JFK AirTran Trip Planning

[Pete]

Hi All,

I'm off to New York this Christmas, and in the past I've either taken a cab or the airport bus to Manhatten from JFK. I took a look at the AirTran website to figure out how that route works, but I think I'm a little more confused now than I was before!

If anyone's already been on the AirTran, could the advise what's involved (and what sort of tickets I'll need) to get from JFK to Times Square? Do I go via Howard Beach or Jamaica Station? Are there any "personal safety" issues with either or both routes?

Pix

Hiya Pix

The AirTrain is really easy to use, I use it all the time now when I go by myself as its a steal.

You buy a ticket at the station in JFK before you board. Its about $7 and that includes the Air Train fee and the subway ticket to your destination.

My advice is to use the Jamaica line, the interchange is a bit more fiddly than Howard Beach(ie: you have to go down some escalators and walk about 50 yeards down the station to Jamacia subway station (as opposed to the overground) but the journey has much fewer stops and it'll take you right to 42nd Street / 8th Ave station. At Jamaica take the E train downtown and its about a 30 minute journey, as oppsed to an hour from Howard Beach.

Its nice and simple and at the AirTrain station at JFK there are always loads of staff on the platform to make sure you get on the right train to Jamacia or wherever.

Dean

[Pete]

Thanks, that's just the sort of advice I needed (otherwise I would have gone to Howard Beach an got on the A train and wasted 1/2 hour!)

Pix

Hey,

I took the Skytrain back to JFk the last time I was in NY a couple of weeks ago. Found it a little fiddlier the other way round purely because you have to be careful which E train you get on when travelling out of the city. Having said that - now that I have made the effort I would not think twice about using it everytime. My only regret is that I normally take the VS009 into JFK or go into Newark on the VS017 so get in too late to use public transport (safety first).

Am thinking of taking the LIRR rather than the E train when I leave for JFK on this trip as I am leaving on Wednesday night prior to Thursday Thanksgiving holiday.

Phil (Buffy)

[Pete]

What times of day would you say are 'safe' to use the subway?

I'm getting into town on the VS03 (lands JFK 16:40) and returning on the VS46 (leaves 21:10, so check in around 6-7pm). Would it be ok using the subway then?

Pix

Yea - both of those would be "safe".

Generally I'd look at anything that had me on a suburban station platform after around 8pm.

I tend to always leave on the 46 (if available) and leave the centre of town about 5:30 - which gets me to JFK by 7 at the latest - probably more like 6:30.

I always end up arriving too late to go into town on Skytrain but even allowing for immigration etc. you should be on the train by 6 and in town by 7.

I should point out that using the subway is generally extremely safe - one of the carriages always has a guard (not sure which one) and in town I have no hesitation travelling late into the evening. Just get a little nervous out in the sticks.

Phil (Buffy)