Last Monday at 2:45 p.m. on a sunny afternoon, seven airport
enthusiasts embarked upon a grueling journey – a journey that took them from
New York City to LaGuardia’s Central Terminal Building (CTB).
 |
| GGA interns and Steve race to LaGuardia using different modes of transportation |
Each participant went via a different route and mode of transport,
ranging from subways and buses to Uber and taxis, as well as a lone Citibike.
While the average travel time was 48 minutes and the cost $15, the
routes ranged from 25 minutes to over an hour, and costs varied from as high as
$44 to a low of $2.50. (See end of post for full breakdown of results.)
Read about each of their experiences to decide which mode you’ll
opt for next time you’re faced with a trip to LaGuardia.
1. Fiona
Mode: Taxi
Time: 25 mins
Cost: $33
I
took a standard NYC yellow taxi from 39th Street and 6th Avenue to
LaGuardia Airport. I expected the trip to have moderate traffic, but was also
counting on an easy journey to LaGuardia. It was relatively easy to hail a cab
at 2:45 PM taking around two minutes and 40 seconds.
 |
| Driving directions from Midtown to LaGuardia |
Once
in the cab, the trip was simple. There was very little traffic along the way,
making it fast and easy. The driver took the Queens Midtown tunnel where there
was very little congestion. Once out of Manhattan we barely stopped until we
arrived at LGA.
In
total it took me 25 minutes to get to Terminal B at LGA. I was the first to
arrive and waited 19 minutes for the next person (Alex taking the NYC Airporter
shuttle) to make it there.
Overall
it was a very simple and stress-free travel experience. The taxi cost $33.00
(20% tip included). The NYC yellow taxi exceeded my expectations by getting me
to LaGuardia in such a timely manner.
2. Alex
Mode: NYC Airporter
Time: 44 mins
Cost: $13
I
took the NYC Airporter from Grand Central Station all the way to LaGuardia. I
originally thought I would be waiting at least 15 minutes at Grand Central just
to get on a packed bus. I have a poor sense of direction, so from the GGA office
on 39th Street it took me about 15 minutes to find the bus stop at Grand
Central.
Luckily,
I arrived in time to catch one of the last seats on the 3:00 PM bus, which
actually departed at 3:03 PM. For some reason there was no air conditioning on
the 36 passenger bus, so at least half of the passengers were fanning
themselves the whole way.
The
ride was pleasant except for the lack of air conditioning and the simplicity of
the logistics of my route made the ride relaxing. The driver was friendly and had
a good sense of humor, which I appreciated. I arrived at Terminal B at 3:29 PM,
stepped out, and saw the driver scrambling to help people with their luggage.
In my
opinion, the NYC Airporter is a cheap option ($13.00 one-way) for the low
maintenance traveler. Thanks to good timing, the shuttle was more
efficient than I expected. However, the hot temperatures made the journey less
than enjoyable.
3. Caroline
Mode: UberX
Time: 48 mins
Cost: $44
I took an UberX car from W 39th Street between 5th and 6th to
LaGuardia. The race started at 2:45 PM and a colleague called the Uber for me.
From past experience, I expected Uber to be the fastest and most convenient way
of traveling.
The app said that the car was 5 minutes away and we should be
on the lookout for a Ford Explorer. However, over 5 minutes passed and the car
was still not there, and after a failed attempt to call the driver, the ride
clean disappeared from her app.
So, we called another UberX. Again, this car said it was 5
minutes away. We watched the tracker and saw that the car passed 39th and
went down 38th St., at which point we decided to call the driver. As it turned
out, our location was off – telling the driver we were on 38th instead.
Unfortunately this technical glitch cost us.
After 23 minutes of waiting, the Uber Lincoln Town Car
finally came and I was on my way to LaGuardia Airport Terminal B. The route
took me through the Queens Midtown Tunnel and enjoyed a smooth ride. I arrived
at departures area at the Central Terminal Building at 3:33 PM. There was no
traffic and the car ride in total took 25 minutes.
Once the Uber car had arrived, the route was no problem. The
only issue was trying to contact the car. I recommend making sure that your
current location is correct.
4. Steve
Mode: CitiBike
Time: 49 mins
Cost: $2.50
 |
| Bicycle route from GGA office to LaGuardia |
I
started the ride outside GGA’s office at 39th street between 5th and
6th. It was a slightly hairy ride up 6th avenue with traffic to
48thstreet. 48th Street to 1st Avenue had a good bike lane although
it was very tight with cars and trucks.
I
turned up 1st Avenue, which has a wide bike lane to the Queensboro Bridge.
There were lots of trucks in the bike route but they could be maneuvered
around.
The
long half mile climb up the bridge was the toughest hill of the journey,
although it had very nice bike/walking lanes and great views of Roosevelt
Island and up the East River. Then it was downhill to Queens Plaza,
through a lot of traffic on the bike path over another bridge to Skillman
Avenue. A police car there had stopped two cars, which made for some
maneuvering around to 43rd Avenue.
It
was about 3 when I entered the Queens surface streets portion of the ride.
There was a nice bike route up 43rd Avenue, but it was a hot slog for a
mile.
I
turned onto 48th Street down to 39th Avenue through very pretty and
shady residential areas for another mile. The biggest obstacle on
that portion were lots of red lights, but thankfully they were mostly one way
streets with little traffic at that hour, so stopping was , uh, optional.
I
took a right onto 34th Street, which also had a nice bike route, at about
3:15-3:20. It was a hot, crowded push for a mile and a half. A police cruiser
that saw me pedal through a red light stayed with me for a few blocks and made
sure I stopped at the lights!
I
counted down (or up) the streets to Junction Boulevard and took a crowded left
around 3:25, turning for the hot sprint the last 1.5 miles up it and
94th Street.
