New York City - International Arrival at EWR –> LGA-YUL - transportation & routing

Hi to all!

On October 6 (saturday), I'll go to Canada, making a connection in New York.
I've already bought the flight from my country to EWR airport and the flight arrives at 16:17.

Then, the cheapest fligth to Canada I found departs from LGA airport, and the last one that I can afford departs at 20:30.

Do you guys think I have enough time to do this? (taking into account the imigration service that I'll have to pass in NY)

If so, what is the cheapest and fastest option for me to transfer from EWR to LGA? I've seen this site: http://www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-airport-connections.html that provides some shuttle services, but I did not found these informations:
-> The shuttle schedules
-> Where in the airport I would take the shuttles
-> Since I'm alone I need to share the shuttle with unknown people, these shuttles accept that?

Thanks in avance!!

Welcome to FlyerTalk, luccotta! :)

We have an existing thread on this topic, which is available in our Sticky post at the top of the forum:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-york-city/1116613-lga-ewr-ewr-lga-airport-connections.html

Please check there for more info.

Edit: Since this thread has changed a bit to focus on your specific itinerary, we'll leave it separate.

/Moderator

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Hi to all!

On October 6 (saturday), I'll go to Canada, making a connection in New York.
I've already bought the flight from my country to EWR airport and the flight arrives at 16:17.

Then, the cheapest fligth to Canada I found departs from LGA airport, and the last one that I can afford departs at 20:30.

Do you guys think I have enough time to do this? (taking into account the imigration service that I'll have to pass in NY)

If so, what is the cheapest and fastest option for me to transfer from EWR to LGA? I've seen this site: http://www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-airport-connections.html that provides some shuttle services, but I did not found these informations:
-> The shuttle schedules
-> Where in the airport I would take the shuttles
-> Since I'm alone I need to share the shuttle with unknown people, these shuttles accept that?

Thanks in avance!!

To which city in Canada are you flying? Did you check fares on Porter Airlines, which flies from EWR to Canada? http://www.flyporter.com

To which city in Canada are you flying? Did you check fares on Porter Airlines, which flies from EWR to Canada? http://www.flyporter.com

Hi guv1976!

I'll be flying to Montreal.
The cheapest Porter options from EWR are U$ 241 while from LGA I can find flights for U$ 147 (United Airlines or Air Canada).

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To which city in Canada are you flying? Did you check fares on Porter Airlines, which flies from EWR to Canada? http://www.flyporter.com

Hi guv1976!

I'll be flying to Montreal.
The cheapest Porter options from EWR are U$ 241 while from LGA I can find flights for U$ 147 (United Airlines or Air Canada).

OK.

The problem for you is that the cheapest way to get from EWR to LGA is the slowest, not the fastest. So you need to decide how much you are willing to spend to get to LGA a little faster. By what time must you check in at LGA to make the flight out of there?

Well, if the flight departs at 20:30 I believe I should get there at 19:40 at least.

I'd like to get a shuttle because I think it's the best option, but I don't know if there are shared shuttles to get me at LGA (could be JFK, I've found similar fares) in time.

I believe I will waste 1 hour at the imigration service, and be outside the EWR airport at 17:20..

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You should probably take the Newark Airport Express bus from EWR to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan (frequent service), and just connect there to the New York Airport Service bus to LGA. The combined trip should take under two hours, but will cost around $28 ($16 + $12).

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You should probably take the Newark Airport Express bus from EWR to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan (frequent service), and just connect there to the New York Airport Service bus to LGA. The combined trip should take under two hours, but will cost around $28 ($16 + $12).

It looks like the OP will have about four hours between flights and will need to clear customs at EWR (nothing said about checking bags), wait for the next shuttle, take two trips including going through Manhattan during rush hours, and since its a Canadian flight will need to be at LGA around 7:30PM (or maybe a little earlier because the flight is to Canada and may need to check bags). So the OP is really down to three hours from the time he/she arrives at EWR to clear customs and make the transfer. I'd say this could be really tight depending upon the amount of time to clear customs, claim bags (if applicable), get on a shuttle and again in Manhattan and of course time in traffic.

If I was the OP I'd just go with Porter Airlines at EWR or arrange for a longer time between flights.

+1 - The fare difference less the $28 OP will spend to get from EWR to LGA is down to $66. The downside risk of missing a late flight to YUL is that OP is stuck overnight and $66 won't buy him a cup of coffee at or around LGA, let alone a room.

What is being proposed is doable by somebody fairly experienced. But, if this is a first timer, it's really a risk and the downsides are expensive.

OP said Saturday so while not weekday rush hour traffic may have Lincoln Tunnel traffic so I would eliminate the bus as an option - just too risky.
NJ Transit to Penn Station
LIRR to Woodside and a cab.
It isn't your cheapest option but it is your guarantee option for timing.

