Recommended NYC-Area Airport?
 

I need to book an upcoming flight to NYC. I have the luxury of flying into any airport in the area, so I was wondering which one is the best for avoiding the TSA's shenanigans on the way back? Basically, do any of the airports have security with no porno-scanners or with an easy self-selection of WTMDs? I can fly any Star Alliance (UA, CO, US) carrier.

Thanks in advance!
OM

My recommendation would be to fly USAirways out of LGA. Terminal C is NoS-Free at both C/Ps. I prefer to use the C/P by the shuttle gates (east end of terminal) and have never had any shenanigans.

Other *A carriers out out of LGA are in the Central terminal, which, from what I understand, have NoS.

Take a look at the sticky thread in this forum for an up-to-date list. ^

HPN is the way to go... Westchester Co. Airport. The airport is surrounded by Fortune 100 company offices.

The TSA workers know that they are to show deference to their corporate masters...
So the security checks there are still restrained.

For Star Alliance carriers:

If you're going to NYC:

EWR & JFK: Avoid

LGA: Using US Airways will assure you of not having to deal with the scanners as the US Airways terminal is scanner-free.

If you're going to Westchester/Connecticut:

HPN: One checkpoint, scanner-free, US and UA fly here.

If you're going to Long Island:

ISP: Only US flies here, and I do not know the scanner status.

If you're going west of the Hudson:

SWF: Only US flies here, and I do not know the scanner status.

I doubt SWF or ISP have scanners, but someone else will have to chime in with real data.

Essentially, if you have status on US, just stick to that airline if you can, don't fly to EWR or JFK, and you should be fine in avoiding the scanners.

Well for Newark Airport:

If you are flying US, the checkpoint for A-3 at last check did not have any NOS, just WTMD's.

Also if you are flying CO/UA Express flights that arrive at Terminal A-2, that checkpoint does not contain any NOS either, just WTMD's.

The checkpoint at A-1, which contains mostly the Original United Flights and very few Continental flights only has one MMW and the rest are WTMD's. From what I saw and read, it isn't used that much.

Terminal C on the other hand which contains most of the Continental Flights,from what i saw on other sites they use a mix of MMW and WTMD's over there.

WN flies into ISP.

All of the NYC area airports are bad. EWR has the some of the worst TSA personnel in the area. JFK is a nightmare to get to/from, as is LGA.

HPN is nice, however, you'll pay to get there, either in fares because of multiple stops or lack of schedule.

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. I ended up flying US Airways out of LGA, and it was a quick and painless experience going through security. It's amazing how much less anxiety I feel headed to the airport when I don't have to worry about getting in the right line, if I'm going to be selected anyway, yadda yadda yadda. Just a quick trip through a metal detector, and I'm on my way.

Thanks again!
Ottermatic

If you're doing public transport, I find JFK the easiest to get in/out of from a public transport standpoint.

In this particular case, LGA is the best bet, with frequent taxi's, assuming OP's destination is in Manhattan.

I'll say all the legal BS surrounding HPN does have a plus side after all - the lack of NOS because of the terminal size or lack thereof [unless of course they get the idea of expanding the checkpoint, doubtful as even the tiniest ideas for improvement to the airport are bringing absolutely asinine stupid cries of fear over airport expansion, noise, etc] - I too have noticed the TSA agents there being very friendly every time, a stark contrast to other airports I've been through.

I prefer flying into EWR.

JFK is horrible, dirty and too busy, and LGA is great, except it doesn't handle international arrivals for the most part.

Pardon my ignorance, but what's the legal stuff re: HPN that you speak of?

-OM