AirTrain JFK operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. AirTrain is free unless you start or end your journey at Jamaica and Howard Beach Stations. There, the fee is $8.25 USD, payable only by MetroCard.
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The new fare payment system will accept contactless debit/credit cards, digital wallets and OMNY cards. Fare gates that accept MetroCards will remain available and an option for customers.
Governor Kathy Hochul, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that AirTrain JFK will begin accepting fare payments using the MTA's OMNY “Tap and Go” contactless payment readers starting Tuesday, October 10th.
Subway. By far the cheapest way to get to JFK is the subway, departing Manhattan every few minutes. You'll want to take the subway to Sutphin Boulevard – Archer Avenue – JFK Airport, on either the A, E, J, or Z trains.
Paying for your AirTrain RideYou may purchase a new MetroCard ($1.00 fee applies) or refill your own MetroCard using cash, credit or debit card at our Ticket Vending Machines in Howard Beach or Jamaica Station.
The increase came just a year after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey raised the AirTrain fare to $8 from $7.75. Port Authority officials called the most recent raise an “automatic inflation-based adjustment” in a December press release that highlighted the agency's 2023 budget.
Can I use my Credit card (Mostly Apple Pay) at the Jamaica station exit gate (from JFK) or Do I have to purchase a new Metrocard? No, the JFK Airtrain currently only accepts metrocards.
The AirTrain service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The trains run on a schedule from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (every 2-8 minutes) and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (every 6-12 minutes).
Both public transportation options involve the JFK AirTrain light rail that brings you from the airport to the connecting subway or train station. A subway ride and AirTrain costs $11.15. A faster commuter train to and AirTrain costs between $13.25 to $15.25.
Subway: The closest subway station to JFK Airport is Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue/JFK Airport. To get there, you can take the AirTrain from JFK Airport to Jamaica, and transfer to the subway.
The AirTrain automated light rail system links the nine passenger terminals of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with the central terminal, rental car area, and parking lots.
Taxis cost $70 flat (up to four people per taxi) plus surcharges, tolls and tip. An Uber or Lyft rideshare will cost between $45-$150 depending on traffic and surge demand. Be sure to also check out our posts on the other two NYC airports.
There are 4 ways to get to Manhattan from JFK Airport: by taxi, private shuttle, subway and bus. A taxi or private shuttle will be the quickest but the most expensive option, followed by the bus and then the subway being a good balance between cheap and quick.
Walking. JFK doesn't encourage walking between terminals as the roads are busy on the inside of the airport loop. However, there are sidewalks available, and it is possible to walk between some of the terminals that are closer together, such as Terminals 4 and 5.