NYC transportation advice
05-23-2021, 08:20 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2015
Position: LAX ER
Posts: 1,604
NYC transportation advice
Was told a thread will be useful to me and more new people coming in....
Going to IQ in a month. After which I'll be commuting to NYC. Spent my regional flying commuting to ORD for a long time, which is cake to use the train system and crash pads. Needless to say, spent 0 time in NYC. Seeing 220 rotations in open time, I see a lot of JFK/EWR, and some LGA. EWR seems like it's popping up more and more. To prep myself, is there a best way to get to EWR from JFK as JFK will have a lot more commuting options in? And LGA... are the train systems/subways easy to use to get from these three to one another? Is there an app or website I can use best to familiarize myself with it before I get out there? I've seen a lot of pads in the 300$ ball park range, but anyways any help is appreciated. Would do anything to commute to ORD again, I had that system down like no other and it was easy to learn. With the triple airports and seeing these awful rotations ending at 0100 or 2300+ I'm just trying to prep myself as best I can for figuring out how to make this work best until my seniority grows and I'm out of NYC
Going to IQ in a month. After which I'll be commuting to NYC. Spent my regional flying commuting to ORD for a long time, which is cake to use the train system and crash pads. Needless to say, spent 0 time in NYC. Seeing 220 rotations in open time, I see a lot of JFK/EWR, and some LGA. EWR seems like it's popping up more and more. To prep myself, is there a best way to get to EWR from JFK as JFK will have a lot more commuting options in? And LGA... are the train systems/subways easy to use to get from these three to one another? Is there an app or website I can use best to familiarize myself with it before I get out there? I've seen a lot of pads in the 300$ ball park range, but anyways any help is appreciated. Would do anything to commute to ORD again, I had that system down like no other and it was easy to learn. With the triple airports and seeing these awful rotations ending at 0100 or 2300+ I'm just trying to prep myself as best I can for figuring out how to make this work best until my seniority grows and I'm out of NYC
05-24-2021, 05:17 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2012
Posts: 290
The subway system in NYC is very Manhattan-centric, meaning that all lines (except the G) start in an outer borough, go to Manhattan, and end in another outer borough. What that means is there isn’t a great public transportation option to get you from JFK to LGA or vice-versa. Your best bet would be to take the airtrain to Jamaica, then the E to Roosevelt Ave, and then the Q70 bus to LGA. Very doable, but will take between an hour and an hour and a half. I’ve heard others mention a shuttle service but I’m not familiar with that so I’ll let someone else chime in.
JFK is connected to the subway system via the AirTrain. LGA is not, you’ll have to get off the subway at one of a few stations in Queens and take a select service bus (Q) to the airport terminals.
EWR on the other hand has good public transportation options that depending on time of day will be a lot quicker (and cheaper of course) than driving. Either from JFK or LGA, the best way is usually to get on the subway and go to NY Penn station, take NJ transit from there to the EWR airport station where you’ll jump on the AirTrain to the terminals.
I highly recommend using the citymapper app though, it has real-time info on subway work, delays, traffic, etc.
JFK is connected to the subway system via the AirTrain. LGA is not, you’ll have to get off the subway at one of a few stations in Queens and take a select service bus (Q) to the airport terminals.
EWR on the other hand has good public transportation options that depending on time of day will be a lot quicker (and cheaper of course) than driving. Either from JFK or LGA, the best way is usually to get on the subway and go to NY Penn station, take NJ transit from there to the EWR airport station where you’ll jump on the AirTrain to the terminals.
I highly recommend using the citymapper app though, it has real-time info on subway work, delays, traffic, etc.
05-24-2021, 05:41 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: DAL FO
Posts: 2,139
My first rule of NYC was spend a few bucks to make the experience better. Grand scheme of things it doesn’t move the needle and will be the difference between an awesome experience in your life vs a dreaded grind. Most of the griping you hear comes from the penny-pinchers that couldn’t let go and enjoy it. Nothing better than running the loop in Central Park before going to work.
