it is supposed to run every 20' - but this spring I once waited over 30'.

There are also buses from both LGA and JFK to the LIRR Terminal in Jamaica, Queens, from which you can easily get to either Penn Station, or anywhere on Long Island. You can even get to Brooklyn!

That's true. Those are express buses, which cost $5. Nobody mentioned the public buses, which cost $1.50 (exact change) and run from JFK to points in Queens, including places where you can transfer for free (with a MetroCard) to the subway. Depending on your destination, this might be better than the free airport-operated bus to the Howard Beach subway station, which is served by the A line only.

Bruce

Is there still a helicopter service between JFK and midtown ? An expensive but rapid choice.

The Airport Shuttle is run by Gray Line. It's supposed to be every 20 minutes but knowing you are coming from JFK double or even triple the time.

I would go with the car or limo service.

What I do is take a cab. Now i can't remember the rule is if the cab is the flat rate of 35 dollars NOT including tolls and tip applies JFK-Midtown or going back.

Personally, I would fly into EWR.

The taxi fare is $30 flat rate, NOT including tolls or tip. Usually $40 will cover everything.

The express buses can take a while during rush hour, for instance, but they can also be quite fast at night or early in the morning. During the morning rush hour, they get a special lane on the Long Island Expressway, which helps some.

The helicopters to the old Pan Am building (now MetLife) were cancelled long ago, after a terrible accident in which a helicopter tipped over and decapitated a couple of passengers. There is an East Side heliport at 34th Street, but I'm not sure if anyone makes the trip from JFK. Probably somebody does.

Bruce

There were also helicopter accidents at Newark Airport and in both the East and Hudson Rivers. Stay away from the choppers. You'll live longer.

- BA offers Concorde passengers free helicopter transfers between JFK and LGA. Not too useful as JFK-LGA is generally a cheap and quick taxi ride anyways.

- There are no scheduled flights but several helicopter companies offer charter flights between midtown and JFK. Cost is $595 flat, and the helicopter can carry upto 4 passengers.

(Somehow I don't think that I could put down on my expense report:
JFK-Midtown helicopter - $595
without attracting undue attention

And kappa, London is the "city" as well.

Hi all!

I've taken the shuttle buses from both JFK & LGA to Manhattan a number of times and have never been delayed or had any problems. Flying into EWR still makes for a faster trip to Midtown, though.

YeZZaph

I mildly disagree with the previous post, at least regarding LGA buses. In the afternoon and evening, they have no special lane or any other advantage. They sit in stand-still traffic just like everyone else, while only one lane goes in-bound to Manhattan through the Midtown Tunnel. At those times, the subway is a big winner, although it's awkward with luggage.

The buses from JFK generally do all right. If your ultimate destination is reasonably close to Grand Central, why pay extra for a taxi?

Bruce

I guess my question is does the JFK shuttle to the train station run 24/7 and does the A train run 24/7?

Yes to both questions, although the A train through Brooklyn after midnight (and before about 6 a.m.) can be scary. I wouldn't do it myself, and I'm not easily scared.

Bruce

Yes, it's scary, and I wouldn't recommend it either, but then again, you might spot the garbage train, the money train, the track repair train, and various other non-passenger specialty features.

I have ridden the subway in the middle of the night (as late as 2:30 AM and as early as 4:30 AM), but not on the A line. But I doubt it's significantly different.

Wait for the train in the middle of the platform, and board the car that has the conductor (or look for the "conductor stops here" sign). The conductor's car always has passengers. Desertion is the problem, not time of day.

I don't want to get into a debate about the subway, but the A train goes through some really bad neighborhoods, and some passengers are simply nuts. All it takes is one nut to ruin your day for good! The presence of the conductor may not deter a crazy person.

I'm not trying to exaggerate the danger, just suggesting that other forms of transportation might be preferred by most travelers during the wee hours. Then again, how many planes arrive at JFK in the early morning?

Incidentally, I have numerous times taken the Delta red-eye from LAS to JFK, which arrives around 5:45 a.m. A taxi to Manhattan at that time takes only about 30 minutes and is really a pleasure, even if it does cost $40 (with toll and tip).

Bruce