V-Flyer

Taking her indoors shopping to the Big Apple in March. We are staying in central Manhattan. Flying VS, PE class from LHR but which airport is better to travel to EWR or JFK. Taking into account facilities, airport delays, travelling time & ease into the city center? [?]

EWR.

There are good and bad points about both I think.

I'd see which flights take your fancy and see which airport they go to. I'm flying into EWR and leaving from JFK, partly so I fly on a 747 and get to sit upstairs, and also because that's what was going cheap in the sale

Originally posted by Stevieboy
Taking her indoors shopping to the Big Apple in March. We are staying in central Manhattan. Flying VS, PE class from LHR but which airport is better to travel to EWR or JFK. Taking into account facilities, airport delays, travelling time & ease into the city center? [?]

Welcome aboard VFlyer, Stevieboy. Glad to have you with us.

Your question is discussed quite a lot on the Forum. Unless there is a specific problem at one of the airports, or in one of the tunnels or bridges leading to the City, the airport where you arrive is probably not a major consideration. Both have adequate transportation options to Manhattan.

Regards,
Chuck-

Hi Stevie:) I'm flown into both airports many times and never really had any problems EWR can be quiet at times in the mid afternoon- evening and JFK can be busy getting into city during the days but overall they are pretty kool so dont worry;) about it mate just enjoy the BIG APPLE:D as I'm sure you will and dont forget to check out Century 21 department store down by ground zero for some real bargins:D.

I personally prefer EWR- particularily if you come in on VS1- as in my experience you are pretty much the only flight in the arrivals hall at that time. Customs/Immigration/Baggage Claim is usually empty, and makes for a quick, effortless claim and trip out of the terminal.

Originally posted by VS-EWR
EWR.

Seems like nuff said there

VS17 TO EWR was good when we arrived arrivals was almost empty and security was quiert for the US
EWR for me:D
barely any shops in EWR tho

As Stevieboy said,the best way to do it is into EWR then out from JFK,everytime i've flown into EWR immagration and customs has been a breeze,cant say that about JFK,however there have been times i've sat on the groud at EWR for a couple of hrs waiting in line to take of (im not kidding) and never had a problem like that at JFK.

If you are flying PE, the try for a 747 flight as PE is in the upper deck. PE on a A340-600 has a 2-4-2 confirguration so unless you are sure of getting a 2 seats at the window, a 747 is the safer best. I think only the 2 pm flight to JFK is a 747.

If you can access a VS lounge then JFK as better. Taxis are fast into/out of JFK only if you take the last flight of the day from LHR and JFK unless you are flying on a weekend.JFK taxis have a fixed rate thre and back. Otherwise the train from EWR to Penn Station is convinient. Have to get another taxi from Penn St to your destination but taxis in Manhattan are cheap (well compared with London).

If you have a Priority Pass card, EWR is better as you get to enter the Continental Lounge. I do not think there is a Priority Pass card lounge at Terminal 4 at JFK.

JFK immigration queues are busy if you are arriving on the first 2 flights from London. Normally empty or emptier for last flight from London. It does depending a arrival time and arrival time of other flights scheduled for the same time. Understand EWR is less busy during morning/afternoon arrivals.

Flown into both in the past, JFK very recently, have to say prefer JFK just cos it's....JFK

Fixed fare taxi's in (around $50 + Toll & Tip) way back though is metered. Or there is the Air-train, from JFK, connects to two options > Long Island Railroad into Penn Station, or subway circa $10

Have a great time in NYC [y]

Originally posted by Jon B
Flown into both in the past, JFK very recently, have to say prefer JFK just cos it's....JFK

Fixed fare taxi's in (around $50 + Toll & Tip) way back though is metered. Or there is the Air-train, from JFK, connects to two options > Long Island Railroad into Penn Station, or subway circa $10

Have a great time in NYC [y]

You know EWR has all of that stuff too right? Except the airtrain connects to NJtransit instead of the LIRR.

At the moment I'm prefering JFK.
Partly because of the clubhouse, and the speed at which the AirTrain (via Jamacia) gets me to my hotel.
If its a little bit late or I'm in economy though the queues on VS 3 at immigration can be a nightmare..!

Dean

Why is it at JFK it always seems to be understaffed. Last flight 20 some stations to pass through but only four were open with the whole hall full of travelers. I'm mean, they know when flights are going to arrive and how many are on them. It's not like a store check-out where you don't know how many will shop and when.

Arriving on the VS017 is very quiet, bu there's a reason for that!hehe:D
I'd say EWR!

Cheers,
VS045

Thanks for all the advice [y]
Seems like it's a 50/50 split on which is better.
I think I may fly in EWR and out of JFK as has been suggested. In that way I get the best of both worlds

Good idea!:)

I suppose to a large extent, it's just to personal opinion - if you're not travelling in J that is!;)

Cheers,
VS045

I do LON - NYC every couple of weeks and I have a slight preference for EWR because generally the traffic getting there isn't so bad but ....

EWR - If you are arriving on VS17 and hiring a car the AirTran can be a pain because they do routine maintenance after about 11:30. Often you have to change trains at Terminal A and wait...not what you need when your body clocks telling you its 5:00 AM

JFK - Lines at security can be bad. Last Sunday night, for example, it was a 45 minute wait and the line went right down the length of the Terminal building.

Both beat the Terminal 3 toilet hands down IMHO

If you have CH access then JFK wins all the time for the departure. Agree with the other posters on arriving at EWR though. I once ended up in JFK immigration after a Pakistan Airways has just emptied into the hall! Thats was a very tiresome experience with immigration lines shutting down regularly each time someones paperwork was out of order.

Never had the problem arriving EWR especially on the VS17 (if you stay awake!)

Graham