Originally Posted by
exilencfc
After reading a lot of this forum, buying a guidebook and some googling I think i'm doing fairly well withplanning my trip to NYC in a week's time but I'd like some help with a few things
Are you coming soon? Nice time of year to be here. ^
1- How long does it take to get from Penn Station to JFK in the evening rush hour? (By LIRR and Air Train unless there's a better route). Also i'd like to confirm that if I buy a $20 metrocard I can use that on the JFK airtrain but i'd need to buy a ticket for the LIRR
As was said already, since you'll be doing this for the first time, why not allow 2 hours. It typically takes about an hour. The trains will be packed.
The Port Washington Trains (in red) do not go to Jamaica. Avoid those trains. All of the other LIRR trains do go through Jamaica but some can be express so verify that the train you want does stop at Jamaica. To answer the second part of your question, you will need to buy an LIRR Ticket and a $5 Metrocard for the Airtrain. There are LIRR tickets that can include Metrocard fares but the LIRR caps it at $4.50. So you will need a separate Metrocard with $5 for the Airtrain to JFK.
3- A slightly more random question - if you buy street food do you just wander down the street eating it or do you have to take it somewhere? And on a related note, are you allowed to eat on the subway?
You can wander down the street, you can find a place to sit, do what you like. Food is not allowed on the subway and that is sporadically enforced.
I might come up with a few more questions but that's it for now
Feel free!