Getting to JFK T7 in the rush hour
Mar 10, 2010, 12:51 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2003
Programs: BAEC Silver, Junior Jet Club
Posts: 946
Try taking the cab up to the subsequent express station if it makes you feel any better about using it for such a short distance...or just cab it to Penn Station!
If you are familiar with NJ Transit or PATH to Hoboken, then you'll find the Jamaica interchange a doddle, though I agree - some of the subway train connections suggested sound confusing (I only bother using it for Express N-S journeys as it is quicker than a cab).
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm
http://www.mta.info/lirr/html/lirrmap.htm
White dots are express stations / interchanges. Bolded line numbers on the pdf version are express lines. Took me ages to decode it...!
If you are familiar with NJ Transit or PATH to Hoboken, then you'll find the Jamaica interchange a doddle, though I agree - some of the subway train connections suggested sound confusing (I only bother using it for Express N-S journeys as it is quicker than a cab).
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm
http://www.mta.info/lirr/html/lirrmap.htm
White dots are express stations / interchanges. Bolded line numbers on the pdf version are express lines. Took me ages to decode it...!
Last edited by Lucifer UK; Mar 10, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Mar 10, 2010, 12:52 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (+LTG)
Posts: 188
Get the A train from 14th st station (14thst/8th ave), which takes you (express) all the way to howard beach where you switch to the (rip off) airtrain.
Dont take an E or C train- thats local. The A is faster.
Or as above, get the LIRR from Penn and switch to the airtrain at jamaica...
Id subway it personally- all depends if you can deal with your luggage or not.
Dont take an E or C train- thats local. The A is faster.
Or as above, get the LIRR from Penn and switch to the airtrain at jamaica...
Id subway it personally- all depends if you can deal with your luggage or not.
E is local in Manhattan but express in Queens.
Mar 10, 2010, 12:57 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101
So...you get off at Sutphin Blvd.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutphin...rk_City_Subway)
Indicates it's ADA (DDA basically) compliant so there is a lift to the main (street) level. You then follow the signs to the AirTrain...it's a 2 min walk to another part of the complex (basically you go under the main LIRR station which is elevated) and another escalator/lift up to the AirTrain platforms. The AirTrain is basically a monorail that takes about 10 minutes to get to JFK, and it visits a couple of parking garages and T2/3, T4, T5/6 and then T7.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutphin...rk_City_Subway)
Indicates it's ADA (DDA basically) compliant so there is a lift to the main (street) level. You then follow the signs to the AirTrain...it's a 2 min walk to another part of the complex (basically you go under the main LIRR station which is elevated) and another escalator/lift up to the AirTrain platforms. The AirTrain is basically a monorail that takes about 10 minutes to get to JFK, and it visits a couple of parking garages and T2/3, T4, T5/6 and then T7.
Mar 10, 2010, 12:59 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101
The F doesn't go to Sutphin though - it branches off to a different route a couple of stations earlier.
Mar 10, 2010, 1:00 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (+LTG)
Posts: 188
If you fancy a scenic subway ride to the Jamaica change from 8th ave / 14th st then jump on the L and change at Broadway Junction to J or Z
Plus, the block your referring to isnt that big TBH, probably 3 / 4 mins max... well it takes me that long during the walk to Chelsea Piers
Plus, the block your referring to isnt that big TBH, probably 3 / 4 mins max... well it takes me that long during the walk to Chelsea Piers
Mar 10, 2010, 1:02 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (+LTG)
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Mar 10, 2010, 1:04 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London WC2/W1
Programs: BAEC Silver; Muccis du Monde des Peluches
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Come to think about it, I did have to lug a heavy suitcase plus hand luggage to Penn Station (7th and 32nd [sic]) from a friend's apartment at 6th and 27th last July 2nd because there simply were no taxis - as frequently happens in New York mid-afternoon if it's raining, which it was. I didn't like it, but I survived. But I did feel it made something of a mockery of the BA First Class tag hanging off the suitcase (as per comments above). 
The walk from the Pines Ferry to our house at the other end of the journey, in the sun, although almost the same distance felt just fine and dandy though.
The walk from the Pines Ferry to our house at the other end of the journey, in the sun, although almost the same distance felt just fine and dandy though.
Mar 10, 2010, 1:04 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2003
Programs: BAEC Silver, Junior Jet Club
Posts: 946
Penn is a horrible station IMO - the building above it on the other hand is great !
First time I did it, I walked 50 yards to the platforms from the A train and bought a ticket outside the Subway store. Easy connection.
Mar 10, 2010, 1:06 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (+LTG)
Posts: 188
I was at Penn Stn last spring for the early trains out to Bethpage for the US Open - not a pretty sight... lets hope they go through with the plans to demolish it and use the old Post Office building on 9th Ave
Mar 10, 2010, 1:06 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101
Another thing worth remembering (especially if it's raining) is that IIRC the taxis change over shifts in Manhattan at 4pm which means they all disappear for a bit. Which can make getting the 1930 flight interesting...
Mar 10, 2010, 1:07 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Grandee (Upgraded), BA Silver, AZ MilleMiglia
Posts: 3,107
At the Manhattan end, I'd second the suggestion of taking a cab - ask the driver if he'll be happy to take you one block north and one block east (IME most of them won't object - easy money for a couple of minutes), and if not, ask him to take you to the next E station up the line.
Bear in mind that 4-5pm is a terrible time for finding a yellow cab, or at least it was when I was regularly in NYC two or three years ago. It seemed to be when the drivers changed shifts and almost all the cabs were "off duty". So you may end up dragging your case the couple of blocks anyway. I suppose it also depends on the weather.
Mar 10, 2010, 1:08 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (+LTG)
Posts: 188
Come to think about it, I did have to lug a heavy suitcase plus hand luggage to Penn Station (7th and 32nd [sic]) from a friend's apartment at 6th and 27th last July 2nd because there simply were no taxis - as frequently happens in New York mid-afternoon if it's raining, which it was. I didn't like it, but I survived. But I did feel it made something of a mockery of the BA First Class tag hanging off the suitcase (as per comments above). The walk from the Pines Ferry to our house at the other end of the journey, in the sun, although almost the same distance felt just fine and dandy though.
The walk from the Pines Ferry to our house at the other end of the journey, in the sun, although almost the same distance felt just fine and dandy though.EDIT - beat me to it !