Walking through and catching your flight through a big terminal can feel a bit overwhelming, you are stressed about where to go, and your hands are packed with the boarding pass, passport, and luggage. Honestly, I have felt the same when I was trying to get to my terminal gate at JFK airport, and I know that it is not easy to find your gate, especially when you are traveling for the first time. There will be multiple gates, constant announcements, and busy passengers who are trying to figure out the gate just as you are, and it gets all confusing.
Thinking about it, I have put together my whole experience of navigating JFK in this guide. You will find all the information here regarding catching a flight, picking someone up, or waiting at the airport during the layover. Read this carefully and utilize all the essential information.
How many terminals does JFK Airport have?
John F. Kennedy Airport has six terminal buildings, which start from Terminal 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8. The airport terminals can be a bit confusing since Terminal 2 and 3 have shut down permanently and Terminal 6 is under the new redevelopment phase.
Now let's look at how these massive terminals function and what routes they operate.
Terminal 1
This is a huge terminal from where all the international flights are operated. It covers all the international routes like Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Air, Turkish Airlines, and Japan Airlines. The overall security at the terminal is very strict with updated services, and there are multiple places to shop around as well.
International routes: Paris (CDG), Tokyo (HND), Seoul (ICN), Frankfurt (FRA), Rome (FCO), Istanbul (IST), Mexico City (MEX)
Terminal 4
This terminal is known to be the biggest and the busiest terminal at JFK, which is why it has been named the international powerhouse of JFK airport. The terminal would look a bit chaotic as it handles multiple international flights and runs multiple partnerships. This is the main hub for Delta Airlines.
Domestic routes: Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Atlanta (ATL), Seattle (SEA), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), Miami (MIA)
International routes: London (LHR), Dubai (DXB), Singapore (SIN), Mumbai (BOM), Amsterdam (AMS), Bogota (BOG), Tel Aviv (TLV)
Terminal 5
This terminal is vastly known for its multiple choices of restaurants and stores from which the travelers can buy. Terminal 5 is directly linked to the TWA hotel, and it is the main hub for JetBlue airlines.
Domestic routes: Boston (BOS), Orlando (MCO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Las Vegas (LAS), San Juan (SJU), Austin (AUS), Nashville (BNA)
International routes: Cancun (CUN), Punta Cana (PUJ), Nassau (NAS), Montego Bay (MBJ), Aruba (AUA), San Jose (SJO)
Terminal 7
This terminal is an old terminal that follows the old themes from ages ago. Slowly and gradually some of the international flights are ending their operation from this terminal. However, the airport authorities have moved their focus from this terminal to terminal 6.
Domestic routes: A few domestic or regional flights operate through transitional carriers.
International routes: Dublin (DUB), London Gatwick (LGW), Edinburgh (EDI), and the other European carrier routes.
Terminal 8
A humongous terminal that is operated by American Airlines. Airlines like British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways, and all these airlines are a part of the oneworld alliance.
Domestic routes: Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Dallas (DFW), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA), Charlotte (CLT), Phoenix (PHX)
International routes: London Heathrow (LHR), Madrid (MAD), Tokyo (NRT), Doha (DOH), Paris (CDG), Santiago (SCL), São Paulo (GRU)
What is the best way to get from the JFK airport to the hotel?
Commuting from one place to the other using transit like AirTrain and shuttle services or Uber/Lyft is pretty easy at JFK airport. Below is the relevant information for every transfer and what is the best way to commute back and forth from the JFK airport.
The JFK AirTrain
AirTrain at JFK is an automatic train that runs around the airport, helping the passengers to commute from one terminal to the other easily. Airtrain is considered to be the best option to travel to/from the airport, it saves time, avoids traffic, and saves money as well.
It is completely free of cost for all the passengers and also takes them to parking lots or different terminals.
It is available for 24/7 and comes after every 5 to 15 minutes.
This is the easiest way to travel around within the airport, helping the passengers reach one terminal from another.
AirTrain connects all the terminals to different parts of the airports, like parking lots, hotel shuttles, rental cars, and two big transit hubs: Jamaica Station (Long Island Rail Road, E, J, and Z subway lines) and Howard Beach Station (for the subway line).
It costs $8.75 per ride.
Fast payments like the contactless method like Apple Pay, debit/credit
Contactless payment options are available (you can pay using a credit/debit card, mobile device, or any OMNY card).
It connects various airport regions and two major transit hubs like Jamaica Station and Howard Beach Station
Good to know: You would only need to pay when exiting the airport and connecting to the New York subway stations.
Check out the table below to understand the Airtrain fares:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Passenger Type / Mode of Travel | Cost |
| Travelling from one terminal to the other | Free of cost |
| Travelling to/from Parking or Federal Circle | Free of cost |
| Travelling to/from Subway/Train Stations | $8.75 per ride |
| Children (under the age of 5) | Free of cost |
| Group fare (allowed up to 5 rides) | $8.75 for the first rider + 4.50 each for additional riders.The maximum fare is $26.75. |
Free shuttle buses
At JFK, there are options to easily commute between terminals or reach parking lots. There are different shuttle services provided at the JFK airport.
