JFK - New York John F. Kennedy

Holding one of the world's most recognised airport codes, this airport is the largest serving New York and whilst sixth largest in the United States, it is the busiest for international visitors to the country. It saw 62 million passengers in 2023 and its website is www.jfkairport.com/

JFK is undertaking a huge construction program ($19 billion) so the full picture will be changing until it is complete.

Parking 

There are a number of car park areas, mostly based on the terminals, and then connected by the Air Train.

Terminal 1 - currently closed, use Terminal 8

Terminal 4 Blue - seven-minute walk to the terminal, premium on level 1 by prebook,  $6 for thirty minutes, $48 for 24 hours

Terminal 5 Yellow - seven-minute walk to the terminal, premium on level 5 by prebook, $6 for thirty minutes, $48 for 24 hours

Terminal 7 Orange - five-minute walk to the terminal, partially closed, limited pre-booked only, $60 for 24 hours

Terminal 8 Red - five-minute walk to the terminal, premium on level 1 by prebook,  $4 for thirty minutes, $36 for 24 hours

Long-term - Air Train to all terminals

Federal Circle Station - up to ten-minute walk to the station to connect with the terminals, pre-booked only, $35 for 24 hours, $17.50 per 24 hours after that

halfway - three miles from the terminals via free shuttle bus, pre-booked only, $25 for 24 hours, $12.50 per 24 hours after that

There are also official off-site parking sites not run by the airport - Bolt, SmartPark, and Airpark.

There is a booking tool on the airport's main page www.jfkairport.com/

Either scroll down halfway down the page or click the button that says "Book Parking".

Drop Off 

This is strictly prohibited in front of the terminals and passengers are directed to the Terminal car parks where it is $6 for thirty minutes (Terminals 4 and 5) or $4 for thirty minutes (Terminal 8).

There is also a Kiss and Fly option next to the Air Train JFK Lefferts Boulevard station, about five minutes to all terminals.

For drivers waiting to pick up, there are also Cell Phone Lots about five minutes drive to the terminals. These are free and vehicles cannot be left unattended.

Security

The airport uses TSA PreCheck. There is limited information regarding security on the airport's site although they do have wait times on the front page.

Restaurants and Bars

There are a large number of restaurants across the terminals.

Terminal 1 - Dunkin' Food Court, Eat & Go Istanbul Euro Cafe, Hudson News, JikJi Cafe, McDonald's, Pizza Pub, Soho Bites, Soy & Sake, Starbucks Evening, Taste NY, The Local, Wok & Roll

Terminal 4 - Bento Sushi, Blue Point Brewery, Buffalo Wild Wings, Camden Foods Co., Camden Foods Zippin, Central Diner, Chocolates & More, Dunkin' Donuts, Five Borough Food Hall, Flatiron Coffee Roasters, Jamba Juice, La Brea Bakery, Le Grand Comptoir, McDonald's, Mi Casa, Peets Coffee & Tea, Pizza Vino, Shake Shack, So Chocolate, The Palm Bar & Grille, Tigin's Irish Pub & Restaurant, Urban Crave, Vino Kitchen & Bar

Terminal 5 - 5ive Steak/, AeroNuova/, Artichoke Pizza, Baked by Melissa, Caribean Kitchen, Cibo Aunt Butchie's Bakery Cafe, Cibo Express Gourmet Market, Cibo Horizon Bakery Cafe, CNBC News, Custom Burger/Eggy Weggy, Deep Blue on the Fly, Deep Blue Sushi, Dunkin' Donuts, Family Restrooms, H&H Bagel, iS Duty Free, Jamba Juice, La Vie, Lucy's Asian Kitchen, New York Sports Grill, Piquillo,Re:Vive Bars, Revolucion Market, Starbucks, The Loft, Where Traveler Books and More, World Bean

Terminal 7 - Apartment 7B Deli & Restaurant, Bento Sushi, Brindle Room, Brooklyn Rebel, Dunkin' Donuts, Hudson News, Irving Farm Coffee Roasters, Johnnie Walker, Le Grand Comptoir, True Burger

Terminal 8 - Angelina's Metro Market, Bobby Van's Steakhouse, Cascata, Drink Martini Bar, Dunkin' Donuts, Hudson/Baskin Robbins, Mezze Cafe & Bar, New York Sports Bar, O'Neals, SoHo Bistro, Starbucks

Shops

There are a large number of shops across the terminals. Full details can be found here www.jfkairport.com/at-airport/shops-restaurants-and-services by applying filters.

Terminal 1 - 24-Hour Flower, Bulgari Speciality Boutique, Coach Speciality Boutique, Hermes Centre Boutique, Hudson News, iS Duty Free, Michael Kors, Mont Blanc, New York Gifts, Tumi, Victoria's Secret

Terminal 4 - 5th & Sunset, Brooks Brothers, Cell Phone Purchase, Coach, Corsa Collections, DFS Duty Free, Hudson, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Pack N Go, Pandora, Swarowski, Victoria's Secret

Terminal 5 - Blue Sky Traders, Clean & Safe Travels, CNBC News, Heritage Books, InMotion, iS Beauty, iS Duty Free, is Style, Kylie, NY Minute, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Sound, Where Traveler Books and More

Terminal 7 - Duty Free Americas, Hudson, SIM Cards, Tech On The Go

Terminal 8 - Bvlgari, Hudson, Hugo Boss, InMotion, International Shoppes, Kylie Cosmetics, Licorice & Pretzels, Mezze, Michael Kors, New York Originals, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sims on the Go, Solstice, Tag Heuer, Victoria's Secret

Lounge

Most of the lounges are linked to an airline.

