EWR rail station access fee question
Aug 11, 2011, 10:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Btwn EWR and PHL
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Gold
Posts: 241
EWR rail station access fee question
Folks -
Hopefully an easy question. If someone shows up to the EWR rail station (arriving from NJT) and doesn't have a ticket with the light rail access feee already built in, I'm assuming there's an easy way to pay the $5.50 light rail fee in order to pass through?
I've never bothered to look before while passing through, and my Wife has a trip coming up where she has an extra ticket to use, but not a EWR one. So wondering if we can use her extra ticket to get to EWR and then just pay the $5.50 to gain access to the airport?
Hopefully an easy question. If someone shows up to the EWR rail station (arriving from NJT) and doesn't have a ticket with the light rail access feee already built in, I'm assuming there's an easy way to pay the $5.50 light rail fee in order to pass through?
I've never bothered to look before while passing through, and my Wife has a trip coming up where she has an extra ticket to use, but not a EWR one. So wondering if we can use her extra ticket to get to EWR and then just pay the $5.50 to gain access to the airport?
Aug 11, 2011, 11:08 am
#2
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,882
Yes, there are machines just before the gate where you can pay the fee. I've used them when I used to have a NJ transit pass that allowed me to travel to EWR, but I had to pay the fee separately.
Of course, YMMV, but do mote If the ticket doesn't say EWR on it, you may be liable to a fine if they check your ticket past the destination on it but prior to EWR. IME, I've never noticed them checking between Newark Penn & EWR, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Of course, YMMV, but do mote If the ticket doesn't say EWR on it, you may be liable to a fine if they check your ticket past the destination on it but prior to EWR. IME, I've never noticed them checking between Newark Penn & EWR, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Aug 11, 2011, 11:28 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Btwn EWR and PHL
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Gold
Posts: 241
Yes, there are machines just before the gate where you can pay the fee. I've used them when I used to have a NJ transit pass that allowed me to travel to EWR, but I had to pay the fee separately.
Of course, YMMV, but do mote If the ticket doesn't say EWR on it, you may be liable to a fine if they check your ticket past the destination on it but prior to EWR. IME, I've never noticed them checking between Newark Penn & EWR, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Of course, YMMV, but do mote If the ticket doesn't say EWR on it, you may be liable to a fine if they check your ticket past the destination on it but prior to EWR. IME, I've never noticed them checking between Newark Penn & EWR, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Aug 11, 2011, 11:55 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 609
Yes, that should be okay. You can buy air-train gate access ticket at EWR from the ticket machine -- select "A" for "air train" when it prompts for station name.
Aug 11, 2011, 12:03 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Btwn EWR and PHL
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Gold
Posts: 241
Aug 11, 2011, 12:29 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
My recollection is that the TVMs on the train side of the gate have the AirTrain access fee ($5.50) as the only option and it is on the main page. You do not have to hunt for it.
Aug 11, 2011, 12:43 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC and SFO
Programs: UA 1MM (former 1K, Delta Platinum))
Posts: 1,244
Of course, YMMV, but do mote If the ticket doesn't say EWR on it, you may be liable to a fine if they check your ticket past the destination on it but prior to EWR. IME, I've never noticed them checking between Newark Penn & EWR, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Aug 11, 2011, 1:01 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
They finally fixed this when they dropped the fare down to $12.50, I believe. Maybe there's still $0.50 in arbitrage or something like that but not nearly the same $4-6 it used to be.
Aug 11, 2011, 1:20 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 609
I myself had the misfortune of hunting for gate access only option. I don't remember which side I was on (it was a long time ago), but I tried G (guessing at one point it was listed under G for gate access) and some other things to no avail, I had to wait for the attending worker there to help me. After she told me "A" for airtrain, I was like "duh, of course, why didn't I think of that!".
I commute to work via NJT and usually buy a monthly pass (so the $5.50 AirTrain only ticket has been a very good saving in my case).
I commute to work via NJT and usually buy a monthly pass (so the $5.50 AirTrain only ticket has been a very good saving in my case).