NYC is what you make of it. A couple thoughts:
JFK-LGA or vice versa - Uber or taxi. I’ve done the bag drag on the bus/train and it’s just not worth it. If you NEED to save that extra $10 I’d suggest looking elsewhere in the budget. Do yourself a favor and don’t “split” a cab with 5 FA’s. If you do, just pay for the cab. Nothing worse than seeing a WB captain squabbling over $3 with a bunch of flight attendants.
JFK-EWR - as the previous poster said this is pretty easy. Airtrain-Jamaica-LIRR-Penn-NJ Transit-EWR Airtrain. Always LIRR. You can take the subway (E?) but may get stuck on the local and spend half your day stopping all the way to Manhattan - guilty! Yes it’s a bit of a grind and not exactly cheap. But I’ve also tried ubering it and spent a small fortune and a couple hours gridlocked in Brooklyn. It’s just not a quick trip.
My preferred way to do an early-ish EWR was to get a hotel near Penn and enjoy the city the night prior (vs a parking lot near EWR). Get up like a reverse commuter and take the train to EWR. Surprisingly you can find really good deals on nice hotels in Manhattan the day of; almost always cheaper than near the airports. EWR has the cheapest hotels, followed by JFK and then LGA (usually.)
Download the Priceline app and become adept at filtering ratty hotels. I think my limit was 3.5 stars or better. There’s a nasty Ramada in flushing that has/had 3 stars (and no hot water) which I think is how I came to that.
Go in with a little adventure in your outlook and it’s a hell of a good time. Best flying, crews and experience in the system.
NYC is what you make of it. A couple thoughts:
JFK-LGA or vice versa - Uber or taxi. I’ve done the bag drag on the bus/train and it’s just not worth it. If you NEED to save that extra $10 I’d suggest looking elsewhere in the budget. Do yourself a favor and don’t “split” a cab with 5 FA’s. If you do, just pay for the cab. Nothing worse than seeing a WB captain squabbling over $3 with a bunch of flight attendants.
JFK-EWR - as the previous poster said this is pretty easy. Airtrain-Jamaica-LIRR-Penn-NJ Transit-EWR Airtrain. Always LIRR. You can take the subway (E?) but may get stuck on the local and spend half your day stopping all the way to Manhattan - guilty! Yes it’s a bit of a grind and not exactly cheap. But I’ve also tried ubering it and spent a small fortune and a couple hours gridlocked in Brooklyn. It’s just not a quick trip.
My preferred way to do an early-ish EWR was to get a hotel near Penn and enjoy the city the night prior (vs a parking lot near EWR). Get up like a reverse commuter and take the train to EWR. Surprisingly you can find really good deals on nice hotels in Manhattan the day of; almost always cheaper than near the airports. EWR has the cheapest hotels, followed by JFK and then LGA (usually.)
Download the Priceline app and become adept at filtering ratty hotels. I think my limit was 3.5 stars or better. There’s a nasty Ramada in flushing that has/had 3 stars (and no hot water) which I think is how I came to that.
Go in with a little adventure in your outlook and it’s a hell of a good time. Best flying, crews and experience in the system.
05-24-2021, 06:11 AM
#4
Trimming my beard
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Position: 7ERB
Posts: 241
Originally Posted by LeineLodge
My first rule of NYC was spend a few bucks to make the experience better. Grand scheme of things it doesn’t move the needle and will be the difference between an awesome experience in your life vs a dreaded grind. Most of the griping you hear comes from the penny-pinchers that couldn’t let go and enjoy it. Nothing better than running the loop in Central Park before going to work.
NYC is what you make of it. A couple thoughts:
JFK-LGA or vice versa - Uber or taxi. I’ve done the bag drag on the bus/train and it’s just not worth it. If you NEED to save that extra $10 I’d suggest looking elsewhere in the budget. Do yourself a favor and don’t “split” a cab with 5 FA’s. If you do, just pay for the cab. Nothing worse than seeing a WB captain squabbling over $3 with a bunch of flight attendants.
