craz, you're such a spendthrift telling your friend to put $8 on his metrocard when he only needed $7 ($7 * 1.15 = $8.05, which is more than the $7.25 needed for an airtrain ride + a subway ride)! Really, I expect a higher level of frugality from you.

To add to the options, if he does want to do the whole thing for only one "ride" and the Q33 farebox is working (which it probably will be), then in addition to the E to 42nd for the A option, he could also take the F to Jay St and switch to the A there, which will take the same amount of time and be just as easy a switch.

So the options are:

• Q33 to end, Q53 Limited to Rockaway Blvd/Liberty Ave, A to Howard Beach (fastest but two fares unless farebox happens to be busted on either the Q33 or Q53)
• Q33 to end, then either E or F (whichever comes first)
  • If E, take to 42nd St for A, then A to Howard Beach
  • If F, take to Jay St for A, then A to Howard Beach
• M60 to Lexington Ave, 4 or 5 (whichever comes first) to Fulton St, A to Howard Beach