At JFK, you can transfer to your next flight using an air train which is an on-airport rail service. The air train runs 24 hours a day and makes stops at each JFK terminal as well as the Howard Beach station for the A subway line and the Lefferts Boulevard station for the Long Island Rail Road. If you’re going to Manhattan, you can take the air train to Jamaica Station where you can then transfer to the E subway line.
The ride from JFK to Jamaica Station takes about 15 minutes and costs $5 USD. If you’re going to Penn Station, you can take the air train to the Sutphin Boulevard station where you can transfer to the E, J or Z subway lines.
The AirTrain system at JFK connects passenger terminals to airport parking lots, shuttle pick-up areas, parking lots, hotel shuttle pick-up area, car rental pick-up areas, and to the NYC’s public transportation network at Jamaica and Howard Beach Stations.
JFK AirTrain Cost:
If you board JFK AirTrain outside the JFK airport at Howard Beach and Jamaica Stations, you’ll have to pay $8.
If you board JFK AirTrain at any of the 6 Terminals namely, 1, 2,4,5,7 and 8, you don’t get charged at all.
The map below will give you an idea and locations of where the terminals and stations are;
JFK AirTrain Map:
The map of JFK’s AirTrain shows all the 6 terminals that the air train covers including its services to Howard Beach, Lefferts Blvd, Jamaica and Federal Circle.
JFK AirTrain Schedule:
The JFK AirTrain Schedule operates 24/7 at all 365 days of the year. It runs every other 15 mins but during peak hours, you’ll be able to board the air train every other 7 minutes.
12 am. to 6 am. Schedule:
Between 12 am to 6 am, JFK train is available every other 15 to 20 mins which is considerably lower frequency compared to peak periods.
6 am to 11 am Schedule:
Between 6 am to 11 am, JFK train is available to take passengers every other 7 to 10 mins during weekdays and can be up to 15 to 20 mins during weekends.
Peak period schedule:
Between 11 am to 10 pm, JFK train’s schedule is available for boarding every other 4 to 6 mins throughout the week.
10 pm to 12 am:
From 10 am to 12 am, you can expect to catch JFK Airtrain every other 7 to 10 mins throughout the week.
Between each terminal at the Airport, it takes just 2 minutes for the train.
How to get a JFK AirTrain Metro Card?
If you don’t have a metro card, you can easily get one at any of the MetroCard Vending Machines (MVMs) that are located throughout the airport. If you want to find an MVM, just look for signs that say “MTA Metro-Card” or “AirTrain.”
You can use your credit or debit card to buy a Pay-Per-Ride or Unlimited Ride MetroCard from the vending machines. The amount of money you’ll need on your card will depend on how many rides you plan on taking and whether you want an unlimited ride card.
If you’re only taking the AirTrain once, you’ll need $5 on your card for the ride from JFK to Jamaica Station or $7.75 from JFK to Howard Beach. If you’re planning on taking the AirTrain more than once or if you want an unlimited ride card, you can get a 7-day unlimited ride card for $32 or a 30-day unlimited ride card for $127.
You can also get a Pay-Per-Ride card, which will deduct $2.75 from your card each time you take the AirTrain.
JFK AirTrain Contacts/Customer Support:
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Name: Alex Mutuma
Profession: A professional travel consultant with a focus on airport activities to do during layovers
Email: Alex@airportllc.com
Phone: +1 945 348 889
Website: airportllc.com
Location: 322 Main Packway Street, Boston, US
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