New York City - Cab fare from JFK to Midtown?

Sorry if this is mentioned elsewhere. I did a search but couldn't find an answer. I have a Japanese friend who'll be visiting NYC on her own for the first time this coming August and speaks almost no English. I worry about her being taken advantage of by a taxi driver who will over charge her for a ride from JFK to a big, well-known hotel in Midtown where she'll be staying. This happened to another Japanese friend many years ago. How much should she expect to pay for the fare including a tip from JFK to the hotel?

Thank you very much in advance.

Another option is use dial7 or other car service - usually about the same as a cab, guaranteed availability etc - even have driver meet her at baggage (additional fee).

I have heard horror stories but I've used dial7 with great success. There are several others too

Google "NYC cab fare estimator" not perfect but usually reasonably accurate. I always fly into lga so can't help with JFK fares.

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This thread probably belongs in the FT NYC forum.

The taxi fare from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan is a flat rate of $45. A taxi dispatcher at JFK will likely hand the passenger a card with information about the taxi service printed in several languages (including Japanese, I believe). In addition to the fare, there will be a toll of $4.80 (the E-Z Pass rate) payable if the taxi enters Manhattan via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. A tip for the driver of 15-20% of the fare is also customary for good service. So the total cost of the ride, with tip and toll, should be about $57-$59.

Always ask the driver for a machine-printed receipt at the end of the trip. The receipt will show the fare and (I think) the toll, if any; the receipt will not show the tip.

(The flat rate between JFK and Manhattan is scheduled to go up from $45 to $52 in September.)

Sorry if this is mentioned elsewhere. I did a search but couldn't find an answer. I have a Japanese friend who'll be visiting NYC on her own for the first time this coming August and speaks almost no English. I worry about her being taken advantage of by a taxi driver who will over charge her for a ride from JFK to a big, well-known hotel in Midtown. This happened to another Japanese friend many years ago. How much should she expect to pay for the fare including a tip?


Taxis have changed significantly in the last several years. There are now displays in the back seats that show where you are (GPS) and how much your fare is. They also take credit cards. She will receive a slip of paper at the terminal with the cab number, in case there are any issues.

JFK to any point in Manhattan is flat rate $45 + tolls + tip. Toll is around $5 - $6 with EZ Pass. Tip is at your discretion. The standard used to be 10%, but the lowest "default" option on the display is 20% (though you can change it). Note that a fare hike was just approved, though I think that takes effect in September.

Make sure she gets in an official taxi queue, and does not accept a ride from someone walking around asking "taxi? you need a taxi?".

Alternately, she could take the AirTrain from JFK to Jamaica Station ($5), then either the Long Island Rail Road ($3 - $7 depending on when) or NYC Subway to midtown ($2.25).

Thank you for all the useful information. My apologies for not being more careful where I posted this. I saw my friend last night and gave her information I had written down about the cost of a taxi from JFK to her hotel which included the basic fare plus toll(s), tax, 20% tip, etc. Hopefully she'll be fine.

Thank you for all the useful information. My apologies for not being more careful where I posted this. I saw my friend last night and gave her information I had written down about the cost of a taxi from JFK to her hotel which included the basic fare plus toll(s), tax, 20% tip, etc. Hopefully she'll be fine.

Rather than giving her the breakdown it would be much easier to just tell her to have $55 on her and hand it to the cab driver once she gets to the hotel and retrieves her bags.

Rather than giving her the breakdown it would be much easier to just tell her to have $55 on her and hand it to the cab driver once she gets to the hotel and retrieves her bags.

Unless they take the tunnel (which is likely if going to a major Midtown hotel), in which case she should have $60 on hand.

The actual breakdown is:

$45 flat fare
+ $9 tip (tipping practices vary, but most people I know tip 20% of base fare)
+ $0.50 state surcharge (everybody always forgets this)
+ $4.80 toll (only if routed via Midtown Tunnel, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel or RFK Bridge--other East River crossings are free)

Remind your friend that she doesn't need to pay in US$ and can use a CC. Better and easier for a foreign traveller.

Also, while the car service (Elite or Dial7) is a bit more expensive, it's easier for someone with no English, particularly if the driver meets her inside. He will have a card with her name written in large letters.

Also, while the car service (Elite or Dial7) is a bit more expensive, it's easier for someone with no English, particularly if the driver meets her inside. He will have a card with her name written in large letters.Presumably she'd have to be able to read her name written in English, which is not a given in this case.

FWIW, I suspect the OP's friend, even if they do not speak English, would recogize their name written in Romaji (it would be on their passport, for example).

I'll also mention that my company has a significant amount of Japanese-speaking employees and we use this company quite a bit for airport transportation:

http://www.rainbow-limo.com/e_index.html

As you can see, they specialize in Japanese and Korean customers.

Unless they take the tunnel (which is likely if going to a major Midtown hotel), in which case she should have $60 on hand.

The actual breakdown is:

$45 flat fare
+ $9 tip (tipping practices vary, but most people I know tip 20% of base fare)
+ $0.50 state surcharge (everybody always forgets this)
+ $4.80 toll (only if routed via Midtown Tunnel, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel or RFK Bridge--other East River crossings are free)

I would think that $9 is overly generous for a cab fare but to each their own.