Originally Posted by
akdancer
Good point on geography, but from Manhattan I think EWR is easier to get to than JFK, though the TSA gantlet at EWR is awful. Trade-offs?!
Back when we lived in Brooklyn Hghts, with no AS at JFK, EWR was "the place". Maybe I just know it better, and now having been to the JFK AL, I would not hurry back. Agree that it's attractive compared to AC at EWR, but neither has a service desk for AS pax - perhaps that should be prominently noted by AS.
When I was primarily based in Manhattan (west side), I avoided EWR. Most traffic nightmares to/from airport were associated with EWR. I am generally pleased with the LIRR>Airtrain (or even the subway if I'm coming from midtown east) to JFK.
As for the service desk, I don't think there are any AS employees at JFK. They seem to be outsourced, so I'm not sure what they'd do in the lounge other than call AS reservations. My only data point is that I once had an issue with an AA booked award where the AS computer insisted needed a paper ticket. It was clear that the check-in counter staff were third-party (they spent 15 min on phone with AS), and maybe the gate too (10 min on phone after counter staff failed to correct the PNR). I do think I've seen the guard/dragon/bouncer person at the door trying to help someone with a ticket once, though (probably calling AS).