JFK - how easy to transfer between terminals?

A quick question please - I couldn't really see a definitive answer elsewhere....

...we are flying from Vegas to JFK landing at T8 at 19.00. Our flight home to UK departs T7 at 21.30 (was a reward flight hence having to fly via JFK as no direct seats from LAS available).

It says you have to take a train/monorail between terminals, but this seems a lot of hassle for just one terminal - after collecting luggage we have to get lifts, change floors, make your way to the platform and then the reverse when getting to T7.

Would it just be easier to walk between them - is this possible/feasible, or is the transit monorail the only/best way - and timings wise, how long would it take all in all if anyone knows, and I guess 2.5 hours all in all for exiting and checking in again would be OK?

Many thanks. Ian.

I'm not sure it's possible to walk between the terminals - they are quite far apart with roads and parking garages in the way.

IIRC the air train runs in both directions so need to make sure you get the right one. The journey would be far quicker than walking - especially with baggage. Time tables etc are on the JFK website.

2 1/2 (which is really 1 1/2 as you need to check in with VS no later than 1 hour before departure) should be enough as along as your flight arrives on time. JFK can be a bit of a zoo in the evening.

As you'll be on separate tickets VS won't be under any obligation to rebook you should you be late.

Although T7 and T8 are next to each other on the loop, there's a motorway between them which makes walking impossible.

You'll have to use the AirTrain which is easy enough - though as tonty says make sure you get on the right one. You need the inter-terminal loop, not the line that goes out to Jamaica or Howard Beach.

Timing-wise you should be fine - from collecting your luggage at T8 to checking in at T7 (BA I assume?) shouldn't take more than 15 minutes.

If you're flying LAS-JFK on AA and JFK-LHR on BA can't you check your bags all the way through as they're both oneWorld airlines?

Although T7 and T8 are next to each other on the loop, there's a motorway between them which makes walking impossible.

You'll have to use the AirTrain which is easy enough - though as tonty says make sure you get on the right one. You need the inter-terminal loop, not the line that goes out to Jamaica or Howard Beach.

Timing-wise you should be fine - from collecting your luggage at T8 to checking in at T7 (BA I assume?) shouldn't take more than 15 minutes.

If you're flying LAS-JFK on AA and JFK-LHR on BA can't you check your bags all the way through as they're both oneWorld airlines?

Thanks to both replies, they are both helpful, and knowing a motorway is in between then the AirTrain seems the sensible option!

Yes it is the AA/BA flights you mention, although as I booked the AA one myself, BA have said they cannot check my luggage in all the way despite both being OneWorld. Bearing in mind the timescales however, whilst this is a small nuisance, I should be OK, collecting luggage exiting T8, checking in at T7 (we managed to get an F on reward, so no queues hopefully!).

Thanks again, appreciated.

Hi Ianflies. Firstly surely your luggage will be tagged at LAS all the way back to Heathrow?

A few years back we travelled AA from Tampa up to JFK and then had a BA flight home to Heathrow and we never saw our luggage at JFK, it was transferred onwards. I booked both flights independently with BA and then AA.

In March we flew into JFK terminal 5 and needed to take the Airtrain one stop round to Terminal 4. Unfortunately we had to collect our bags at JFK as Jet Blue have no interlining (or whatever its called) with Virgin. It took absolutely forever to get our luggage and then we had to walk for ages, go outside and across to the Airtrain, up in a lift to the station and then catch the train. Once at Terminal 4 we then had to lug all the bags off train, into a lift down to ground level and across into the terminal building, and then up in another lift to departures!!!! My trip report said I would only ever do this again if I used Delta/Virgin so the luggage gets ticketted through to my final destination.

The Airtrain transfer is no big deal without the luggage issue. I'm sure the AA desk at LAS can ticket your luggage through to LHR for you.

Hi Ianflies. Firstly surely your luggage will be tagged at LAS all the way back to Heathrow?

A few years back we travelled AA from Tampa up to JFK and then had a BA flight home to Heathrow and we never saw our luggage at JFK, it was transferred onwards. I booked both flights independently with BA and then AA.

In March we flew into JFK terminal 5 and needed to take the Airtrain one stop round to Terminal 4. Unfortunately we had to collect our bags at JFK as Jet Blue have no interlining (or whatever its called) with Virgin. It took absolutely forever to get our luggage and then we had to walk for ages, go outside and across to the Airtrain, up in a lift to the station and then catch the train. Once at Terminal 4 we then had to lug all the bags off train, into a lift down to ground level and across into the terminal building, and then up in another lift to departures!!!! My trip report said I would only ever do this again if I used Delta/Virgin so the luggage gets ticketted through to my final destination.

The Airtrain transfer is no big deal without the luggage issue. I'm sure the AA desk at LAS can ticket your luggage through to LHR for you.

Thanks Hev60. When I originally spoke to the BA booking agent to book my JFK-LHR flight, he advised they could not check in the bags all the way, but as you suggest, I will ask the very nice AA agent if he could do such a thing, as from your experiences it does seem a drag if not - fingers crossed! Seems you had an arduous experience! Thanks again.

Thanks Hev60. When I originally spoke to the BA booking agent to book my JFK-LHR flight, he advised they could not check in the bags all the way, but as you suggest, I will ask the very nice AA agent if he could do such a thing, as from your experiences it does seem a drag if not - fingers crossed! Seems you had an arduous experience! Thanks again.

AA might be able to tag the bags in LAS to the final destination, but you'll still have to pick them up at JFK T8 when you switch terminals to T7 and re-check them with BA, alas.