UWS to JFK - how long?
 

How long should I allow with a car service to get from the upper west side to JFK on a Tuesday morning for the 9.15am BA flight to London?

Many thanks

Minimum 1 hour.

At that time of day, construction is just getting underway.
I'd allow at least 2 hours to cover myself.

Ho hum...

A 9.15am departure means a check-in cut off of 7.45am, so a 6am departure from the hotel. Does this sound right to everyone???

Leave at 0630, just to be safe. You're against traffic most of the way.

dh

There's always traffic to JFK especially after 5:30am so a pickup time at 6am is what I would do.

I think 6:30am would work but it depends on whether you like to cut it close or if you need hours at the airport. How obsessive are you? :)

I live on the East Side near the 59th Street bridge and I know it can take over an hour to get to JFK because of traffic. The OP is starting further away. I don't like cutting it close. For flights out of JFK, with the exception of Jetblue, I like to get to the airport 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 hours before the flight because of the unpredictable security line. With Jetblue, 1- 1 1/4 hours in advance has worked for me.

Thing is, if we miss the flight it's going to be a 9hr wait for the next one... with a 3 month old in tow...

We will have bags to check, but the BA premium zone should help ease things along.

I'm starting to wonder if it'd be better to stay somewhere close to the station so we can take the LIRR. Is the interchange from LIRR to AirTrain easier than the switch from the subway (which I did a couple of months back...)

(If anyone thinks this is what we should do, then please include recommendations of hotels near Penn Station) ;)

At terminal 7 at JFK, BA and UA both share the same security area.

If you have status, there is an elite security line that's loosely enforced.

I'd take my chances and leave at 0630. If you get stuck, the BA lounge at JFK is one of the better lounges out there. If you're a little nervous, leave earlier.

If you're already at a hotel on the UWS, just stay there. I can't recommend any hotel near Penn. Too many fleabags. With a 9 hour wait, if you leave at 6am, you will have PLENTY of time.

I'd do 6 to 6.15 a.m. (closer to the latter).

.... and I recommend against shifting hotels just to be closer to the airport or transportation to the airport in this case. A whole bunch of reasons, including that it's a waste of time.

whats the problem with going from the UWS I go across town at 96th to 3rd ave up to triboro and it has never taken me 1 hour. 45 minutes at 6am is about right. just dont let cab go down to 59th st bridge cross town can be a problem midtown at any time especially at 6am,, 1 hour is plenty of time.

Why not take the taxi/subway (1,2,3,A,C) to 34th Street-Penn Station for the LIRR to JFK via the Airtrain? The transfer at Jamaica should be very easy; if I recall correctly, there are elevators from the LIRR platforms to the Airtrain platforms. This way, you'll avoid the dreaded the morning rush hour traffic in Manhattan.

If you absolutely must take a taxi, I would follow the suggestion above and ask the taxi driver to take the Triboro Bridge to JFK and avoid the 59th Street Bridge.

That's be the three month old plus the accompanying luggage/buggy etc that would stop me doing something like that ;)

then why would you consider LIRR and airtrain, how much different is that than the subway to LIRR.
Just take car service or cab around 6-615am and you will have plenty of time and relax at the airport