V-Flyer

So having seen VS are matching BA's sale prices, been contemplating booking a birthday trip for next April. I usually take the VS45, partly due to this being a 747 and the A Zone and also the timings work well for me. Whilst the VS45 was available at the sale price last Sunday, I dithered too much about it and by Monday morning, the sale fare was no longer available.

Been watching to see if anymore Z fare came along for the VS45, but alas they haven't. Doing another search, I can get a Z fare on the VS9, which is currently showing as a 747 on 18th April.

When traveling to JFK I have always taken the VS45 and used the Air-train and Tube to get into Manhattan, due to the cost and convenience.

The VS9 gets in about 7pm so if it takes a few hours to get through immigration, it's likely to be around 9pm before I'm on the tube and I'm just not sure if that's such a good idea being on the tube at that time of night.

The VS9 is only just over 2 hours later than the VS45 and timing wise wouldn't be too bad and I'm probably just being over cautious about being on the tube post 9pm on my own.

Any of my esteemed fellow V-flyer got any experience of using the the VS9 over the VS45. Also, is it likely to change from a 747 by April, though not that it would be a problem if it wasn't a 747.

Many thanks

TL

I honestly wouldn't worry about using the subway. You won't be alone doing that journey and both the A (from Howard Beach) and the E (from Jamaica) are busy lines. I might think twice about it overnight, but 9pm really isn't late; yes there may be some "characters" as there are at any time of day on the subway but they'll be easily outnumbered by regular passengers.

I flew out on the 9 last week landed at 7:10 and was straight through immigration and checked in for a super shuttle by 8 (I had booked a shuttle thinking the same as you that it would be late on the subway)

gumshoe wrote:I honestly wouldn't worry about using the subway. You won't be alone doing that journey and both the A (from Howard Beach) and the E (from Jamaica) are busy lines. I might think twice about it overnight, but 9pm really isn't late; yes there may be some "characters" as there are at any time of day on the subway but they'll be easily outnumbered by regular passengers.

Thanks Gumshoe I usually take the E train and I'm probably just being a little over anxious about it as I normally visit with friends, but this trip it will be just me.

Having not made my annual visit to NYC this year, I've missed it and at the current price, I want to take advantage of it, even if it is a different flight to that I normally take. It'll be an adventure.

CHill710 wrote:I flew out on the 9 last week landed at 7:10 and was straight through immigration and checked in for a super shuttle by 8 (I had booked a shuttle thinking the same as you that it would be late on the subway)

Ah thanks for that Chill710, Good to know it's not just me that worries about these things.

I was last in NYC in Sept 2012 (must get back there soon!) and the advice we were given about the Subway was "fine to use it when you head out for the evening, but if heading back later on get a cab".

In practice we did just this. We were staying over the road from Ground Zero, so one evening we took the Subway Uptown to Central Park / 5th Avenue area, had a great night out and got a cab back to the hotel.

The following night we walked over to Brooklyn & had the best pizza ever under the Brooklyn Bridge. Got a cab home from here too. The way we looked at it was that the subway [or walking] saving on the journey out paid for your first round of drinks.

As others have said, early-mid evening on the subway there will be enough other "normal" customers to deter the "characters" from trying anything stupid.

The reputation of how safe or not the NYC subway is based on the situation from many years ago and exaggerated press reports.

In reality it is a safe system and whilst not crime free it is not exactly a den of vice and iniquity either.

tontybear wrote:The reputation of how safe or not the NYC subway is based on the situation from many years ago and exaggerated press reports.

In reality it is a safe system and whilst not crime free it is not exactly a den of vice and iniquity either.

Agreed, and the E is my most commonly used line when I'm in NY. Although I've not taken it all the way out to Jamaica, I've been on it (and other lines) at all times of day and night within Manhattan and never once felt unsafe or threatened.

Hi Totallylost,

If you have any worries at all, a very good option would be the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

Take the AirTrain to Jamaica, as if you were taking the E train. Instead, at Jamaica take the LIRR into Penn Station (20 minutes, $15.50 max). This is a very well-run, clean commuter train, with plenty of staff on board, and the trains run every 10-15 minutes.

That said, I live in NYC half the time and I take the subway all over town every day. One thing to remember is that because the subway runs all night, more people take it later, so it never has that empty feeling. I've never had any trouble in ten years of living in NYC.

The only time I tend not to take the subway is after midnight, but that's because the MTA does work on the lines and many things get rerouted, slowed-down etc (also over the weekend).

Often the advice which New Yorkers give not to take the train at night (myself included) is because of these reroutes, which can be extremely confusing for tourists, not because of safety.

Finally, this might be an indication of how things have changed since the 'bad old days': New York's public transport system is currently ranked above London's in terms of general safety for women:

http://www.trust.org/spotlight/most-dan ... Spotlights

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/trave ... women.html

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20 ... -for-women

I agree with the advice above to take the LIRR, unless arriving at Penn really isn't convenient. It is quicker than the subway and more comfortable. Having said that, I've done the ride in on the E train late at night and found it fine.

Over the years I've flown both flights a fair few times. There are pros and cons to each -- with the 45 you can have a proper dinner at the right local time, but in the old days the immigration delays were terrible, and the earlier start from LHR may not be convenient. The 9 is better timed, in my opinion, because you can have an early-evening meal on the plane and then something light when you arrive, then straight to bed. And I like afternoon tea in the Clubhouse.

I completely agree the 9 is well-timed. We usually go to New York every 1-2yrs and recently switched form the 45 to the 9 and in terms of jet-lag have found the 9 leaves us pretty much jet-lag free. By the time you get through and get to your hotel (grabbing a snack en-route) you will be tired enough to go to bed at a good time.

In terms of subway I would also add that you will be going from the Airport to the city and at that time of night there will still be a fair few other hundred (at least) people taking similar journeys. Obviously try to minimize tourist-brain while on the subway but really you shouldn't have any problems.

Thanks all for your comments / advice.

Decided to give the VS9 a go for a change and have just booked my flights for a birthday trip to NYC

Enjoy the trip