Flying from LA to New York: JFK or LGA?

[jinduy]

Me and a bunch of people have booked separate flights to NY in November. We plan to hang out a lot in NYC I think.

I noticed a lot of them booked to arrive in La Guardia, which requires 1 stop. I wouldn't mind paying extra to just go to JFK for non stop flight, but I'm wondering if there's a huge tradeoff anywhere, where going to La Guardia would be much more beneficial?

 

[lupi]

from what I've heard, those in the area hate jfk.

 

[JulesMaximus]

They both suck...but I'd probably pick La Guardia or even Newark, NJ to avoid the congestion associated with JFK (air traffic). I've spent more time on the ground sitting on the tarmac at JFK than I care to remember. Waiting 2 hours after leaving the gate just to take off is never worth it.

 

[ElFenix]

la guardia is closer in but has no subway or train. JFK has easy access to the LIRR and the subway (subway ride is long). newark also has a train into manhattan.

 

[JS80]

Flip a coin. Cab it to Manhattan.

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

The traffic isnt as bad if you arrive at JFK past 10pm.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

from what I've heard, those in the area hate jfk.

Those in the area hate JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. The NYC airports are the 10th circle of Dante's hell.

LGA is physically closer to Manhattan, JFK has slightly better connections to Manhattan. There's not a whole lot to decide it either way, pick whichever one gets you the best price or the more convenient times and connections.

 

[tooriski]

JFK is farther away from the city and can have bad traffic if you don't time it right (drove a nyc cab for 2 years)...i would pick LGA

 

[sjwaste]

Nevermind.

 

[theflyingpig]

I always just take my private jet. Really, I don't need to be inconvenienced by flying commercial. I don't like having to share my air with lesser people.

 

[thepd7]

I always just take my private jet. Really, I don't need to be inconvenienced by flying commercial. I don't like having to share my air with lesser people.

everyone knows this

 

[foghorn67]

Newark.

 

[L00PY]

A lot of it depends on where you're staying and how much of a budget you're on.

IIRC, getting from JFK to the subway (and the rest of the city) is much, much easier than from LGA to most parts. You also pay for that convenience in the form of an additional $5 for the AirTran. If you're planning on taking mass transit from the airport to where ever, use Google Maps and see which will take longer.

Last time I flew into LGA, I remember it was a bit of a hassle getting my Metrocard refilled. Best case would be that you'd have to pay for a per ride then get an unlimited later on. Worst case would be you'd be stuck trying to get change for the bus (no bills accepted). I think the JFK terminal was a little wonky too for your first Metrocard. I think if you wanted to get an unlimited, you had to exit a different way off the Airtran, buy your unlimited Metrocard from a different machine, then re-enter. It's only a $2.25 difference, but that's almost a PBR at many bars.

If you're coming in with a bunch of people, taxis will most likely be cheaper than mass transit from JFK. There's a flat fee of $45 from JFK to Manhattan. There's no flat fee to the other boroughs or from LaGuardia.

 

[guyver01]

With JFK, you can take the AirTrain to Jamaica and then hop on the LIRR or the Subway.

LGA, you can only take a cab/bus into the city.

 

[cloude27]

I Like LGA. To get in the city you just have to hop on the M60 bus, and you can take that to the N/Q subway line which will take you in to the city.

 

[Platypus]

anything but jfk

 

[Crono]

anything but jfk

Moms like you choose JFK, choose JFK.

Seriously, though, OP, LGA. JFK is better only if you want to pull a Tom Hanks.

 

[Vonkhan]

LGA any day, JFK is hell

 

[bigrash]

They're both the same to me. I usually fly out of JFK cause it's cheaper and has more flights. Did your friends book with Spirit or Jetblue or something? That might explain why they're one stop flights.

 

[LegendKiller]

Fuck JFK and the subway ride, it'll take you at least 1.5hrs and you get to ride through the not-so-nice parts of Brooklyn.

Fuck the cabs, $30 for LGA, $65 for JFK.

Fuck hitchhiking.

If you want to look like a pro without breaking the bank, fly into LGA and take the airport shuttle for $15. You can buy a round-trip for $27 (CASH ONLY). It's in the ground transportation area, usually to the right side as you go out the doors. Usually the dudes have blue or red jackets on. Ask an information booth inside about it.

It drops you off right across from grand central's main entrance. From there you have access to anything.

Not to mention you just chill on the bus rather than worry about the subway.

As far as Newark, forget it. Unless it's a lot cheaper Newark is kind of a pain. You have to take the airtrain to the New Jersey Transit station, then ride the NJT (~20 IIRC) into Penn. Don't do that.

1. NJT blows. My boss has to ride it every day and it's constantly late or breaking down.

2. Penn blows. Penn station has to be the worst designed, worst manned, and most disgusting place to commute into. GCT is far better.

Alternatively you could fly into Westchester airport. Take the shuttle to the train station and hop on a 30min train ride into the city. Westchester airport is small and easy, trainride is nice. You can sometimes get great deals out of there.


NYC airports piss me off. We're supposed to be some sort of major city and pay major taxes, yet the cabs have a monopoly on the "easy" transit. I have no fuckin idea why they don't have express trains out to each airport. Fuck the cabs.

You can tell I've been through this a lot.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I don't think it makes much of a difference.

 

[vailr]

I Like LGA. To get in the city you just have to hop on the M60 bus, and you can take that to the N/Q subway line which will take you in to the city.

:thumbsup:

 

[Blackjack200]

As far as Newark, forget it. Unless it's a lot cheaper Newark is kind of a pain. You have to take the airtrain to the New Jersey Transit station, then ride the NJT (~20 IIRC) into Penn. Don't do that.

1. NJT blows. My boss has to ride it every day and it's constantly late or breaking down.

2. Penn blows. Penn station has to be the worst designed, worst manned, and most disgusting place to commute into. GCT is far better.

I have to disagree here and say that flying into Newark and heading into Manhatten isn't that bad. First of all, it's only $5. Yes, it's 20 min from Newark to Midtown Manhatten, but it usually goes pretty quick, and they have those new double decker trains that are pretty nice. I've never been to JFK or LGA, but I don't imagine I would pay more than a $50 premium, no matter how much closer they are.

Also, if you do it this way you can easily spend an evening in Hoboken, which I would recommend.

 

[DrunkenSano]

JFK is terrible, avoid it like a fat chick at a party.

 

[Lifted]

FUCK JFK!!!!

If you couldn't figure that out yet. I've been in a taxi for 2 hours coming back into the city from that hell hole.

LGA would be best, Newark 2nd. LGA is better for upper Manhattan, Newark for lower - I'd just go with whichever you can get the cheapest flight into.

Again - stay the fuck away from JFK. If you have to fly out of JFK, you'll be leaving 5 hours before your flight... I think there was a Seinfeld ep about this.