Top 10 Visitors Guide to New York City's Airports

With the Super Bowl just days away, hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to drop in on the New York-New Jersey region.  The first and last part of most fans’ trip will take place in one of our region’s three major airports: JFK, LaGuardia or Newark. 

Even though these airports have often ended up at the bottom of passenger surveys, there are still great things for Super Bowl guests to see and do while traveling through our airports, which are conveniently connected to the City via cost-efficient transportation links.

So in the tradition of NYC’s own “Late Night with David Letterman,” GGA presents our “Top Ten” visitors guide to NY-NJ Area Airports:

10. Get Real Time Airport Alerts and Advisories – Signing up for these handheld updates will make sure you don’t miss a thing when it comes to your flight.  The service, provided by the Port Authority, messages you in the event of general disruptions to airport operations, which may prove to be particularly helpful given the weather we’ve been having.   And the good news is: it’s free.  

9. Convenient Pick Ups from the JFK Cell Phone Wait Lot –The Cell Phone Wait Lot at JFK eliminates the stress and the cost of an airport pick up.  Cars can wait for free for up to an hour in a nearby parking lot until getting the call or text from passengers ready to be collected.

JFK Cell Phone Lot.  Photo: Ken Spencer, Courtesy of greatvisualtruths.blogspot.com

8. Have the kids blow off steam at the Play Area at JetBlue Terminal 5 – Airports can be a challenge for parents traveling with young children, especially if you’re stuck there for a while.  But not at the JetBlue Terminal at JFK, which has become a popular destination.  Here, kids have the chance to play and explore in a safe environment, while you get the chance to sit down and relax (if only a short while, anyway). 

The play area at JetBlue's JFK Terminal. Photo credit: JetBlue's Flickr

7. Try Some Fine Dining – New York is famous for fine food, and our airports are becoming a foodie haven as well.  For example, stop by the Grand Central Terminal Oyster Bar in Newark’s Terminal C, featured on CNN’s “Best Eats at Busiest U.S. Airports” list.  This is not only delicious but, as an offshoot of the Grand Central-based restaurant, it makes for an authentic New York experience.  There are also award winning establishments at LaGuardia, like Crust and Taste of Tagliare.  Terminal 5 also features everything from hole in the wall bistros to sushi bars.  Basically, don’t get on the plane on empty stomach! 

Grand Central Oyster Bar at Newark Airport. Photo: Spence Cooper, Courtesy of blog.friendseat.com

6. Shop the latest gadgets, books and gear – The redeveloped terminals at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark all feature state-of-the-art retail post-security.  InMotion Entertainment in Newark’s Terminal C is stocked with the latest in electronics, not to mention key flight accessories, such as chargers and neck pillows.  Meanwhile, at LaGuardia, Delta’s recent upgrades to Terminal D gives passengers access to free iPads attached to desks, an amenity which serves both a useful and fun purpose.  Equally, Terminal 4 at JFK was recently redone, meaning that all the trendiest brands have opened up shop, from Ferragamo to Puma and Swarovski.  Inspired by food trucks, Benefit Cosmetics has also launched their Glam Up & Away kiosks in JFK’s Terminals 2 and 5, so you can grab your makeup on the go! 

Benefit Cosmetic's Glam Up & Away Airport kiosk. Photo credit: www.moodiereport.com

5. Watch the Planes from the Food Court Observation Deck – The dining spot at Terminal 1 in JFK is an ideal place to kick back and watch the planes fly in and out.  With spacious glass windows, the food court functions as an observation deck but means you don’t have to venture outside to get the best view in the house. 

Food court in Terminal 1 at JFK. Photo credit: stuckattheairport.com

4. Get to/from the airport on the AirTrain – This overground train is one of the “cooler” modes of transport available to and from the airport.  With its raised tracks and streamlined cars, if you haven’t ridden it already, you should.  For families with train-enthusiasts on board this is a must.  But “cool-factor” aside, it is one of the most efficient ways to get into the city, so forget cabs and take the AirTrain at either JFK or Newark and make an easy connection directly to Midtown Manhattan. 

Top: JFK AirTrain; Bottom: Newark Airtrain. Photo credit: Port Authority of NY and NJ

3. Grab a Burger at ShakeShack – NYC is the birthplace of this famed burger chain but if you don’t have time to squeeze it in during your visit, fear not.  One such joint has opened in Delta’s Terminal 4 at JFK, which means many passengers have now boycotted plane food in favor of a burger and fries.  It’s so popular, in fact, that Moodie rated it the Best Fast Food/Quick Service Restaurant in October 2013. 

ShakeShack at Terminal 4. Photo credit: airchive.com

2. Keep your device juiced at the Power Poles – We’ve all faced that scary moment when your device is running perilously low, with nowhere to charge it.  But at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, you won’t have a problem.  Samsung’s Power Poles provide passengers with charging stations throughout all three airports, meaning you can crack open your electric devices, do what you have to do and not worry about running down the battery.   