Aer Lingus (T7), Air France (T1), Air India (T4), Alaska (T7), Delta Sky Club (T4), El Al King David (T4), Emirates (T4), Etihad (T4), Lufthansa (T1), Swiss (T4), Virgin (T4). There is also an USO lounge for service personnel.

In addition, there is one lounge that appears to allow access for all but there are no details on the airport website.

Lounge @ T7 - Terminal 7, above TSA Security Checkpoint

Assistance

It is recommended that you contact your airline or tour operator at least 48 hours before trouble.

Some information is available here www.jfkairport.com/at-airport/accessibility-services

The airport website has an accessibility toolbar that can be selected.

Hotels

There are a huge number of hotels fairly close to the airport.

On site

TWA Hotel - at Terminal 5

Nearby

Comfort Inn & Suites

Crowne Plaza

Days Inn & Suites

Radisson

A hotel shuttle operates from the Federal Circle Station which can be reached using the Air Train.

For more on hotels near the airport just click the image below.

Shuttles

As mentioned above the hotel shuttle leaves from the Federal Circle Station.

The airport has an Air Train that links the whole site, and that is principally covered in the Terminal Transfers section.

Immigration

For any information about visas for the United States of America you should only refer to the official government information to ensure you are checking the most up to date information here www.cbp.gov/travel with further information about ESTA here www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

Reclaim

In the reclaim area check the boards for which carousel you need to attend. In the event of lost baggage you can find contact details for airlines here

Customs 

For any information about bringing things into the United States of America you should only refer to the official government information www.cbp.gov/travel/clearing-customs

Taxi

Taxis can be found by either approaching staff in the Port Authority Welcome Center or by heading to the stands outside each terminal. The airport does note that unofficial taxis do operate and should be avoided.

There is a flat rate of $70 to Manhattan, with a $5 surcharge 1600-2000 weekdays. There are then various add-ons -

• 50c tax for New York (not New Jersey)

• congestion charge $2.50 yellow taxi, $2.75 green taxi, if passing through Manhtattan south of 96th Street

• four passenger limit

• tipping is expected

Buses and Coaches

Buses can be picked up off-site by first taking the Howard Beach train (green route) to Lefferts Boulevard. There you will find routes B15, Q10 and Q3.

In addition, Q3 stops at Terminal 8.

Rail and Trams 

Within the airport there is an Airport Terminals loop, the Air Train. This will stop at all terminals and is free within the airport. Fuller details are in the Terminal Transfers section.

It also connects with two stations for onwards connections.

Jamaica line red - for Long Island Rail Road and Subway lines E, J and Z.

Howard Beach line green - stops at Lefferts Boulevard (for buses and long-term parking A/B) and Howard Beach (for Subway A and long-term parking C).

Subway line E heads to Queens and Midtown Manhattan.

Subway lines J and Z head to Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.

Subway line A heads to Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan in one direction, The Rockaways in the other.

Long Island Railroad heads to Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. When leaving the airport internal train, at Jamaica or Howard Beach, you then pay to exit, $8.50. A subway ride is then $2.90 or $26.50 for ten trips if pre-paid via Metro Card.

Typical journeys would be

• Penn Station - $11.40, 50 minutes, via Jamaica and Subway E

• Penn Station - $13-$19, 30 minutes, via Long Island Railroad

• Lower Manhattan - $11.40, 60 minutes, via Howard Beach and Subway A

• Upper Manhattan - $11.40, 75 minutes, via Jamaica and Subway E

Routes

The airport does not list its destinations but as you would expect from such a large airport it connects with a huge number of destinations both domestically and further afield. It is the busiest entry point in the United States for international travellers. Details of arilines can be found here www.jfkairport.com/flight/airlines

Maps

There are numerous map options.

Main map is here www.jfkairport.com/at-airport/airport-maps and there is an interactive option.

Public Transport routes https://www.jfkairport.com/to-from-airport/public-transportation

Terminal Transfer 

The Air Train links all terminals and also stops at the parking areas, hotel shuttle pick-up, car rental area and the connections with the Subway, buses and Long Island Railroad. There is an Airline Terminals line for just that, then a green line that does the same terminals route and then on to Howard Beach, and a red line that does the same terminals route then on to Jamaica. For just a terminal transfer the first line is quickest.

It runs 24 hours a day and is free within the airport with a $8.50 exit fee at Jamaica and Howard Beach (payable by Metro Card or contactless). If using it just to change terminals for a connecting flight, it is free.

Connections are

• Terminal 1

• Terminal 4 - parking

• Terminal 5 - parking and TWA Hotel

• Terminal 7 - parking and Ride App pick-ups

• Terminal 8 - parking and NYC Bus Q3

• Federal Circle - car hire, hotel shuttles, cargo shuttles, pre-paid parking

• Lefferts Boulevard (green line only) - long-term parking A/B and NYC Bus B15, Q10 & Q3

• Howard Beach (green line only) - long-term parking C and Subway A

• Jamaica (red line only) - Subway E, J & Z and Long Island Railroad

The Airtrain runs every few minutes through the day and a little less frequently in the night.

The shortest terminal transfer time is about thriteen minutes, the longest is about twenty-three minutes. The route order is T1 - T8 - T7 - T5 - T4 - T2 - T1. Connections from T1 to T2 are quicker on foot.

Car Hire 

This area is reached by the Air Train via the Federal Circle station - meaning you need to use the red or green line.

Companies are as follows.

Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty