How the Renovations Will Affect some of Them.
Do you travel frequently? Lines, security, long check-in times, and not to mention the occasional burst of chaos at your gate, can be challenging at the airport. And the currently underway improvements will worsen your concerns. If this relates to you, you are not alone.
If you are planning a trip through JFK airport in shortly near future, you should be aware that there will be significant changes. This is a massive project that will undoubtedly cause travelers problems in the short term.
Construction on John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal One project, which will eventually combine Terminals 1, 2, and 3 into a massive new building, will begin.
According to a bulletin from Teresa Rizzuto, general manager of JFK for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the upgrade begins on July 8 and will last approximately three years or more.
The new terminal is being built to allow more room for incoming flights, and with more space comes a more efficient layout. Such a big move could be great news for travelers but It will be hard to find transportation once the renovation begins.
As the construction begins, here are the six modes of transportation:
Air Train
With AirTrain JFK’s high frequency of service, you can always expect to arrive at your terminal on time. It is free.
But, if you start or end your trip at the Jamaica or Howard Beach Stations the fee is USD 8.00 and can only be paid with a MetroCard. Vending machines are available at both the Jamaica and Howard Beach stations. AirTrain JFK is the quickest and most convenient way to get around JFK Airport since it operates 24 hours a day.
All passenger terminals are connected to airport parking lots, the hotel shuttle pick-up area, the rental car center, and NYC’s public transportation network at the Jamaica and Howard Beach Stations, which offer subway, Long Island Rail Road, and public buses.
However, now that the renovation is currently ongoing, getting to Terminal 2 from the Red Garage will be a little more difficult. Both the Terminal 2 AirTrain station and the Terminal 2 AirTrain service are decommissioned.
As a result, those wishing to travel by AirTrain to Terminal 2 will have to either exit at Terminal 1 and walk on a covered outdoor pathway to Terminal 2, or exit at Terminal 4 and take the post-security shuttle to Terminal 2.
Your friendly neighborhood AirTrain will still be working just fine, but you may have to travel a little bit more distance or spend a little bit more time getting where you need to go. We know it sucks, but we’re confident that it’s worth it in the end.
Bus
What about your preferred bus? We recommend the Q3 ROUTE, a bus service that connects Queens to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Because the route covers a fairly large area, don’t be surprised if you come across some suggestions for additional stops while searching (Queens Village and St Albans among others).
However, If you’re a frequent traveler to JFK using the bus, you may have noticed that your bus stopped at Terminal 5. That stop is about to disappear, and we want to keep you informed about how it will affect your commute.
Rachelle Antoine, community outreach manager for the JFK Redevelopment Program, said The current bus stop at Terminal 5 and 6 must be relocated in order to accommodate the terminal’s upcoming infrastructure. “We’re collaborating with the MTA, the community, and elected officials to make sure everyone is aware of the airport’s progress,” she said.
If you’ve been taking the B15, Q10 Local, or Q10 Limited to Terminal 5, you might have noticed that your route has changed. That’s because the stop for these buses will be removed and relocated to the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Station. The Q3 will also be making a change in its route.
According to Matthew Kroll, MTA transportation planner, the B15, Q10 Local, and Q10 Limited will now end at the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Station in Jamaica. Instead of stopping at Terminal 8, the Q3 will continue to the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Station.
Commuters taking these routes to Terminal 5 must disembark at the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Station, which has a free entrance. If you are traveling north or south along your route via B15 or Q10, transfer to the Lefferts Boulevard Station and take an AirTrain one-stop to Federal Circle, where you can connect with a free Port Authority shuttle bus that will take you directly to your terminal.
TAXI
Getting around JFK can be a bit of a hassle, especially if you’re trying to get somewhere close and are pressed for time. Anyone who has traveled to New York will tell you that if you’re going someplace near JFK, taking a taxi is one of the best ways to get around. It is an experience in and of itself, rather than just a mode of transportation.
New York City’s taxi industry is one of the most competitive, and if you’re willing to wait ten minutes or so, you can sometimes get a good deal. Anyone outside of baggage claim has most likely already taken advantage of this practice, but if you want to avoid the lines, look for taxis on JFK’s ground level.
There are a lot of great things about taking a taxi at JFK, but there are some downsides as well. The first is that they are more expensive than other modes of transportation—and that’s not even counting what it costs to tip!
The second is that they aren’t always reliable; sometimes they don’t show up when they’re supposed to and sometimes they turn out to be completely different from what they said they would be (like those old-fashioned yellow cabs).
But don’t let these drawbacks scare you off! Taxi stands at JFK can be an adventure in itself, with all sorts of interesting people waiting around for their rides. You might even make some new friends while you wait!
Here is the fare range:
Terminal to Terminal – ($ 4 – $8)
To the Bronx
- Co-op City- ($54 – $56)
- The Hub (149th& 3rd Ave.)- ($49 – $55)
- Riverdale- ($70 – $72)
To Brooklyn
- Downtown – ($52 – $55)
- Coney Island – ($44 – $57)
To Queens
- Citi Field – ($31 – $33)
- Main St. & 60th Ave. – ($20 – $23)
To Staten Island
- New Dorp Lane – ($66 – $76)
- Victory Boulevard – ($70 – $85)
Flat Manhattan Fare (Does not include tolls, tip)- ($52)
Uber and Lyft
If you’re headed to NYC and don’t have a ride, you might be asking yourself: “Should I take an Uber or Lyft?”. It’s an age-old question. Well, it’s not actually that old. In fact, it’s very new. In fact, these services only emerged in the past few years.