Go Airlink NYC
This is a government-approved shuttle service helping the passengers to commute from the airport.
This provides licensed shared rides shuttles from the airport to different areas like JFK to Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and lastly the New York metro area.
The prices for the shuttle service start from $35 per person.
You can make the bookings on their official website.
Uber Shuttle
This shuttle service is a budget-friendly option that runs between JFK (Terminal 4 and 5) and areas like Midtown/Downtown Manhattan.
You can book through the official Uber app and can book up to 5 seats.
When having any issues regarding the booking, contact the airport customer service available at the information desk at the airport.
Public Transport
Subway at JFK airport connects through the AirTrain to Jamaica Station (E, J, Z) or Howard Beach Station (A).
The subway ticket costs $3.00.
Long Island Rail Road/Commuter Rail connects you to Manhattan (Penn Station or Grand Central Madison) from Jamaica Station. You can easily access the tickets from the TrainTime app or station ticket points.
This is best for the passengers who want to avoid traffic and save money.
Taxis
Terminal 1: Available at the curbside at the arrivals-level roadway.
Terminal 4: Available at the arrivals level, follow the signs to the indoor queuing area.
Terminal 5: Available at the ground floor of the Yellow Parking Garage (near the AirTrain station).
Terminal 7: Available at the drive-through on the JFK airport departure level roadway, which is outside the information center.
What are the different parking options at JFK airport?
There are multiple options to park at JFK airport. Starting with the blue lot, the yellow lot, the red lot, and the long-term lot. Let's look into these options and select what's the suitable option for you.
Terminal 4 Blue Lot
If you are going to drop someone at Terminal 4, drop them off at the curbside departures.
For pickups, you need to go to the Arrivals level, Outer Lane B.
The vehicle height restriction should be 6’4”.
For 30 minutes, the passengers would have to pay $6, for each extra 30 minutes $12, and for 23 hours, $88. In case of any discounts, the passengers would have to pay as low as $66 per day.
Terminal 5 (Yellow Lot)
If you are going to drop someone at Terminal 5, drop them off at the curbside departures.
For pickups, you need to go to the curbside (Spots 1-6).
The height restrictions for the vehicles are on level 1 (under-surface garage, 8’2”).
For Level 2 and above, it should be 7’6”.
For 30 minutes, the passengers would have to pay $6, for each extra 30 minutes $12, and for 23 hours, $70. In case of any discounts, the passengers would have to pay as low as $56 per day.
Terminal 8 (Red Lot)
This parking lot serves T1, T8, and T7.
If you are going to drop someone at these terminals, drop them off at the curbside departures.
The height restrictions for the vehicles is on level 1 (under-surface garage, 8’2”).
For Level 2 and above, it should be 7’6”.
For 30 minutes, the passengers would have to pay $6, for each extra 30 minutes $12, and for 23 hours, $70. In case of any discounts, the passengers would have to pay as low as $56 per day.
Long-Term Parking
This is called the budget parking of JFK airport.
It requires AirTrain terminals to reach the terminals.
Federal Circle
This is the reservation parking lot for any shuttle or car rentals.
The time duration allowed for parking is 24 hours and the pre-book rate is as low as $45 per day.
E-Z Pass Plus parking
Payments have been made easy in this day and era, where the passengers at JFK airport can pay with credit or debit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express).
They can pay with E-Z Pass or Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
The passengers who have come for the parking can use the E-Z Pass tag to make the payment at the airport parking.
The pass is only available to those who have a registered account on the E-ZPass Plus website.
How to use the E-Z Pass
While entering the parking lot, make sure to use the lanes that are specifically made for E-ZPass signs, they will be marked in purple color.
Reach the gate and wait till the arm raises, wait for 20 seconds and do not pull a ticket till then.
While exiting the parking lot, the pass will be scanned at the exit plaza if you have used it at the entry gate. You will be charged with the relevant charges for the parking.
For the payment, if you are charged $20 or under, it will be deducted from your E-Z Pass account balance.
If it is more than that, you will be charged with the credit card that has been linked with the E-ZPass account.
Parking lots for restricted mobility
Every parking lot has a designated space for the passengers with disabilities.
It is also available near every terminal entrance and in the long-term parking lot near the Howard Beach and Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Stations.
To get the access to the parking, make sure that the passengers have a legal non-expired, state-issued ADA license plate, placard, or permit.
For more help, discounts are available to the passengers who have all these legal valid documents.
There are some important points to be kept in mind before using the parking for the disabled. For example,
If you have already made the reservations or made E-ZPass payments, you will not be liable for the discounts.
You cannot enter via E-ZPass lanes, you need to enter through the lane that is designated for you and then pull a ticket from there.
While exiting , make sure to press the HELP button and speak to the attendant, through that, your ADA tag will be acknowledged and you will be liable for the discount.
