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LGA to JFK

hello all,
wondering about the best way to transfer from lga to jfk. my flight arrives at noon at lga on a thursday in early may. connecting flight to europe leave from jfk at 5.30 pm. what would you do, take a taxi, rideshare or multi-stage public transportation? cost is secondary, i don't want to get stuck in traffic and miss my flight.
thanks!

Posted by
1 posts

I hesitate to suggest this, due to the recent accident, but many years ago my mother and I did that transfer by helicopter. If you can afford it, it’s the best way to avoid traffic. (I’m not sure of my information. A quick Google looks like it might only be $200.)

It would not be all that unusual for your arrival to run two hours late and nowadays I think JFK wants you to be there three hours early.

There ya go!

Posted by
4201 posts

If helicopters are an option, great. If not, I think this should be a game time decision between mass transit and taxi with the preference for a taxi unless traffic is awful. Google map it or use Waze when you are ready to go to see if there is a traffic issue between LGA and JFK.

Posted by
17388 posts

Take a taxi. While there are a couple of shuttle/shared ride services, if you're not too concerned about price, a taxi will be faster and easier.

Forget Public transportation. It will involve many changes and just isn't worth it unless you need to find the cheapest way.

BTW, there is always traffic between LGA and JFK especially once you get to the Van Wyck.

Posted by
1175 posts

I’d check traffic once you land and then decide. Public transportation isn’t hideous and it takes about an hour, but there are multiple changes (airport bus to Long Island Railroad to AirTrain) so a lot of it depends on how much luggage you have.

Posted by
402 posts

thank you all for your tips and insights.i will stick with taxi/rideshare. as for the helicopter option, i will only do it if mrs. bezos is the pilot and the other four ladies hop in for the 'ride'🤣

Posted by
273 posts

multi-stage public transportation

I would choose this since you have plenty of time, 3 stages, not difficult. Free city bus to Roosevelt Ave/Jackson Heights subway station (E train to Jamaica), connect to airtrain, about $10, can use tap credit card. About 50 minutes.

The ride share pickup location used to be poor, probably still is, don’t choose this option.

Taxi story: these LGA>>JFK transfers are often the result of an AA miles redemption. Got my son one of these, and he had 4 hours to make the transfer so took a taxi. Result was the flight into LGA was very early, luggage delivery immediate, zero traffic to JFK so he was there before the first flight was scheduled to land! Had to wait at JFK for the airline counter to open. That’s the best case scenario.

Posted by
413 posts

I see the poster is from North Carolina. I live in NC also and frequently use AA. I know that American Airlines often show flights especially award flights with the, in my opinion, awful transport between the 2 NYC airports.
If using miles to book a ticket the 2 connections often appear, but there are always options without that. Changing a reservation with miles or money is not difficult.

Posted by
402 posts

yes i am flying aa, and yes, i did use miles. ticket purchased long time ago but i will look into changing as suggested. only carry on luggage. i realized i know two native and current new yorkers so i asked them and both discourage public transportation.

Posted by
273 posts

both discourage public transportation.

I wonder if they have done it. The city bus is an express to the subway so no need to pay attention to bus stops, the E train is also an express, just ride to the end so again no need to pay attention to stops. It’s efficient and fairly mindless, assuming not too much luggage.

There are also great food options around the Roosevelt Ave/Jackson Heights subway stop, so don’t have to eat airport food.

Also I once took a taxi from LGA and the driver got lost, had to give verbal directions using my phone.