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John F. Kennedy International Airport
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: JFK Airport
JFK Expy
Jamaica, NY 11430
(718) 244-4444
JFK Expy
Jamaica, NY 11430
(718) 244-4444
151 reviews for John F. Kennedy International Airport
How many of you remember when the airport was heavily under construction? Horrible, right? Construction cones that blocked your way. Barriers that lead to temporary lanes and entrances. A cluster-fubar if I ever saw one. I'd quake in my shoes just driving there figuring out the ramps towards departure, arrival, parking and finally exit the darn airport. I would have given one star gladly
Well, it's not utopia yet, but it isn't the distopia that people make it out to be. C'mon. You're arriving at NY. Jamaica, NY no less. Did you plan to be the Tom Hanks character from The Terminal? I think not. I hear that Terminal 5 (JetBlue) is a model facility that many are raving about. http://www.yelp.com/bi....
Take for instance, Terminal 1 and 4 which are run by a consortium of airline tenants and an US/Dutch group associated with Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, respectively. Both are big, modern facilities which take the business of running an airport seriously. Sure the personnel can sometimes be surly, unforgiving or just plain mean. They live to my standard of lowered expectations.
So embrace JFK, 'cause you know the city itself will chew you up and spit you up.
Wanna lug your bags through long terminals?
Wanna catch a virus that you might have missed riding the subway?
Wanna pay more for a cab ride into Manhattan?
Wanna cross your fingers that you're in Terminal 4 instead of 3 if you're on Delta?
Wanna increase your odds of flight delay because there aren't enough runways?
Wanna have the greatest number of options for leaving the country?
Yeah, that last part always gets me too.
JFK, you're a sonofabitch.
You're OK if you ARRIVE there, the terminal is large and somewhat airport chic, food options aren't limited to the Mickey D's variety, the TSA guys are quick if they have to pull you outta line, and bless your heart for having multiple stations to do self check-in so those long lines move quickly.
DEPARTING from JFK is another story. Like a dirty whore, the closer to the end of the night it is the worse it gets. You'll be getting sloppy seconds of every late arrival and departure, pushing your flight back. I do understand though that you're one of the busiest airports out there but it still doesn't change that you're a dirty dirty whore that delayed my flight unnecessarily. OK maybe it wasn't totally your fault but I don't care about your relationship with LaGuardia, whatever you do is your business. Just let me get home fairly on time next time, kthanxbai.
This airport is the suck....I'm still trying to figure out how a bag that had no more items in it than when I arrived is now too big for carry on....and then you let the guy behind me through with his obviously tooooo big bag...I really really hate you for making me almost miss my flight and having to run through the airport to get to the gate. And wtf is up with the extra long terminals? Don't you know I avoid running like the plague...I mean you may have caused me to hurt myself...
So freaken confusing. I loved the fact that they had a place for you to store your luggage while you hit the town. Only $6!! But the terminals are so far away from each other and OMG it is a HEADACHE!! I don't like it anymore than LAX so lets just say that international airports aren't my thing.
Terminal 4
Gross. Birds in the airport, dirtiest bathrooms on record and confused, unprofessional staff. Hope you're not hungry, the only food choice you have will be China Express. Hope you're not a Delta Sky Club member, because there is no club. If you want to go to one, you will have to leave Term 3, take a bus to Term 4, go through security, then when you need to get back to Term 3 - repeat.
Good luck - gross. I may quit flying Delta anytime NYC JFK is involved.
At JFK, each major airline has their own terminal building. This review is for Terminal 5, which is all Jet Blue.
Believe it or not, Jet Blue, the upstart airline, has now become the leading airline for passengers out of JFK. Its newly remodeled Terminal 5, is large, spacious, and designed for the modern traveler, taking advantage of today's flying realities.
There is a large volume of travelers coming through terminal 5, evidenced by the dozens of security lanes that are available for peak rush hour. The spacious drop off area leading to a wide check in space, helps to funnel the passengers.
Once past security, there are many opportunities to shop and eat. with about 15 gates on two wings. There are clusters of food, drink and convenience shopping. There is a food court that has 6 different choices for hot food, with self-order touch screens, and when you get your numbered order, you select a drink and side snacks and take them to the check-out, like a large Multi-Plex theater.
Out by the gates, there are other food choices, and even a bar between the gates. There is a massage and spa out by the gates, too! Each gate area has a cluster of 4 large LCD TVs, showing CNN and other shows. There are even clusters of counters with LCD touch screens for ordering food, while there are outlets for powering up your portable electronics while awaiting your flight.
Boarding is organized, by seat rows, starting from the rear. No panicked rush like a herd of cows or sheep.
When arriving here, there are 6 large baggage claim areas. There are also great public transportation choices. You can go to the top level and take the walkway overpass with multiple moving sidewalks out to the AirTrain. This train system loops around all the Terminals, but there are other trains that exit out of the loop, and take you to the Jamaica station transit hub. From here, you can take the LIRR (Long Island railroad) to distant points, or the Subways (E, J, K) to parts of the city.
Terminal 5 is one of the better large airport terminals in the entire country.
