Which NYC airport is best to fly into JFK or EWR

Am looking to take advantage of the good UC deals and take a trip to NYC in the near future for a few days. Not bothered which airport we go into and as have never been to NYC was wondering, if either has benfits over the other.

I am really only bothered in time/cost/accesibilty, ie which is closest and has the better (and chepaer) transport options.

We will be staying Midtown Manhattan.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Neil]

They are pretty much the same in terms of cost, distance etc. I know there is a flat rate from JFK to anywhere on Manhattan Island, not sure if this is the same ex EWR. For returning on a night flight I would probably suggest flying out of EWR at JFK can be a nightmare with very long taxi times occurring on a far to regular basis.

[honey lamb]

The first time I went to NYC I used EWR on the recommendation of US based flyers from another (now defunct) board. I found it easy to navigate and the transit time to Midtown not too bad. There is a flat fare from EWR as well as JFK. One of the bonuses of EWR is that you get terrific views of Manhattan on the approach there which you don't get from JFK

[mitchja]

Dont bother with the 'shared van' transport option. OK it's reasonably cheap, but by the time you have waited to be picked up, the van has then collected more pax from other terminals (there's 7 at JFK I think), driven into Manhattan, then dropped pax off at various hotels, it can take well over 2 hours.

Never used a cab to get from JFK but that will be quicker than a shared van.

The drive itself from JFK is about an hour (never used EWR so can't comment on the journey time there)

For my next trip to JFK in a few weeks I'm planning on using the air-train/subway to get into Manhattan. Total cost for that is about $12 each way which is cheaper than the shared van option and apparently only takes just over 1 hour to get to the Times Square area.

Regards

I would always go in to EWR. Clearing immigration always seems so much quicker < 30 mins. Been in the JFK a couple of times on a Friday afternoon. Landing between 4 and 5pm. Loads of international flights all coming in at that time. First time took 3 hours to clear immigration. Second time took 2.5 hours. I always avoid now for arrival.

Conversely for departure I'm happy to go out of JFK as the clubhouse is much better than EWR - but there are reports of a new clubhouse at EWR so that distinction may not last much longer.

Darren

The only thing that JFK has over EWR, IMO, is a better clubhouse. That said the staff at EWR are fabulous and I love the more personal service.

As for airports, EWR every time for me, after dozens of flights into New York here are my comparisons on time / cost / accessibility:

time: about the same, although EWR wins easily outside of rush hours if going by road transport
accessibility: EWR wins again, you can get there by train from Penn Station in 20mins (plus some extra to get from Newark station to the airport terminals) as well as all the other usual options
cost: JFK is technically a shorter journey and if in a metered cab will often cost less, although see traffic comment above
delays (added by me): JFK is horrendous for delays - on the VS46 in particular I've had two hour taxiing post departing the gate, sometimes we have been towed out to a remote stand for an hour too to wait for departure!
security / immigration: all seem better at EWR too, so fewer arrival delays

quote:Originally posted by mitchja
[b]

For my next trip to JFK in a few weeks I'm planning on using the air-train/subway to get into Manhattan. Total cost for that is about $12 each way which is cheaper than the shared van option and apparently only takes just over 1 hour to get to the Times Square area.

Regards


Did this a couple of weeks ago James, and was suprised how easy it was (as long as you do not have a load of luggage.).
The cost was $7 each way,($5 for the Air-train to Jamaica stn, and $2 for the subway into Manhattan).

One tip though, we bought a 7 day pass at Jamaica stn (you pay for the air-train when you get off it), but these passes do not include the air-train, so we had to buy another $5 pass to get out, it was not a major problem as we had more than our $25 worth out of the 7 day pass whilst we were there.

If you buy one of the metrocards with a set amount on it ($20, $30 etc), the $5 for the air-train can be taken off these and you also get a 15% bonus added to your metrocard with these ones.

I definetaly recommend this method of transport and will use it again if I'm lucky enough to visit NY again.

Sorry if I've gone slightly off-topic here.[:)]

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
One of the bonuses of EWR is that you get terrific views of Manhattan on the approach there which you don't get from JFK


If you want the view, make sure to sit on the left hand side of the plane. [^]

Thanks for all your advice, have booked to EWR (flight times were better for us) and thanks to Tink I have allocated seats on the left of the plane on the outbound and right on the return so definatly travelling POSH [y]

quote:Originally posted by chumba
Thanks for all your advice, have booked to EWR (flight times were better for us) and thanks to Tink I have allocated seats on the left of the plane on the outbound and right on the return so definatly travelling POSH [y]


Now just keep your fingers crossed that the plane lands from the direction where you go past Manhattan on landing. [8D]

Cannot comment on JFK, but on our recent trip on VS002 from EWR found the staff to be very accomodating and genuinely pleased to help.

We were delayed due to a baggage 'incident' and they get us updated regularly and more important the G&T's and Champagne were flowing!!!

Needless to say I slept all the way home.

Now just keep your fingers crossed that the plane lands from the direction where you go past Manhattan on landing. [8D]
[/quote]

Well if we don;t then Mrs Chumba will be looking for Tinkerbelle [:D] and might have to clip her wings a bit (only joking of course )

All our trips to NY have been on the VS17 to EWR and then out of JFK. The key reason for the VS17 is it gets to EWR around 11.00 pm which means you don't waste a day travelling. In addition to this immigration is relatively quiet and the trip to midtown Manhattan is around 30 minutes because there is no traffic.

The key benefit of flying out of JFK is the CH but then we've never been to the one in EWR so can't offer a comparison.

Miopyk[8D]