Advice on flying into and getting around NYC?

"nermal" (nermal)
04/28/2015 at 14:16 • Filed to: new york new york, pastrami sandwiches, tony, dillemas

Does anybody have experience dealing with flying into NYC and getting ground transport from the airport to the city? I’m in the process of planning either a day trip or overnighter there for next month for work purposes, depending on timing. I need to be pretty much in the center of Manhattan @ 8:30am. IF I get a flight that lands at ~7am, will that allow enough time?

What’s the best airport to fly into, of the 4 options? How much time do I need to allow to get from place to place? Should I taxi / Uber / etc?

DISCUSSION (20)

For Sweden > nermal
04/28/2015 at 14:19

No matter what you choose you will hate it and it will be terrible.

crowmolly > nermal
04/28/2015 at 14:21

I’d say Teterboro is out.

I know you can fly into EWR and take the Northeast Corridor (red line) into Penn Station NYC, which is at 7th and 33rd. Pretty easy.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nermal
04/28/2015 at 14:22

No, you can’t guarantee getting there in that amount of time. LaGuardia’s a bitch where your landing will probably be delayed, you’ll have to wait in line for a cab, and you might be sharing a baggage carousel with several other planes, and JFK’s too far away. Remember, you’re coming in at rush hour. Honestly, your best bet might be Newark if you’re going to midtown. In theory you should be able to make it in that amount of time, but in practice it’s not guaranteed. You can get on NJ Transit right at the airport and take it straight into Penn Station for like $11 or something. It’s only a half-hour train ride that leaves every 15 minutes or so, but it’s often off schedule. I had to wait on the platform in Newark for over an hour once waiting for the train.

crowmolly > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/28/2015 at 14:25

Correct me if I’m way off but I’m pretty sure you have to take NJ Transit to Newark Penn to get on the PATH, which takes you to the WTC

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > crowmolly
04/28/2015 at 14:26

Yeah, you’re right. I tried to stealth-edit it to not look like an idiot, but wasn’t fast enough. The NJ Transit line goes straight to Penn Station from the airport.

area man > nermal
04/28/2015 at 14:28

Center of Manhattan meaning Midtown? You should do LaGuardia. Traffic will be a bitch in from New Jersey and across Brooklyn/Queens at that time of day. Teterboro is more for smaller regional flights.

crowmolly > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/28/2015 at 14:28

You aren’t an idiot at all, the rail system can be (is?) a total clusterfuck sometimes.

Apex Assassin > For Sweden
04/28/2015 at 14:29

Well played!

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > nermal
04/28/2015 at 14:31

Based on my last trip which I arrived @ Laguardia @ 10am, I was in Central Park by 10:45 via taxi. I think Laguardia would be especially if you’re on the east side of the island.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > crowmolly
04/28/2015 at 14:36

Meh, it’s not too bad. I just wish that with the symbiotic relationship that the city has with north Jersey that they would have them better integrated. I guess it’s just the legacy of so many private operators building the lines over the years, and political and labor issues always preventing any kind of change apart from fares.

nermal > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/28/2015 at 14:39

That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t want to cut it too close and risk being late, but don’t want to end up sitting around twiddling my thumbs either.

Newark seems the best place to go as far as flights are concerned.

nermal > area man
04/28/2015 at 14:40

Yep, Midtown.

Ntovorni > nermal
04/28/2015 at 14:41

Work to get there early and twiddle your thumbs. It’s NYC. You’ll find something to occupy you or look at until it’s time to do your work stuff.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nermal
04/28/2015 at 14:41

I prefer JFK. Everyone has horror stories from there, but all of mine are from Newark. It’s just the wrong airport for your schedule.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
04/28/2015 at 14:41

10 am is not 7 am. 7 am is rush hour.

Sam > nermal
04/28/2015 at 14:46

I flew into Newark. Then you have the choice of an Uber or NJ Transit. NJ Transit is cheaper, but you’ll have to take an Uber to the terminal and then to wherever you’re staying in NYC. The Uber is a flat 60 (I think) to anywhere in Manhattan.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/28/2015 at 15:24

Holy monkey! You’re kidding me?!

Kinja'd!!!

dr861 > nermal
04/28/2015 at 21:14

Newark is definitely NOT the way to go. It’s going to be a shit show either way, as it always is. My best advice is to take a cab. Not uber, not the train. It’s the quickest way from an airport in nyc.

nermal > dr861
04/29/2015 at 10:51

Thanks. Seems like opinions are mixed, but the general consensus is that it will be a shit show with lots of traffic and delays regardless.

dr861 > nermal
04/29/2015 at 11:08

Thats accurate. Basically dont rely on anything or anybody. Welcome to NYC.