Visiting NY City in April. Which airport is the best to fly into?

Question

Staying across from Rockefeller Center.

Answer 1

I'd recommend either JFK or Newark for mass-transit options getting to your hotel. LaGuardia doesn't make it as easy.

For JFK, it's an easy ride on the AirTrain, and an easy connection to the E subway, which will get you around the Rockefeller Center area (short walk, 3 blocks or so). The E enters Manhattan along 53rd Street. Rockefeller Center is 47th to 50th.

Newark also provides a variety of mass-transit options, so they're not a bad choice either. Their options also provide easy access to the E train.

Basically, pick whichever one is available to you, though I might lean slightly towards JFK. Still, it's a toss-up. Can't go wrong either way.

Answer 2

It's not so much about which airport is better , but what time your flight comes in, JFK is 'prettier' but LGA and JFK are pretty much the same thing in terms of service. Both suffer from the same hellish check-ins and check-outs during peak hours (9am to about 9pm).

If you are staying around Rockefeller Center (midtown) neither airport has a huge advantage over the other when it comes to Taxi Fares but I would come in through JFK because in my experience taxis from JFK tend to run into a bit less traffic than those coming from LGA , but the main thing is to fly into new york before 7am or after 10pm. If you're an international visitor that might not be possible due to scheduling but I would make the effort to arrive before 7am so you can spend a day getting settled, highway traffic will be hectic but at least you won't have to wait 2 hours to leave the airport after landing.

Like I said, both airports are pretty much the same in terms of service but you should really be afraid of foot traffic before and after landing, it can really hamper your day and even get unbearable during the day and into the late afternoon, I once timed it after a flight that landed in the afternoon and from leaving the airplane to getting into a taxi it was almost 3 hours. Last summer I arrived at JFK at around 12am and was literally in my apartment less than 2 hours later... so don't pay much attention to the airport and really concentrate on getting here after 10pm or before 7am if it's possible

Answer 3

Whichever one you can get the cheapest flight into. Depending on the time of day you fly in - if you hit during rush hour, it's going to take you an hour or so to get to the hotel from any airport.

Answer 4

once you are going to Brooklyn, i would not fly into Westchester. JFK and LaGuardia are nearer, and that would desire to even out the fee of airfare in what you spend on floor transportation. good good fortune.

Answer 5

JFK