JFK-EWR - as the previous poster said this is pretty easy. Airtrain-Jamaica-LIRR-Penn-NJ Transit-EWR Airtrain. Always LIRR. You can take the subway (E?) but may get stuck on the local and spend half your day stopping all the way to Manhattan - guilty! Yes it’s a bit of a grind and not exactly cheap. But I’ve also tried ubering it and spent a small fortune and a couple hours gridlocked in Brooklyn. It’s just not a quick trip.
My preferred way to do an early-ish EWR was to get a hotel near Penn and enjoy the city the night prior (vs a parking lot near EWR). Get up like a reverse commuter and take the train to EWR. Surprisingly you can find really good deals on nice hotels in Manhattan the day of; almost always cheaper than near the airports. EWR has the cheapest hotels, followed by JFK and then LGA (usually.)
Download the Priceline app and become adept at filtering ratty hotels. I think my limit was 3.5 stars or better. There’s a nasty Ramada in flushing that has/had 3 stars (and no hot water) which I think is how I came to that.
Go in with a little adventure in your outlook and it’s a hell of a good time. Best flying, crews and experience in the system.
NYC is what you make of it. A couple thoughts:
JFK-LGA or vice versa - Uber or taxi. I’ve done the bag drag on the bus/train and it’s just not worth it. If you NEED to save that extra $10 I’d suggest looking elsewhere in the budget. Do yourself a favor and don’t “split” a cab with 5 FA’s. If you do, just pay for the cab. Nothing worse than seeing a WB captain squabbling over $3 with a bunch of flight attendants.
JFK-EWR - as the previous poster said this is pretty easy. Airtrain-Jamaica-LIRR-Penn-NJ Transit-EWR Airtrain. Always LIRR. You can take the subway (E?) but may get stuck on the local and spend half your day stopping all the way to Manhattan - guilty! Yes it’s a bit of a grind and not exactly cheap. But I’ve also tried ubering it and spent a small fortune and a couple hours gridlocked in Brooklyn. It’s just not a quick trip.
My preferred way to do an early-ish EWR was to get a hotel near Penn and enjoy the city the night prior (vs a parking lot near EWR). Get up like a reverse commuter and take the train to EWR. Surprisingly you can find really good deals on nice hotels in Manhattan the day of; almost always cheaper than near the airports. EWR has the cheapest hotels, followed by JFK and then LGA (usually.)
Download the Priceline app and become adept at filtering ratty hotels. I think my limit was 3.5 stars or better. There’s a nasty Ramada in flushing that has/had 3 stars (and no hot water) which I think is how I came to that.
Go in with a little adventure in your outlook and it’s a hell of a good time. Best flying, crews and experience in the system.
Strong point that there is a value to time and pain. There are many opportunities here to save $10 at an hourly rate of $5/hr.
I agree that the bus-train-train between LGA and JFK to save $10-15 isn’t worth it. Uber or Lyft. With the cheap taxis (Voyager, Kew and others) you get what you pay for. I quit using them when I had a guy driving in the rain with inoperative wipers with his head out the window.
There is a decent bus to EWR herehttps://www.coachusa.com/airport-tra...op-information You can take the subway to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and its $10-20 directly to the EWR terminal. I hate the four train transitions between NYC and EWR (whether using LIRR or not) and this is the same price and much easier IMO. The bus has a military discount that takes it to ~$10. It runs both ways, EWR-NYC and the reverse.
If you’re senior to me, it’s terrible. Stay far away.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
05-24-2021, 06:12 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2016
Position: Looking left
Posts: 3,249
Originally Posted by LeineLodge
My first rule of NYC was spend a few bucks to make the experience better. Grand scheme of things it doesn’t move the needle and will be the difference between an awesome experience in your life vs a dreaded grind. Most of the griping you hear comes from the penny-pinchers that couldn’t let go and enjoy it. Nothing better than running the loop in Central Park before going to work.