Power Pole in LaGuardia's CTB. Photo credit: Port Authority of NY and NJ

1. Visit NYC!  – The best part of our airports is that each is just a short trip to NYC. From museums to markets, bowling alleys to movie theaters, and bars to cafes, there are near endless things to do.  Fun as the airports may be, nothing beats the City they serve. 

NYC Skyline. Photo: Buck Ennis, Courtesy of Crain's New York

So there you have it.  These are our 10 best for grabbing a bite, catching a ride, or just hanging out.  We’re crossing our fingers for good weather and minimal delays, but whether Super Bowl visitors are in NY-NJ area airports for a short time or longer than they hoped for this week, there’s plenty to do.  

“The Train to the Plane” that Never Really Took Off

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2013/12/8536441/one-seat-ride-jfk-possible

Cast your mind back to a time before the AirTrain, a time when smoking was still allowed on planes and you had to call to book your ticket because the internet wasn't invented yet.  Well, back then, passengers traveling to and from the airport might have opted to take the JFK Express subway train, a route not too dissimilar from the ones passengers use today.  The service ran from the Queensboro Bridge at 21^st Street in Queens, through Manhattan, all the way to the Howard Beach Station, also in Queens.  While in Manhattan, the train ran on the B line and once it hit the last stop on the island, West 4^th Street – Washington Square, it ran non-stop.  From there, riders took a bus to JFK Airport.  Aside from their lack of graffiti, this new line also differed from its 1970s counterparts in that the fares were collected by conductors on-board and all cars were fully air-conditioned, making it the shiny, new line. 

This map shows the route followed by the JFK Express, which originated in Queens, ran through Manhattan and then circled back through Queens before reaching the Howard-Beach station.  

This express service, thought to be “the pride of the subwaysystem” when it opened on September 23, 1978, was expected to revolutionize the city-airport commute by providing the necessary link between the two.[1]  A series of commercials aired on TV to advertise the new airport line, which is where it received its famous nickname, The Train to the Plane.  However, the success of the Express was short-lived; it was ultimately cancelled on April 15, 1990, a mere twelve years after it opened, which begs the question: what went wrong?   

The primary reason for discontinuing the subway line was low ridership.  According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), by the time the service was coming to a close, only 3,200 people were using it as opposed to the 4,000 to 5,000 when it first opened.[2]  Furthermore, transit officials also claimed that a majority of passengers were commuters rather than people trying to get to and from the airport, meaning that overwhelmingly few were paying the full airport fare and greatly reducing the cost-effectiveness of the project. 

An original JFK Express ticket. Photo courtesy of thejoekorner.com

Indeed, this decline in usage was indicative of the line’s decline in popularity.  But what was the underlying cause?  The JFK Express was not really true to its name in that it wasn't an express to the airport.  It was not "the Train to the Plane" per se.  Rather, it was a subway service that got passengers pretty close to the airport, but in the end it was a bus that delivered you to the terminal.  As a two-leg journey, it was less appealing to airport commuters, the second leg a deal breaker for many due to the fuss of having to transfer and the risk of delays at both points. 

This is a 1987 subway map, showing the JFK Express route (the light blue line). This map predates the addition of the Queensboro stop, which was added two years later.   

However, not everyone was pleased to hear the news of the route closure – the Port Authority spoke out in opposition as, in their opinion, the line provided a crucial link between the airport and the city, one that enabled passengers to travel easily between the two.  Furthermore, the split between the Port and the MTA ran deeper; while the Transit Authority reasoned that the Port had not done or invested enough in airport links, the Port suggested that a viable transport route was the responsibility of the state, city and local transit agencies.  In other words, they both claimed the other was responsible. 

The JFK Express logo on some of the original carriages. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

But thirteen years and 1.9 billion dollars later, it was the Port who took the next step by building an additional airport transit link, known as the AirTrain.  However, this too was created within the same Port Authority-MTA dichotomy that divided them over the JFK Express – the AirTrain runs only as far as Jamaica Station, at which point passengers to leave the Air Train station and walk 200 feet to the subway or the Long Island Railroad (LIRR).  As such, we can’t help but feel that the AirTrain never really addressed the main issue facing airport commuters and the one that resulted in the failure it predecessor, the JFK Express.  It is a problem only really resolved by a one-seat ride. 

JFK's AirTrain connects all JFK terminals with airport facilities and local rail stations.  Photo courtesy of PANYNJ

That said, all is not lost and the AirTrain may still provide the solution.  While LIRR trains may fit on AirTrain tracks, differences in weight and voltage prevent them from sharing the rails.  However, as Capital New York pointed out today, the hybrid train would be able to straddle the two.[3]  This new train would consist of four-car trains, 240 feet in length and have a maximum capacity of 236 people per train, and, most importantly, it would pick up passengers at Penn Station and deposit them directly at their terminal. 

Here’s to hoping for a 2014 that includes progress on a real “Train to the Plane” for NYC area airports.  

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[1] David E. Pitt, “Transit Agency Wants to End Airport Express,” New York Times, October 22, 1989. 

[2] Pitt, “Transit Agency.”  

[3] Dana Rubenstein, “The One-Seat Ride to J.F.K.? Possible.,”  Capital New York, December 12, 2013.