Most travelers arrive and depart at New York City’s JFK airport either by plane or train. Many of these people need to get from or to JFK. There are a number of ways to accomplish this task but Uber and Lyft are one of the most popular.
Although public transportation isn’t always an option, a taxi ride to the city shouldn’t cost more than $60. Uber and Lyft are both inexpensive ways to get from the airport (or anywhere else) into Manhattan. If you take a taxi, the fee is $52 without tolls or tips, and an Uber or Lyft will likely cost $65+, depending on surge pricing, so compare fares carefully before booking.
While we’re at it, here are two pointers for using Uber or Lyft:
Avoid con artists.
One thing to keep in mind is that you should only use your app to hail an Uber/Lyft and get in your car at the designated location. As you exit baggage claim, there may be drivers offering limo service. Ignore these individuals. Otherwise, navigating JFK is fairly simple.
Locating an Uber/Lyft pickup location at JFK
Generally, the ride-sharing waiting areas at JFK can be found by following signs for “Passenger Pick Up.” The signs are easy to miss and are usually located directly across from the taxi stand, but each terminal is slightly different.
Uber and Lyft are both convenient ways to get from JFK airport into Manhattan. Uber may be slightly more expensive than Lyft, but it also tends to have better ratings from users who have used both services in the past few months (so it’s worth trying both!).
Driving
Driving to JFK is a good option if you’re flying out of the city for a few days! If so, make sure you know where your JFK Airport parking spot is so you can park your car securely until it’s time to pick it up again.
If you’re looking to drive to the airport, the best route is the Van Wyck Expressway. It’s about 20 miles from Manhattan and takes 30 minutes to get there if you have a car. But you have to be careful: this stretch is infamous for its traffic jams during peak hours.
However, it will be hard in the upcoming months while the construction is ongoing. Now that the renovation is underway, If passengers plan on visiting either terminal, the Green Garage at Terminals 1 and 2 will close, forcing them to park in the Red Garage.
This means that travelers can expect delays and complications as they navigate their way through this construction zone.
Black Car Service
JFK Airport is being renovated, and the largest parking garage will be closed for the next 3- 5 years. It will be difficult in the coming months as construction begins.
If you don’t want to deal with any hassle and don’t want to park far away or take a bus or walk far—much easier if you take a Black Car Service (like Sonic d Limousine) and get dropped off and picked up at the door.
A black limousine service is a ground transportation service that dispatches luxury and executive vehicles at scheduled times for appropriate prices. Black car service (like Sonic D Limousine) is provided to passengers by a licensed chauffeur or driver (differences between chauffeurs and drivers), and yes, these vehicles are traditionally black in color.
Business travelers and those looking to travel in style typically use black cars. In that there is no partition between the driver’s compartment and the passenger cabin, they are similar to limousines.
The main benefit of using this mode of transportation is that it provides privacy during the journey, which is especially useful for people who do not want to be seen in public.
They are the most dependable and convenient mode of transportation. This is because black car services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. With black car services, you can also travel in style without having to worry about driving or parking your own car.
What You Need to Know About Black Car Services.
Black Car Service is different from rideshare.
For one, black car service drivers are professional chauffeurs with years of experience. Rideshare drivers are moonlighters who have no professional training. Though some great rideshare drivers are out there, there’s no substitution for a professionally trained chauffeur.
In addition, black car service vehicles are sanitized and disinfected between each trip (front, back, and outside). This is an industry protocol that has been in place for years and has been upgraded by CDC recommendations on disinfecting.
Rideshare has never had cleansing policies or protocols and the industry was founded explicitly being laissez-faire concerning vehicle and driver cleaning habits. To rideshares (both Uber and Lyft) credit, they have stepped up their game and have published solid protocols for drivers during this pandemic.
What Are the Benefits of a Black Car Service?
Black car service should be about more than just dependability, safety, and courtesy. It should also be about developing relationships. The Sonic D Limo was designed to serve both the passenger and the chauffeur in order to provide a hassle-free ride experience. When passenger service does not have to focus on transportation challenges and communication, Sonic D Limo chauffeurs and ride specialists can focus on reliability, safety, courtesy, and, of course, you!
Wrapping it all up.
It’s not easy to find a good travel option at JFK. There are many, but they all have their downsides. Fortunately, the renovations are going to make things much better in the long run. In fact, it will probably be worth it just to get through this mess so you can see what beneficial changes are coming down the pipeline.
It will likely be several more years before the terminal is finished, and even longer before it’s functioning at full capacity. In the meantime, we’ll just have to make do with the renovations. And I don’t mean to overstate things, but you may very well find yourself pulling your hair out in frustration as you try to navigate through this construction zone.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that once this renovation is complete, it will provide a host of benefits. Long term, JFK is going to be an improved, more streamlined place to travel through. In the end, this process will likely be worth all of the inconvenience it causes now.
Do you want some more useful tips?
Now that we’ve finished our deep-dive into the 6 major modes of transportation to and from JFK Airport and how the renovations will affect some of them, you may be wondering what else we can help you with. We have a lot more information about travel that we think will be interesting and useful to you.
We truly hope this was interesting for you to read. This is the first of much more that we plan to release over the next few months and years, so keep an eye out for more from us as often as you can.
If you want some more tips to make your next trip less stressful and more enjoyable, check out our other blog posts. And if you need help with anything else, please get in touch with us—we’re always happy to help!
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