NYC is what you make of it. A couple thoughts:
JFK-LGA or vice versa - Uber or taxi. I’ve done the bag drag on the bus/train and it’s just not worth it. If you NEED to save that extra $10 I’d suggest looking elsewhere in the budget. Do yourself a favor and don’t “split” a cab with 5 FA’s. If you do, just pay for the cab. Nothing worse than seeing a WB captain squabbling over $3 with a bunch of flight attendants.
JFK-EWR - as the previous poster said this is pretty easy. Airtrain-Jamaica-LIRR-Penn-NJ Transit-EWR Airtrain. Always LIRR. You can take the subway (E?) but may get stuck on the local and spend half your day stopping all the way to Manhattan - guilty! Yes it’s a bit of a grind and not exactly cheap. But I’ve also tried ubering it and spent a small fortune and a couple hours gridlocked in Brooklyn. It’s just not a quick trip.
My preferred way to do an early-ish EWR was to get a hotel near Penn and enjoy the city the night prior (vs a parking lot near EWR). Get up like a reverse commuter and take the train to EWR. Surprisingly you can find really good deals on nice hotels in Manhattan the day of; almost always cheaper than near the airports. EWR has the cheapest hotels, followed by JFK and then LGA (usually.)
Download the Priceline app and become adept at filtering ratty hotels. I think my limit was 3.5 stars or better. There’s a nasty Ramada in flushing that has/had 3 stars (and no hot water) which I think is how I came to that.
Go in with a little adventure in your outlook and it’s a hell of a good time. Best flying, crews and experience in the system.
NYC is what you make of it. A couple thoughts:
JFK-LGA or vice versa - Uber or taxi. I’ve done the bag drag on the bus/train and it’s just not worth it. If you NEED to save that extra $10 I’d suggest looking elsewhere in the budget. Do yourself a favor and don’t “split” a cab with 5 FA’s. If you do, just pay for the cab. Nothing worse than seeing a WB captain squabbling over $3 with a bunch of flight attendants.
JFK-EWR - as the previous poster said this is pretty easy. Airtrain-Jamaica-LIRR-Penn-NJ Transit-EWR Airtrain. Always LIRR. You can take the subway (E?) but may get stuck on the local and spend half your day stopping all the way to Manhattan - guilty! Yes it’s a bit of a grind and not exactly cheap. But I’ve also tried ubering it and spent a small fortune and a couple hours gridlocked in Brooklyn. It’s just not a quick trip.
My preferred way to do an early-ish EWR was to get a hotel near Penn and enjoy the city the night prior (vs a parking lot near EWR). Get up like a reverse commuter and take the train to EWR. Surprisingly you can find really good deals on nice hotels in Manhattan the day of; almost always cheaper than near the airports. EWR has the cheapest hotels, followed by JFK and then LGA (usually.)
Download the Priceline app and become adept at filtering ratty hotels. I think my limit was 3.5 stars or better. There’s a nasty Ramada in flushing that has/had 3 stars (and no hot water) which I think is how I came to that.
Go in with a little adventure in your outlook and it’s a hell of a good time. Best flying, crews and experience in the system.
I’m a NYC commuter as well...100% what Lodge said!
05-24-2021, 08:08 AM
#6
Banned
Joined APC: Sep 2015
Position: 3+ hour sit in the ATL
Posts: 1,982
Originally Posted by LeineLodge
My first rule of NYC was spend a few bucks to make the experience better. Grand scheme of things it doesn’t move the needle and will be the difference between an awesome experience in your life vs a dreaded grind. Most of the griping you hear comes from the penny-pinchers that couldn’t let go and enjoy it. Nothing better than running the loop in Central Park before going to work.
NYC is what you make of it. A couple thoughts:
JFK-LGA or vice versa - Uber or taxi. I’ve done the bag drag on the bus/train and it’s just not worth it. If you NEED to save that extra $10 I’d suggest looking elsewhere in the budget. Do yourself a favor and don’t “split” a cab with 5 FA’s. If you do, just pay for the cab. Nothing worse than seeing a WB captain squabbling over $3 with a bunch of flight attendants.
