JFK to MOMA

A taxi from JFK to Manhattan has a flat fee of $52.80, plus a $4.50 rush hour surcharge (4pm-8pm weekdays), plus a $2.50 fee for trips to Manhattan south of 96th street, plus any tolls and tips. So you're likely looking at somewhere between $60 and $70. Here is the official information. If you are uncomfortable on the subway or have lots of luggage, I would recommend this.

However, this is also very easily doable on the subway (total cost $7.75 per person), which is what I would personally do assuming I had a manageable amount of luggage. You would:

1. Take the AirTrain to Jamaica station. There is a $5 per-person fare on the AirTrain which you pay when you leave the AirTrain at Jamaica station.
2. Take a Manhattan-bound E train to the 7 Av station in Manhattan, located at 7 Av and 53rd St. Your hotel is one block away at 6 Av and 54th St. Subway fare per person is $2.75.

My advice would be: when you land, check the official MTA website. It will indicate if there are delays or service changes on the subway lines. If there is some kind of unexpected service change on the E that you don't understand, then you're forewarned and can take a taxi instead. Otherwise, however, by NYC standards I would consider this to be a very simple subway trip.

(Finally, a friendly tip -- in real life the 'Avenue of the Americas' moniker is basically unused; New Yorkers just call it 6th Avenue.)

Thanks andrewesque - I'll add the MTA app to my phone. We can always jump ship at Jamaica.

Good to know about 6th Avenue. Of course, once I open my mouth, people will know immediately that I'm not a New Yorker!

I fly often to JFK to visit family in Brooklyn. I almost always take the subway to/from the airport. Very easy and never stuck in traffic! I only take a cab if I have heavier luggage or the weather is awful (since I have to walk several blocks once in Brooklyn).

" Of course, once I open my mouth, people will know immediately that I'm not a New Yorker!"

No, since New Yorkers come from all over the country and all over the world. However, andrew is right - once you say "Avenue of the Americas," EVERYONE will know right away!

I agree that unless there's a specific problem on that subway line, and as long as you can manage your luggage on the subway, you should be fine taking the E train.

One correction....the total subway fare from JFK to Manhattan is $7.75. ($5.00 + 2.75). If you use the LIRR instead of the subway it's $12.75.

AirTrain to Jamaica.....E train to 7th Avenue. It couldn't be easier. There's a five minute (max) walk and an elevator ride down from the Airtrain to the E train. But it's all in the same station.

Frank II is indeed correct -- $7.75 (I have no idea how I got the $10+ figure!) For anyone else reading this in the future, there is also a $1 fee per new MetroCard, which I didn't mention in my original response because the OP says they already have one.

We would have been better off without our friend's Metrocard. For some reason, the machine wouldn't let us add any money to it, which caused a bit of confusion at the ticket machine. But we soldiered on, and will definitely take the subway from JFK the next time we visit NYC. It really is easy if you don't mind walking and don't have too much luggage.