New York City-arriving at JFK and transport to hotel

This may offer an idea of cost
https://www.jfkairport.com/transportation/taxi-service

OR

Ask your hotel what taxi should cost to get their location

Hi
New Yorker here. I just googled this to confirm. There is a set fare from JFK to Manhattan plus additional surcharges. The Ser fare is $70 plus about $10 in surchages. You will also be charged for the toll and will need to add a tip. So minimum is $100. I took a cab from JFK to my home on the East side and it came to $120. You will be arriving during rush hour and then going across town so it will be a traffic filled trip. There will be a line for the taxis. Do not take a car from someone approyyou. Wait on the line.
Alternatively you can take the Air train from JFK to the Long Island Rail Road at Jamaica you pay for this NY Metro card which you can get there. Then get a LIRr train to Penn Station or Grand Central ( buy a separate ticket at machine). Get a cab or uber from there. This will be cheaper but more trouble. I have done this when the taxi line and uber lines were crazy but its a bit of walking and carrying suitcases. Training s to Penn Station and Brand Central are frequent.
You can also do uber....they have made that better as the uber driver will tell you where to go . the price will vary.
Hope this isn't overwhelming. I vote for the cab unless the line is more than an hour.( its usually not)

I second dianejay's advice -- absolutely do not accept a ride from anyone approaching you in the terminal. Even if they tell you stories like there's a strike (which there happens to be right now) so the fixed fare is waived, or the taxi line is shut for the day, or international arrivals have a different taxi line, or they will be cheaper -- ignore ignore ignore and go to the official taxi line.

Alternatively you can take the Air train from JFK to the Long Island Rail Road at Jamaica you pay for this NY Metro card which you can get there. Then get a LIRr train to Penn Station or Grand Central ( buy a separate ticket at machine). Get a cab or uber from there.

A couple of friendly corrections / clarifications here:

• MetroCard is no longer sold as of this year. You can pay the AirTrain fare (and, incidentally, the NYC Subway and bus fare) with any contactless payment method, i.e. any bank card that has tap payment capabilities, or any phone that can do so.
• You can buy an LIRR ticket at the machines, but I find it faster to do so on the TrainTime app, which is definitely the MTA's best app.
• More of an FYI, if you take the train to Penn Station, both the 1/2/3 and A/C subway lines (all of which go through the Upper West Side) stop there.

Just make sure the LIRR strike is over; there are no trains now.

Thanks for the replies.
Would this be an okay plan?
1. Take the airtrain to the Long Island Railroad at Jamaica.
2. Take the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station.
3. Take the 1 or 3 to near hotel. Would an uber be easy to locate at this point if we decided to uber the last part? How would we find the uber?
4. Can we use one phone to pay for all these tickets or must we have a card or the app ready to use?
I am wondering how this would be for 2 70ish people with a backpack and a rolling suitcase?
Is it fairly easy to use escalators to get to the right levels to keep going where we need to go?
I ask because I personally don’t always want to use taxis ( not the expense so much, other reasons).
Thanks for the help with this!

I've done what you suggst...AirTrain to Jamaica, LIRR (but to Grand Central) numerous times.

If you can manage a short walk with your luggage you should be okay. (There are elevators down to track level for the LIRR at Jamaica.)

At Penn Station, the app will show you where to pick up the Uber. I would suggest this over the subway with luggage especially at night.

The other option is a car service that will meet you as you exit baggage claim and drive you to your hotel. You will know the price ahead of time.

1. Take the 1 or 3 to near hotel. Would an uber be easy to locate at this point if we decided to uber the last part? How would we find the uber?

The same way that you call any Uber or Lyft -- i.e. open the app and request the ride; it will show you where the pick up is.

1. Can we use one phone to pay for all these tickets or must we have a card or the app ready to use?

While you can use your phone to pay for everything, the details are different:

• AirTrain: tap and pay, no registration required. You can use 1 phone to pay for both people.
• LIRR: you must buy a ticket in the TrainTime app (or use the machines). You can buy 2 tickets in the same app on 1 phone.
• Subway (and bus): tap and pay, no registration required
  • If you will be taking the subway multiple times throughout your visit, there is an advantage in each person using their own payment method. This is because once you've paid $35 in fares for a 7-day period, any additional rides during that period are free. However, this fare capping only works if each individual uses their own payment method, and consistently uses the same payment method throughout the 7-day period (and I do mean "the same" -- the same bank card in physical form and in Apple Pay/Google Wallet form are not considered the same).

I am wondering how this would be for 2 70ish people with a backpack and a rolling suitcase? Is it fairly easy to use escalators to get to the right levels to keep going where we need to go?

I, personally, take and have taken the subway with luggage at any time of day (including after midnight and at 4am) and am not concerned about safety. However, escalators in the subway system are scarce; the LIRR is definitely better on that front.

In your situation I might consider taking the LIRR -- assuming the strike ends! -- and then a rideshare/taxi from Penn Station. To me taking the subway and then another car from there -- how far is your hotel from the closest subway station? -- is a bit convoluted. (You'll have plenty of time to take the subway throughout your trip!)

From JFK, you can also take either the E subway (same station as the LIRR) or the A subway (Howard Beach station). They both will get you to Penn Station. The A subway continues up into the upper west side, although it’s an express and doesn’t stop at all stations (and some stations have a lot of stairs).

This might be a good alternative if the LIRR is not running. My son lives in NYC and I often take the subway from the airport with no problem.