JFK-EWR - as the previous poster said this is pretty easy. Airtrain-Jamaica-LIRR-Penn-NJ Transit-EWR Airtrain. Always LIRR. You can take the subway (E?) but may get stuck on the local and spend half your day stopping all the way to Manhattan - guilty! Yes it’s a bit of a grind and not exactly cheap. But I’ve also tried ubering it and spent a small fortune and a couple hours gridlocked in Brooklyn. It’s just not a quick trip.
My preferred way to do an early-ish EWR was to get a hotel near Penn and enjoy the city the night prior (vs a parking lot near EWR). Get up like a reverse commuter and take the train to EWR. Surprisingly you can find really good deals on nice hotels in Manhattan the day of; almost always cheaper than near the airports. EWR has the cheapest hotels, followed by JFK and then LGA (usually.)
Download the Priceline app and become adept at filtering ratty hotels. I think my limit was 3.5 stars or better. There’s a nasty Ramada in flushing that has/had 3 stars (and no hot water) which I think is how I came to that.
Go in with a little adventure in your outlook and it’s a hell of a good time. Best flying, crews and experience in the system.
NYC is what you make of it. A couple thoughts:
JFK-LGA or vice versa - Uber or taxi. I’ve done the bag drag on the bus/train and it’s just not worth it. If you NEED to save that extra $10 I’d suggest looking elsewhere in the budget. Do yourself a favor and don’t “split” a cab with 5 FA’s. If you do, just pay for the cab. Nothing worse than seeing a WB captain squabbling over $3 with a bunch of flight attendants.
JFK-EWR - as the previous poster said this is pretty easy. Airtrain-Jamaica-LIRR-Penn-NJ Transit-EWR Airtrain. Always LIRR. You can take the subway (E?) but may get stuck on the local and spend half your day stopping all the way to Manhattan - guilty! Yes it’s a bit of a grind and not exactly cheap. But I’ve also tried ubering it and spent a small fortune and a couple hours gridlocked in Brooklyn. It’s just not a quick trip.
My preferred way to do an early-ish EWR was to get a hotel near Penn and enjoy the city the night prior (vs a parking lot near EWR). Get up like a reverse commuter and take the train to EWR. Surprisingly you can find really good deals on nice hotels in Manhattan the day of; almost always cheaper than near the airports. EWR has the cheapest hotels, followed by JFK and then LGA (usually.)
Download the Priceline app and become adept at filtering ratty hotels. I think my limit was 3.5 stars or better. There’s a nasty Ramada in flushing that has/had 3 stars (and no hot water) which I think is how I came to that.
Go in with a little adventure in your outlook and it’s a hell of a good time. Best flying, crews and experience in the system.
05-24-2021, 08:15 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2011
Position: Hoping for any position
Posts: 2,503
There are car services outside of Uber that are about half the cost going between JFK and LGA. I’d suggest those before Uber. About a week ago was forced to Uber between them and it was over $50. It’s $18 with the car service I use.
05-24-2021, 08:26 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2015
Position: LAX ER
Posts: 1,604
Thanks for the advice, going to dive deeper into that app so I can get a better understanding. I don't think I'll be holding a line I'm showing 87% seniority. I live in SLC where I assume if I was reserve I could try to pick up green slips here, not sure if they are giving many out on the 220 fleets or not. Hopefully with new hires coming the seniority just grows, but I'm off the fleet in 6 months so probably by the time I get this figured out or could hold a line I won't be there anymore conveniently...
05-24-2021, 08:28 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2020
Posts: 560
Originally Posted by fishforfun
There are car services outside of Uber that are about half the cost going between JFK and LGA. I’d suggest those before Uber. About a week ago was forced to Uber between them and it was over $50. It’s $18 with the car service I use.
05-24-2021, 08:28 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2015
Position: LAX ER
Posts: 1,604
Originally Posted by fishforfun
There are car services outside of Uber that are about half the cost going between JFK and LGA. I’d suggest those before Uber. About a week ago was forced to Uber between them and it was over $50. It’s $18 with the car service I use.
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