times in order to get on the plane first.

Hope this helps. Good Luck

Thanks so much. Geez, sounds kind of like getting PS's at CRT!!!

 

[Loops]

Try JetBlue...I believe they fly out of AC and they usually have good rates.

We usually fly out of Newark, but this time we are flying out of Lehigh in Allentown, PA and using Transmeridian. Airfare for 5 is costing us just under $1,000.

 

[Disney Deb]

We flew out of LGA this past XMAS eve because of the low fares (compared to EWR and AC). The car service which drove us said EWR was a crowded mess, but we had NO traffic to LGA........and the airport was virtually empty!! I kid you not !!! We were shocked and surprised at the lack of crowds (this was early afternoon). Door to door, the ride took exactly 1 hour. The only downside was this round-trip cost us $450 for the car service (there was a surcharge for XMAS eve, and we were six people and needed a larger car). Still way cheaper then flying out of EWR.

 

[NJDisneymom]

Try JetBlue...I believe they fly out of AC and they usually have good rates.

Nope, JetBlue doesn't fly out of AC (or Newark or Philly for that matter). Wish they did, they are one of the reasons I was considering LGA or JFK.