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Well, the OP did indicate that he is traveling on a Saturday, and that cost is a consideration. There is a nonstop on United (Express) that departs EWR after 9:00 PM, but that flight costs more.

Of course, if the OP will be checking bags on the flight to YUL, there will also be checked-baggage fees to pay, since he did not purchase a through-ticket to Canada.

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OP said Saturday so while not weekday rush hour traffic may have Lincoln Tunnel traffic so I would eliminate the bus as an option - just too risky.
NJ Transit to Penn Station
LIRR to Woodside and a cab.
It isn't your cheapest option but it is your guarantee option for timing.

The problem with taking NJT from EWR to NYP on a Saturday is the weekend train schedule. If you miss a train, you might have to wait about 40 minutes for the next one.
Yes, the bus could experience traffic getting to and/or through the Lincoln Tunnel, but the buses depart EWR roughly every 15 minutes, so unless the delays are inordinate, I think he stands a good chance of getting to LGA within two hours. But if I were able to afford it, I would stay at EWR and take the late night flight on United Express.

Here is a link for the MTA M60 bus, which goes from Manhattan to La Guardia Airport. http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/airport.htm

In the event you travel over the George Washington Bridge, via bus. There is a subway stop connection there (175 Street / Fort Washington). "A" train (downtown express train) to West 125 Street / St. Nicholas and walk upstairs for M60 bus. Same Metrocard ($2.25) purchased to enter subway allows free connection to the bus. Bus travels eastbound on West 125 St, over the RFK Bridge / Triborough, continues on to LGA terminals.

+1 - The fare difference less the $28 OP will spend to get from EWR to LGA is down to $66. The downside risk of missing a late flight to YUL is that OP is stuck overnight and $66 won't buy him a cup of coffee at or around LGA, let alone a room.

What is being proposed is doable by somebody fairly experienced. But, if this is a first timer, it's really a risk and the downsides are expensive.

And if its two separate tickets the OP could be facing a change fee and steep reprice if he/she misses the flight to Canada. To the OP, trying to do this transfer in the amount of time is risky if not nuts. Also, Saturday traffic through Manhattan can be about as bad as weekdays, think of all those street fairs that go on.

My strong advise is to spend the additional money for a direct flight from EWR.

I suggested the train because of the :08, :15, :28 gives options but guarantee 30 minutes to Manhattan giving more comfort vs. bus waiting on NJT or Lincoln Tunnel. I do agree if you arrive at AirTrain transfer station at :30 it will not be worth it to wait.

Flight from LGA = 8:30 so you really want to get to airport by 7:40PM for bags and security. LGA is a small airport so unless a busy travel time or abnormalities that should be suffice.

Plane lands in EWR at 4:17 (already down to 3.5 hrs) and assuming OP can get out of airport within 60 mins ~ 5:17 (down to 2.5 hrs).

If you take bus - you may have an hour+ to Manhattan and than need to board a bus from there (depending on schedule) which can add another hour - which is cutting it close. If everything works you have no problems but sitting on a bus watching time creep makes me bonkers.

Try to pre-checkin before arriving in LGA so you only have to drop off bags as they will deny boarding if you haven't checked in 1 hr before departure.

Which carrier incoming from your country? This can determine whether you are arriving Terminal B or C in EWR.

As you aren't flying until October the probability of a schedule change on either segment is high so keep an eye whether it works for or against you.

wow a lot of replies! ^
Thank you all! All comments were helpful!

I've decided for making the connection in the same airport (EWR). As "Often1" indicated I'm a first timer in New York so I think it will be a bit risky. Maybe there will be traffic jam as "newyorkgeorge" commented, and losing the flight to Canada is not an option.

I'll stop being a tightwad and pay a little more.

Thanks!

I suggest something very different. Stay overnight in NYC ($100 near EWR) then take Amtrak's "Adirondack" train the next am from Penn Station to Montreal, $62 o/w ai.

Here is a link for the MTA M60 bus, which goes from Manhattan to La Guardia Airport. http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/airport.htm

This would be the worst public transit method to get to LGA for the OP.

The OP made the right decision in simply flying EWR-YUL. Trying to get halfway across the entire NYC metropolitan area in a couple of hours is just a horrible idea. And what happens if the flight to EWR is delayed by an hour/hour and a half, which is always a possibility? Then s/he's screwed.

I once years ago had to do an LGA-JFK connection, but it was on a single ORD-NYC-TLV ticket. That was back in my college days when I wasn't an experienced traveler and just sort of assumed everything would work out, and a travel agent sold me the ticket. Today I probably wouldn't even try that connection - or if I did I'd make certain to know which carrier would be on the hook if I got stuck in traffic.