Gothamist: The AirTrain to the Train to the Plane

Myron

Thu, 24 May 2007 10:03:04 -0500

I got ripped-off by the AirTrain turnstile at Jamaica Station while attempting to exit AirTrain. I swiped my card, the reader deducted $5 from my card, but the gate wouldn't open. A message appeared "Passage is Blocked". I had to look for an attendant for help. After accusing me of lying to get away without paying, even after I showed him my MetroCard receipt, he finally let me pass. No more AirTrain for me.

Bill

Sat, 21 Feb 2004 17:13:25 -0500

I took the AirTrain yesterday coming from JFK and I was disappointed that someone hasnt thought this through. Here is my experience. First, the train was running behind schedule from its disclaimed "every 5 minutes." Second, like those have already discussed, the signs arent very clear about the $5 cost... plus I'm wondering about the value to the customer when we previously had the service for free. So let me think for a second... the city just spent billions on this new system and it costs more and isnt that much better than the old system? Back to the AirTrain -- we all got out of the train and 40 people were waiting for 3 MetroCard machines.. no big deal... but too bad those tourists couldnt buy a $10 metrocard. The MACHINE DIDNT GIVE CHANGE. how odd? Finally, we got to the A station where I waited 20-25 minutes for a train. They really could use some streamlining and thinking the whole travel to Manhattan.

moya

Thu, 01 Jan 2004 18:18:10 -0500

I think the whole thing is a rip-off. I got back to JFK last night after two weeks in the UK and found out there was no bus. I took the air train (and waited nearly 40 minutes for a Howard Beach train to come). I thought it was a big improvement until I got off and found I had to pay $5--similar services at other airports are free. And there is NO mention of the charge anywhere that I could see. At midnight on New Year's Eve (having been up for over 24 hours) with heavy bags, I was pretty upset, especially after the long wait. Surely some signs should notify users of the price of this very short ride--compare the fare to the cost of a $2 subway ride that could take you from Howard Beach to the Bronx... JFK was already tough enough to negotiate with bags. And for those of us who don't live in Manhattan, there is no cap on the taxi fare.

kaposia

Sat, 20 Dec 2003 22:09:26 -0500

I usually find myself taking the A train from Downtown Brookyn to Howard Beach for $2 and catching the free shttle bus between long term parking.....alot of employees do this too...it takes about an hour and fifteen minutes and is worth it if you have little luggage and lots of patience.....was irks me is that I don't think there is a free connection to the bus anymore - I heard they built a fence...so I won't take public transportation at all anymore to JFK...esp tomorrow when there will be three of us.. $$30 car service or $21 aggravation. How stupid could they be when they planned this thing.

a

Fri, 19 Dec 2003 15:14:39 -0500

is it just me, or does bloomberg look like he's making a mad dash out of that thing so he can puke??

Jeff D

Fri, 19 Dec 2003 11:54:58 -0500

Okay, how 'bout this: Taxi to the AirTrain terminal. You'll cut out half the traffic, pay less than a full ride, and avoid the temptation to throw your luggage on the subway tracks when you've had to lug everything up-and-down-and-up-and-down flights of stairs a few times when transferring from one line to another.

Jen

Thu, 18 Dec 2003 13:03:40 -0500

I'm with Adam. I took that shit to Newark airport once, and it was HELL, I tell you. Feh, I just shop around for the best airfare then plug the savings into cabs. Spolied? Maybe. But free of headaches? Definitely. If they had a real shuttle train I'd do it. I'd rather not do the schlepping and not be the asshole with all the bags on the subway at rush hour, looking like some damn German tourist, with all the backpacks. (Harsh, but you know it's true.)

Mike

Thu, 18 Dec 2003 12:35:40 -0500

If you're already on the subway with your luggage, it's pretty stupid to transfer to the LIRR. Just take the subway to Airtrain. $50 is a lot of money. $7 isn't. And it isn't even $7, what with the $12-for-$10 MetroCard discount.

Adam@Mookie

Thu, 18 Dec 2003 12:11:21 -0500

What a waste of money that Air Train was. They spent billions of dollars on a train that goes between two stops. So let's see. I need to get from my apartment or my office in Manhattan to JFK. I have to take my luggage and load it into a taxi to Penn Station OR schlepp my luggage on the subway to Penn Station. From there I have to figure out the Lawn Guyland Railroad schedule to Jamaica. Then I have to haul my luggage onto an LIRR train. Once at Jamaica, I have to get my luggage downstairs and drag it over to the Air Train platform. Then load it onto the Air Train for the ride to JFK airport. COST Subway $2.00, LIRR (rush hour)$6.75, Air Train $5.00, Aggrevation of having to use 3 modes of transportation just to get to JFK, PRICELESS - Total $13.75 OR I could continue to do exactly what I always do: Call car service in Manhattan, hand the driver my luggage, and relax while someone else drives me right to the departure area of my airline. (I usually leave about 3 hours earlier then my scheduled flight avoiding rush hour and getting to JFK early so I can get an exit row) TOTAL COST $45-50 with tolls and tip. (Taxi costs about the same but a Lincoln Town Car is a lot nicer then a yellow cab). I usually travel with my wife so the price is about $23.50 per person vs $13.75 per person for the Air Train. Plus, if I travel for business, they pick up the fare. Worth the price in my opinion. I get door to door service and don't have to deal with any connections.