How to get from JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO NEW YORK CITY as quickly and cheaply as possible? This is how we did it for $20!
On our previous visit, in summer 2017, we booked a shuttle from the airport to Manhattan and it had cost us a small fortune. It wasn’t quick either, and while it was great getting to see the scenery of Queens on the way in, it wasn’t fun having to drop other people off at their hotels first. In fact, it wasted a lot of time, and it felt even worse on departure day. That roundtrip for 2 adults, booked via TravelRepublic in 2017, cost us about $85.00!
Although this trip was one way, we did some research online and thanks to YouTuber Here Be Barr, found a cheap, easy and safe way to get into the city - the Long Island Rail Road.
We arrived at JFK’s Terminal 8 at 12:06pm (EST), some 50 minutes early (the 42 mph tailwind must have helped!) and quickly cleared immigration using the Mobile Passport Control (MPC), a system where you submit your travel documents, photograph and customs declaration information through a free and secure app. We still had to line up in a designated queue, but were ushered to the front of other passengers and dealt with swiftly. Baggage claim took a little longer (as can be expected).
The AirTrain is JFK’s driverless transportation train for ferrying passengers between terminals. For some reason you only pay if you take it to Jamaica Station, off the airport property and a short 11 minute ride away. Our research suggested that the AirTrain fare would be $8.25 per person, however it turned out to be only $4.25 each, meaning we saved some unexpected dollars there! We simply walked up to the exit gate at Jamaica, tapped our cell phones and paid using Apple Pay. No messing around at ticket machines!
Following the big signs for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) at Jamaica Station couldn’t have been any easier. While there didn’t appear to be many LIRR ticket machines close to our track, the one we found did seem simple enough to use, however the journey to Grand Central was coming in at around $16.00. A friendly member of staff approached us at this point, kindly cancelled the transaction, tapped away at the screen and our two new tickets came to only $10.00.
Another bargain and another simple transaction with Apple Pay!
The wait for the LIRR train was around 10 minutes and we were soon on our way to Manhattan. The train did feel a little dated, but there was plenty of room for us and our small amount of luggage.
The tickets were collected in by the conductor within moments of us boarding and only 17 minutes later we were alighting at Grand Central Terminal.
There was the option of taking a train from Jamaica to Penn Station, but as we knew we’d be at Penn in a couple of days time, we chose to get the Grand Central train so that we could have a look at the station’s distinctive Main Concourse and then the nearby Chrysler building outside before we headed to our hotel on Times Square by foot.
TIME FROM LEAVING JFK TO ARRIVING AT GRAND CENTRAL = 40 minutes
13:09 – boarded the airport’s AirTrain
13:20 – arrived at Jamaica station
13:31 – boarded the Long Island Rail Road train
13:49 – arrived at Grand Central Terminal
TOTAL COST FOR 2 ADULTS
LIRR = $10.00
Total = $18.50
So, we got to Manhattan from JFK in 40 minutes and for less than twenty dollars!
If you’re travelling on your own or as a couple, and travelling during the day, the JFK AirTrain and LIRR is a quick and cheap way of getting into Manhattan. For bigger groups, such as families, or for those travelling at night, an Uber or taxi might be better.
📌 LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD, Jamaica Station to Grand Central, New York City
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