I
crossed some major streets as fast as I could maneuver through traffic. I
passed a weird art installation on 94th Street, saw the American Airlines
hanger in the distance and pedaled hard to the airport grounds and to Terminal
B.
Riding
a bike to LaGuardia was more pleasant and well-marked than I had
expected. It’s not a practical option unless you’re taking a day trip,
but it sure beats sitting in traffic.
5. Mary Kate
Mode:
7 train to Q70 bus
Time:
56 mins
Cost:
$2.50
My route to LaGuardia Airport
involved a subway and bus combination that Google Maps estimated to take 47
minutes. However, my total travel time amounted to 55:30. This extensive
commute leads me to question why there isn’t a simpler, more efficient route to
get travelers from Midtown to LaGuardia, a trip that is just 8 miles long.
My
experience on the 7 train was fairly enjoyable. I didn’t have to wait long at
the subway platform, and once the train came, I was able to find a seat and
read my book in peace. I only saw one other person headed towards the airport,
lugging a huge orange suitcase that probably would have annoyed me if we were
in a crowded subway car. I arrived at my interim stop (61ststreet and Woodside)
in just 17 minutes, and exited the train in search of the Q70 bus station to
start the second leg of my journey.
There were signs highlighting my
destination, with arrows pointing towards a desolate bus stop situated
underneath the elevated subway tracks. Though the bus was already there waiting
for me, the driver would not let me on for six minutes while she took a short
break to make a phone call. To my surprise, the Q70 was less crowded than the 7
train, with few riders bearing luggage, duffel bags, or any indication they
were headed to the airport.
Instead,
the passengers got off at different stops along the route, using it to navigate
the neighborhoods of northern Queens. The bus ride took me to the final
destination—LaGuardia Airport’s Central Terminal Building.
It
was a quick walk to the terminal where I met up with the rest of the group. I
finished the race in 5th place, arriving at at 3:41 PM. The one seat
routes—shuttle bus, via taxi, Uber, and CitiBike—proved faster than those that
required transfers.
6. Will T.
Mode: LIRR to Q70 bus
Time: 56 mins
Cost: $8.25
I
took a train from Penn Station to the Q70 bus from 61st Street and
Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. I expected this method of transportation to be
confusing and inconvenient, but I also knew it would be cheap.
I
left the GGA office at 2:45 PM and began walking to Penn Station. At a fast
paced walk, it took me 14 minutes to arrive. Unfamiliar with the Long Island
Railroad, I needed to be directed to the train I was looking for. The LIRR
representative working at the ticket station directed me to the 3:03 PM train
on Track 18.
I
purchased a rail ticket costing $5.75, and a Metro Card for the bus costing
$2.75. There was not much seating available on the train due to my last minute
arrival, but it was only a 16 minute ride to Woodside, where I would meet the
bus.
I got off the train and followed
the signs to the Q70 bus. I waited for four minutes for the bus, which departed
at 3:24. The bus ride went smoothly, and was fairly comfortable. It arrived at
Lot L at 3:41, which is the stop for the Central Terminal Building.
Actually
reaching the terminal, however, proved to be a little confusing due to a lack
of signage directing the passengers on how best to get there. However, I
reached my fellow travelers shortly thereafter.
Overall,
the trip cost $8.25 and took a total of 56 minutes. The LIRR and Q70 met
my expectations of being a long and inconvenient journey, however, the bus was
much cleaner than I expected.
7. Will S.
Mode: 4 train to M60 SBS
Time: 61 mins
Cost: $2.50
I
started my journey at GGA’s offices on 25 W 39th St. in Midtown and made
the 4 block walk to Grand Central Terminal. I walked into the station and found
the 4 train uptown. By the time I had arrived at the subway stop, I was 11
minutes into my trip.
I got
on the 4 train and noticed no one with bags or luggage making the same trip as
me. 3 stops later I ended up at the Harlem 125th subway stop and headed
for the M60 bus stop. From when I got on the train to when I arrived in Harlem,
11 minutes had passed. I walked up the stairs and found the bus stop where the
M60 was supposed to pick me up. I swiped my metro pass and received a receipt
that worked as a ticket for me to enter the bus.
29
minutes later, in a bus filled with some travelers carrying luggage, I arrived at
the departures area at the LaGuardia Central Terminal Building and met up with
the rest of my group.
Sadly,
I was the last one to arrive and in total it took me about an hour to make the
whole trip. In conclusion taking the 4/5 subway uptown to Harlem
125th followed by the M60 is not the fastest way to get to LaGuardia
Airport.
 |
| Steve and the interns arrive at LaGuardia! |
Rank
|
Participant
|
Mode
|
Travel Time
|
Start Time
|
Finish Time
|
Transfers
|
Cost
|
1
|
Fiona
|
Taxi
|
25mins
|
2:45 p.m.
|
3:10 p.m.
|
0
|
$33
|
2
|
Alex
|
NYC Airporter
|
44mins
|
2:45 p.m.
|
3:29 p.m.
|
0
|
$13
|
3
|
Caroline
|
UberX
|
48mins
|
2:45 p.m.
|
3:33 p.m.
|
0
|
$44
|
3
|
Steve
|
CitiBike
|
49mins
|
2:45 p.m.
|
3:34 p.m.
|
0
|
$2.50
|
5
|
Mary Kate
|
7 train to Q70 bus
|
56mins
|
2:45 p.m.
|
3:41 p.m.
|
1
|
$2.50
|
6
|
Will T
|
LIRR to Q70 bus
|
56mins
|
2:45 p.m.
|
3:41 p.m.
|
1
|
$8.25
|
7
|
Will S
|
4 train to M60 SBS
|
61mins
|
2:45 p.m.
|
3:46 p.m.
|
1
|
$2.50
|
