JFK Airport, New York: How to Ride the AirTrain

The cheapest way to get from JFK to New York is the AirTrain, a service that connects the JFK Airport terminals with the New York subway and with the Long Island Rail Road.

Below I'll walk you through everything you need to know to ride the AirTrain from JFK to your destination in NYC.

How to ride the AirTrain at JFK

Before you settle on the AirTrain, know that the New York subway is more than a century old, so many of its stations have no elevators or escalators.

If you're loaded down with luggage and traveling with one or more other people, consider a private transfer. But if you want to save, a little discomfort is worth it, because you can reach your destination for just $11.15! (+ $1 extra if you need to buy a new MetroCard)

Luggage is allowed on the subway. It's completely normal, everyone does it. The advice is to find a good spot and get in other riders' way as little as possible.

Where do you catch the AirTrain at JFK?

It's very simple. Once you leave the JFK terminal, look for the «AirTrain» signs and follow them to the station.

Once you're at the AirTrain station, take the train toward Jamaica Station or Howard Beach, depending on which connection works best for your destination (plan the best public transit route on Google Maps; to do that it's very handy to buy a local e-SIM, which will keep you connected for just a few dollars from the moment you step off the plane).

Walk right onto the AirTrain, since you pay on the way out.

If you accidentally head the wrong way, don't worry: this service runs as a loop, so you'll still end up at Jamaica or Howard Beach Station.

Jamaica Station

If you took the AirTrain toward Jamaica Station, you can connect to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or to New York subway lines E, J or Z.

Once at Jamaica Station you'll have to pay to exit the station (I'll explain how below).

When you get off the AirTrain, the first thing you'll find is the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train station.

Keep going a bit farther and you'll reach the Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue-JFK subway station, from which you can get anywhere in Manhattan, Brooklyn  or Queens.

Everything is very well signposted, so you'll do just fine (average travel times are below).

Howard Beach Station

If you took the AirTrain toward Howard Beach Station, your only connection is the A subway line.

AirTrain JFK fares

The AirTrain-subway trip costs $11.15 ($8.25 for the AirTrain + $2.90 for the subway), which you'll need to load onto a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard (it's the same transit card you'll use on the subway and New York buses).

You can also pay the AirTrain fare with OMNY, the new payment system for NYC subways and buses. It's worth getting familiar with it, since in 2024 it will fully replace the MetroCard.

If you don't have a MetroCard, you'll need to buy one at the vending machines available at the AirTrain exits at Jamaica and Howard Beach Stations. It costs $1 and you can use it for future rides, so hang on to it 😉.

As I mentioned, you'll need to load at least $11.15 if you're going to continue your trip on the subway. If you're not continuing by subway or bus, loading $8.25 is enough, which is the AirTrain fare.

At the MetroCard vending machines you can pay with cash, credit card or debit card.

And don't worry, there's always AirTrain staff around to help with the purchase if you have questions.

To exit the AirTrain station you'll need to swipe your MetroCard with a balance at the turnstiles, then keep it to enter the subway afterward.

If several of you are traveling together, the advice is to buy just one pay-per-ride MetroCard and load everyone's fare onto it, so you avoid the extra dollar each new MetroCard costs (up to 4 people can travel on the same card at once).

Then, at your own pace, decide whether you'll keep using the MetroCard as pay-per-ride or switch to unlimited rides.

Any questions you have about New York's transit card are answered in the complete guide I put together: how to use the MetroCard.

And if you need more information about the New York City Subway, I also put together a detailed New York subway guide.

What if I take the LIRR?

The AirTrain-LIRR trip to Penn Station costs $15 (the LIRR is the fastest way to reach Midtown)

If you're riding the LIRR, you need to buy your ticket before boarding the trains. It doesn't work with the MetroCard, since it's a separate system.

Getting between terminals with the AirTrain JFK

If you only need to move from one JFK terminal to another, the AirTrain ride is free.

AirTrain hours

The AirTrain runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year. No exceptions.

AirTrain JFK travel times

Ideally you should plan the best subway route to your destination in the city. That way you'll know exactly which connection is best and how long the trip takes.

For reference, here are the recommended connections and average travel times to the most popular areas of New York:

1. Final destination Upper Manhattan

1. Take the AirTrain toward Jamaica Station
2. At Jamaica Station, connect to the E subway line (Jamaica Station), then transfer to the A line uptown.

Estimated time for the trip to upper Manhattan is 75 minutes.

2. Final destination Midtown Manhattan

1. Take the AirTrain toward Jamaica Station
2. At Jamaica Station, connect to the E subway line, which will drop you in Midtown.

Estimated time for the trip to Midtown Manhattan is 50 minutes.

3. Final destination Lower Manhattan

1. Take the AirTrain toward Howard Beach Station
2. At Howard Beach Station, connect to the A subway line

Estimated time for the trip to lower Manhattan is 60 minutes.

4. Final destination Brooklyn or Queens

1. Take the AirTrain toward Jamaica Station
2. At Jamaica Station, connect to the J or Z subway lines depending on your destination

Estimated time for the trip to northern Brooklyn or southern Queens is 50 minutes.

Fastest transfer

If you're in a hurry, the fastest way to get to Manhattan from JFK (a 35-minute ride) is connecting to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) instead of the subway:

1. Take the Airtrain toward Jamaica Station
2. At Jamaica Station, connect to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) toward Penn Station
3. Penn Station puts you in Midtown, and from there you can connect to the subway to reach your destination

How to get from New York to JFK on the Airtrain

You need to get to Jamaica Station or Howard Beach Station and enter the Airtrain by swiping your pay-per-ride MetroCard (with a balance of $5 per person).

Then get off at the JFK terminal your airline tells you to use.

If you need more details about the JFK Airport Airtrain service, check their official page.