If you are checking bags, minimum published time is 45 minutes. (From the AA Website: Please note that at Denver (DEN), New York Kennedy (JFK), Las Vegas (LAS), and Miami (MIA), you must check bags at least 45 minutes before departure. )After that, they will not accept bags for the flight.

Even without checking bags, I would not consider getting to JFK less than 1 hour before flight time. That gives you:

1. approx. 10 minutes to check-in,
2. 20 minutes to walk to security, clear security and walk to the gate,
3. 20 minutes to allow for a breakdown in step 1 or step 2 or allow for traffic on the Van Wick or Belt Parkway that you thought would never happen.
4. and allow you be in your seat 10 minutes before departure so you can enjoy champagne, OJ or water and the flight can depart on-time.

Enjoy your flight.

--Jim