Originally Posted by NYC1K
This is easy to do. Do the following:
Make sure you have all your bags checked through to the LH flight.
Once out of T7 hop on the tram heading to T8/T9 and get off T9 and cross the platform to the tram heading to T1.
Under normal operations, AirTrain JFK operates 3 services in two loops:
- Inner loop (clockwise) T7 > T5, 6 > T4 > T2, 3 > T1 > T8, 9 > T7... and so on.
- Outer loop (anticlockwise) T7 > T8, 9 > Federal Circle (aka Station C) > Jamaica (aka Station D) > Federal Circle > T1 > T2,3 > T4 > T5, 6 > T7... and so on.
- A second Outer loop service runs as above, but to stations A and B instead of Station D.
Thus, taking a train from T7 (where you will arrive) to T8, 9 then crossing the platform will simply place you further back in the Inner Loop.
Best bets are to (in descending order):
1) take the Inner Loop from T7 to T1 (if you arrive early)
2) take a taxi to T1
3) take any outer loop train to Station C, then change levels (platforms) and catch the return train to T1.
During the time you will want AirTrain, the Inner loop should run about every 4-5 minutes, while the combined frequency for the outer loop should be about every 4-5 minutes.
Beware that if it is snowing, AirTrain seems to crap out with delays. I've had a couple of trips from Station D to T1 take 30-35 minutes (regular running time is 8 mins), and to get to T7 it was faster (and more reliable) for me to walk in the snow from T1 to T7 (not a fun walk!). If I didn't walk I would have missed my flight and during my walk not a single train passed me!