AirTrain fare is $8.25 on top of your subway or railway fare. You can't use unlimited passes or OMNY on the AirTrain. Have a MetroCard with money on it before you head to the airport, to avoid lines that can get long.
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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.
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.
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.
Use your MetroCard at the AirTrain turnstiles to pay the $8.25 fare. Use a MetroCard ticket machine if you need to add value to your card. (Do this in advance to skip the lines.) You can board any AirTrain that arrives.
A subway ride and AirTrain costs $11.15. A faster commuter train to and AirTrain costs between $13.25 to $15.25. A shared shuttle van costs between JFK and Grand Central is $20 per person, while a shared shuttle from JFK to your door starts at $40 per person and up.
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.
Airtrain JFK Cost, Fare & Ticket Options: What to ExpectThe fare for a one-way trip is $7.75, and you can purchase tickets at vending machines located in the terminal buildings or at the Airtrain stations. These machines accept cash, credit, and debit cards for your convenience.
Very safe. Safer than being in traffic in a taxi. I've taken the AirTrain alone at 2:00AM in the winter and thought nothing of it. Note that there are new machines at Jamaica which allow you to purchase your AirTrain and Long Island Rail Road ticket in one transaction.
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.
AirTrain travels to the Jamaica LIRR Station from JFK every 5 to 10 minutes. The AirTrain ride to the Jamaica Station takes about 10 minutes. Print the full AirTrain Brochure and take it with you.
The AirTrain system operates between all passenger terminals. For journeys between terminals, it's free. To make your connection, follow signs for AirTrain.
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.
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.