InsideTransit

Finally!! The transportation authority here in NYC (MTA) has finally decided to realize that it’s a damn pain in the butt to try to haul luggage on a bus bound for the airport. Today they announced a pilot program to test luggage racks on the bus routes that serve both LGA and JFK airports (i.e. M60, B15, Q3, Q10, Q33, Q48 and Q72).  One bus running on the M60 to LGA has the rack installed.

“We believe that the racks will be a great amenity, making things more comfortable for our customers and even helping our bus operators speed their trips. We are going to have our managers out monitoring these buses, asking our customers and bus operators if they are seeing an improvement,” said Joseph Smith, Senior Vice President in the Department of Buses. “If the results are positive, we will expand the installation of the racks to other buses on these routes.”

The issues I see with the luggage rack location are:

• security – placing the racks right next to the rear door allows a criminal to easily exit with your bag
• you must drag the bag from the front of the bus to the rear – my guess is many passengers will just continue standing towards the front with their bag

In any case, good for the MTA for testing out a feature that many other cities already offer on their airport-bound buses. I’d rather see larger and wider buses running on the airport routes rather than the low-floor tiny buses.

Here’s something from the NYC subway wayback machine courtesy Subchat. Many years ago, there was a special “train to the plane” that operated in NYC. It made only a few stops in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn then ended at the Howard Beach subway stop. From there passengers boarded a shuttle bus which took them to JFK airport. The train ran every 20 minutes and there was an additional fare of $3.50-4.00 which was collected on board.

If you are traveling to/from the NYC airports and want to try using transit (you should!), check out our NYC airport guide. I find that using the subway and the LIRR is much faster and way cheaper than taking a taxi from JFK airport.

Here’s a video with 2 commercials from the Train to the Plane – both look like they were created by the people who made the Brady Bunch tv show.
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There are 3 major airports in the New York City area. They are LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark International (EWR). Below are the easiest ways to get to Manhattan via public transportation. You can also obviously take a taxi which from LGA will run about $30, from JFK/EWR about $55-60.

LaGuardia (LGA)

Traveling from LaGuardia airport into Manhattan via public transportation is fairly easy. There are 2 basic options — both cost $2.25.

• Take the Q33 bus right outside your arrival terminal to the last stop (Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights subway station). From there you can board several subway lines (E,F express or R, V local). I suggest taking either the E or F as they will cut the trip by about 10 minutes. I prefer this option to the one below.
• Take the M60 bus right outside your arrival terminal to the Astoria Blvd. stop. You will see the elevated trains at this stop. Board a Manhattan bound N or W train and you will be in midtown in about 15 minutes. There are a lot of steps at this station and from what I can tell, there are no elevators.

John F. Kennedy (JFK)

Thanks to the new AirTrain, it is easier than ever to travel to/from JFK using public transportation. From JFK, take the AirTrain which is outside each terminal (you may have to cross the street) to either:

• Station D – Jamaica Station — from here you can take the E train (8th avenue) or the J/Z (lower manhattan)
• Station A - Howard Beach Station – from here you can take the A train (8th avenue)

I suggest that if you are going anywhere in midtown or the World Trade Center area that you take the E train option (station D). The E is the best option in about 90% of the time as it is the fastest, safest, easiest of the options. If you are going to the Wall Street Area, take the J/Z option. Lastly for upper manhattan, take the A train option. 

Another option is to take the AirTrain and then take the LIRR to Penn Station. If you destination is near Penn Station, this is the preferred option as it’s easier and there is more room for baggage. The trip will cost $10.75 but it’s worth the extra $3.

Newark International (EWR)

From EWR, you will want to take the AirTrain Newark, it is easy and inexpensive. The AirTrain takes you to the EWR Train station. From there you can take the New Jersey Transit train to New York Penn station. The fare is about $13/person. Penn Station hooks you into bus, subway, taxi and walking to almost anywhere in NYC.