The parking charges are $35 for 1 day and if it exceeds that, only then will you get a discount.
Electric Vehicle charging stations at JFK airport
At JFK airport, there are some parking lots with EV charging stations. The charging companies present there are Charge Point, Evolve, Revel and Tesla.
The chargers at Level 2 are located in the Terminal 5 Yellow Parking Lot.
On Level 3, you will find the chargers in the West Cell Phone Lot (Revel&Evolve) and the JFK Travel Plaza (Tesla) and all these charging points require payments.
You can make a contactless payment at most of the charging points ans in some cases, the companies will ask you to make the payment through the app.
To find the chargers you can use the website or app called Plugshare.
What lounges can I use at JFK?
If you are thinking of resting at a lounge during a layover, please ensure that your lounge is situated within the terminals or be prepared to clear the security again if your flight is in another terminal.
Below is the layout of the JFK Airport lounges, which are situated in each terminal:
Terminal 1: Air France Lounge, Lufthansa Business & Senator lounges, and Korean Air Lounge.
The passengers from SkyTeam and Star Alliance premium use these lounge services.
The lounges are situated near the main gate concourse and the passengers have to take a 2-5 minute walk from Gate 1 through 12.
Terminal 4: This terminal has multiple options of independent credit cards and airline lounges.
This includes American Express Centurion Lounge, Capital One Lounge, Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Cub, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, and multiple Delta Sky Clubs.
Most of the lounges are situated near the central point post security, near the hall and at the start of the Gate B.
Terminal 5: This terminal provides services to BlueHouse which serves JetBlue premium passengers, Mint Flyers and trueBlue Mosaic 4 members.
The lounges are located right across the marketplace and the passengers can use these lounges by going through T5 gates which will be a 1-3 minutes walk.
Terminal 7: This terminal serves passengers from British Airways Galleries and First Lounges, Air Lingus Lounge, and Air India Maharaja Lounge.
It serves Oneworld Alliance members, premium passengers, and qualifying travelers.
Terminal 8: this terminal has lounges like Chelsea lounge, Soho lounge, Greenwich lounge, and Admirals Club.
It serves American Airlines and Oneworld passengers.
It is located on the airside above Gates 12 and 14, and it takes 2-4 minutes from the nearby boarding gates.
There are a few options to stay at the JFK airport apart from the lounges.
Minute Suites
There are minute suites, which can be found on Termnal 4, Concourse B (near Gate B39).
It is specifically for the passengers hwo have long layovers and they want to stay in a micro-style option in a terminal.
You have to leave the terminal 4 and then you can have the access to Minute Suites but all of this can be done without much security hassle.
To book the suites, you need to make the reservation for an hour or book them for the whole night.
The TWA Hotel
The TWA hotel is located inside the airport near Terminal 5 and it is easily accessible for every passenger.
To reach the TWA passengers need to take an AirTrain to T5 and they will be right infront of the hotel.
Make sure to make the reservations in advance and get the discounts it offers on everyday basis. No shuttle is required since the property is at the airport.
What are the places to eat and shop at JFK airport?
It is very easy to navigate the amenities and services offered at the JFK airport when you know where they are available and where to look. Below are the places mentioned which are teh JFK airport.
Terminal 1: Food court with New York themed dining, big luxury stores like Hermes, coach and Bulgari, and Duty free stores.
Terminal 4: Plaza dining, which has Shake Shack, Blue point, Brewery, and more, luxury stores like Brook Brothers, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors and Duty free stores.
Terminal 5: Marketplace dining, luxury stores like M.A.C., Muji and travel retailers.
Terminal 8: For dining, there are places like Bobby Van’s steakhouse and sandwich outlets, luxury stores like Bulgari and Hugo Boss and Duty free stores.
Conclusion
Understanding JFK airport should not be stressful, although it is big, but you can easily reach your designated terminal or boarding gate by taking help from the signs or information mentioned at the airport. Whether you are catching a flight, grabbing a bite at Terminal 4 or thinking of exploring Manhattan during the layover, a little planning can take you a long way. In the same way, to take you forward, we have created this guide, which will help in understanding JFK airport inside out, and you will be informed about every rule and gate available at the airport. This guide has listed all the possible places for you, where you would like to search at the airport, it has navigated all the minute details from parking to different places to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
New York Airport is called JFK Airport because it was named after the 35th President of the U.S.A., John Kennedy, to remember him. JFK was renamed on December 24, 1963.
The TSA lines at JFK airport might range from 15 to 30 minutes and can take up to 45-60 minutes during rush hours.
JFK airport is known to be a famous airport since it serves as a major global hub for New York City and serves over 60 million passengers.
Yes, reaching 3 hours before your international flight is a recommended time. For domestic flights, reach before 2 hours.
Yes, JFK is a big airport that covers 5,200 acres in Queens, New York, and handles millions of passengers every year, it is also known to be the busiest airport in North America.
