NY Traffic

[arthursiew]

We will be heading to Orlando from JFK. Since I'm not familiar with NY as we will be heading to NY first before New York. Our flight will be a jetBlue flight departing at approximately 7:20am. I was wondering which would be the best transportation to JFK to get to the airport by 6:20 or 6:30. I narrowed it down to taxi, car service, and the LIRR/Airport Express.

We will be a family four with one bag each. Obviously taking the LIRR/Airport Express might be more of a hassle, but it might avoid traffic. All of the prices are about the same. However, the car service is $44 if we had three bags. Do you think they will charge us extra if we brought in one extra bag plus a personal item like a laptop bag? If so, we'll take a cab. But... how's the traffic to JFK at around 5-6 in the morning? If it's important, we will be heading to the airport on a Friday (June 18th).

Thanks!

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

On a Friday morning at that time you should be OK driving. I would take a car service though, as taxis are really for local drives around town. JFK is out in Queens. The car service will probably have a standard fare for Manhattan to JFK, while a taxi will charge you for tolls, time sitting in traffic, etc. Your hotel should be able to recommend a car service. They might even offer a shuttle to JFK.

 

[Mary Anne]

On a Friday morning at that time you should be OK driving. I would take a car service though, as taxis are really for local drives around town. JFK is out in Queens. The car service will probably have a standard fare for Manhattan to JFK, while a taxi will charge you for tolls, time sitting in traffic, etc. Your hotel should be able to recommend a car service. They might even offer a shuttle to JFK.

Traffic should be very lite at that hour coming from midtown to JFK, but I would give yourself at least 45 minutes to an hour. I am 20 minutes midtown to my house Queens in a cab with no traffic and then another 20 to 25 minutes from my house to JFK--again no traffic.

You will have no problem getting a cab from your hotel to JFK and I believe it is a flat rate of about $45. Also give yourself at least an hour to go through the airport so for a 7:20 flight, I would leave the hotel no later then 5:30 in the am.

 

[arthursiew]

On a Friday morning at that time you should be OK driving. I would take a car service though, as taxis are really for local drives around town. JFK is out in Queens. The car service will probably have a standard fare for Manhattan to JFK, while a taxi will charge you for tolls, time sitting in traffic, etc. Your hotel should be able to recommend a car service. They might even offer a shuttle to JFK.

I thought it was a flat rate of $45 for a cab.

jetBlue offers a rate of $44 plus tips, tolls, and tax if we had three bags. If I said 4... they said it won't fit and in the terms and condition... i may be subject to a extra bag charge. Do you think they will charge extra if I brought more than I told them?

 

[crazyme5kids]

I know a few people who always take the air train (whatever it is called) from NYC and say it is a painless way to get to the airport.

 

[java]

I agree traffic should be LIGHT on a friday in the summer at that time. Plus you are heading reverse rush hour traffic. Leaving the city vs. coming in.
I would take car service.I am pretty sure cabs are still run with flat fare of $45 plus tolls so it would be more expensive.

 

[pezheadmeg]

Car Service! Car Service! Car Service! It'll probably end up cheaper than a cab.


Airtrain is one of the greatest things ever but . . .
Where you are staying on Manhattan? You still need to get to Penn with all your luggage. Plus that early there aren't many trains leaving the city. And you need the LIRR ticket plus the airtrain ticket. Car service might even end up cheaper with a party of 4.

And give yourself plenty of time. My parents had an 8 am flight from JFK on JetBlue this past Thursday. It took them almost an hour to clear security.

 

[crazyme5kids]

You don't take the LIRR from NYC, you take the subway. I think it costs around $8.00 total per person, and about 50 minutes to an hour.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

What about the possibility of switching hotels the day before; have your bags held at bell services in the Manhatten hotel until you head to Queens and spend the night in a hotel right outside JFK. That way in the morning you will not have to worry about traffic and the hotel will probably have a free shuttle.

 

[ziggystardust]

i don't think you'd have a problem with traffic that early. I usually fly to the airport on the belt parkway at that time (but I am coming from the opposite direction).

I've also taken the airtrain to the LIRR. Its pretty quick and painless. But like a previous poster said you could take a subway there, or the LIRR out of Penn (only advisable if your hotel is near there), and if you don't feel comfortable with the subway system, I'd opt for a car service.

so basically, i didn't help you at all I think whatever way you chose, you'll be fine. have a fun trip!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Airtrain is one of the greatest things ever but . . .
Where you are staying on Manhattan? You still need to get to Penn with all your luggage. Plus that early there aren't many trains leaving the city. And you need the LIRR ticket plus the airtrain ticket. Car service might even end up cheaper with a party of 4.

You don't have to got to Penn Station or take the LIRR.

Just hop on the subway ($2.25), then hop on Airtrain($5.00)

Here's info on airtrain

http://www.mta.info/mta/airtrain.htm