I flew out of JFK on a flight to Finland on a recent Saturday afternoon. To be honest, everything prior to boarding the flight was fairly uneventful, which I guess is a good thing when dealing with airports and airlines. I flew out of Terminal 8, I was already ticketed when I arrived and the security line moved relatively quickly. I was hungry when I got here to JFK, and there were plenty of food options in this terminal. I also needed to access the internet to catch up on some work; the entire terminal had Boingo WiFi and there were plenty of power outlets every few hundred yards which are provided for people to plug in their laptops, cellular phones, MP3 players and other gadgets for recharging.
My main issue with this airport, and why they quickly dropped from 4 stars down to 2, is because once our plane pushed back and began to taxi, the captain announced that our flight was #34 for takeoff, which would take approximately 1 hour and would put our flight behind schedule. Nice terminal, modern amenities and plenty of signage to guide you around, but all of that really means nothing if you're an hour late taking off (and risk missing your connection) because this airport is simply too busy. I'd add that the weather on this day was fine, too. No rain in the area, no turbulence in the sky, etc. I've normally flown from Newark when in the NY/NJ area, this is the first time I've flown from JFK and hopefully it'll be the last for a while.
I flew out of JFK on a flight back to San Francisco. The electronic check made it very fast and smooth, however this airport seems small, a tad bit old and dirty....=/ What astonished me the most was the fact there were birds inside the airport ! I heared them chirping while standing in line..o.O
An eyesore, a shame, a horrorshow, a true helhole. Where to start.
Getting here (or from here) is a serious effort...it can be well over an hour and a half if there is (bad) weather or traffic...if you come by air and transit though JFK you will lose your checked bags. Guaranteed. So you need to grab your bags and carry them yourself (rent a cart--unlike airports in civilized countries...the city mothers and fathers here have seen for to privatize the carts...its for profit which means you pay) probably from one terminal to another...ON A TRAIN which is rarely properly signed but they all eventually get you where you are going. And then the real fun begins.
Like Dulles and LAX Bradley Terminal...there are no dedicated desks for the international airlines in at least one terminal...a space saving measure, perhaps but a bad European practice that does nothing for the passenger.
I cant comment on the public spaces of the terminals except to say they are frightful and almost always full--every table, every chair every surface covered with exhausted and angry humanity.
This is for sure the point of arrival of most people who come to the US for the first time--and the condition is doubly shameful accordingly. The customs and immigration officers were among the first to be armed. And there have been dogs greeting every arriving international flight I have come in on for the past 8 years. Moreover I have been stopped and searched at this airport many many times, whether I have checked bags or none, independent of my origination, independent of anything.
I have lost bags. I have had flights cancelled. I have missed connections. All of these issues remedied only with a shrug by all involved.
Honestly, if Hell has an airport...and it must otherwise how would Jack Kemp and Ronald Reagan and Jude Wanninski have gotten there...it looks just like this. One Star
Atlanta might be the busiest airport in the world, but JFK is the craziest in my book.
This airport is so overcrowded, they don't have enough jetways for all the aircraft. You know at the small airports when they wheel out the steps to get off the plane, that happens here for some of the larger aircraft that have nowhere to park. No free wireless could be found here in the Delta terminal.
Dirty crazy place.
I'm generally not one to complain about airports because they all suck in their own individual ways. However, after my experience with JFK this past Sunday, they've inspired me to write this review.
The American Airlines flight itself was wonderful. Smooth takeoff and landing, I slept the whole way and woke up alive. There isn't much you could ask for. However, we spent about 20 minutes just taxing, which I would have let slide if it wasn't for the fiasco with our luggage.
I arrived at the baggage claim at about 11pm. At about 11:30pm, with only a few bags that had been claimed, I started to get a little worried. Finally, they made an announcement that there were no more bags on the plane and that we (there was a HUGE crowd of us) had to go to the baggage claims office and make a claim for our luggage! Of course everyone ran over to get in line. I stood there by the baggage claim in disbelief and didn't move. Two minutes later another announcement was made that, the first message was a mistake and that the baggage should be arriving shortly. I don't think alot of the people heard the second announcement, or just didn't believe it, because they didn't budge from the claim office line. Suffice it to say, I got my baggage about about midnight, and high tailed it to the air train to get home.
Kennedy Airport runway to be closed for FOUR months!
http://www.newsday.com...
Finally the city is catching on for a long haul overdue cosmetic, structural make-over!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/4/2009
Crappy airport indeed as having to travel to numerous countries outside U.S.A., I've experienced… Read more »
JFK, I am giving you one more star than you deserve--but I have to say, I was deeply impressed with the rapidity of your response when my transatlantic flight arrived at your door, and your transit police rushed the plane to remove the older greek man who had been smoking in the bathroom. that was pretty exciting, even if we all knew his chances of escape were 0-.5%.
otherwise, you are the grossest airport I have ever been too. Thankfully, I've never had to go through security here. I would cry if my feet had to touch the ground.
This review is for Terminal 8, AKA American Airlines. Well, last week I was in said terminal for a trip to Spain. It was looking good for a change, e-tickets were ready to go, security queue was moving (Except for the French kid who tried to sneak a Mountain Dew in his carry on) and the sky was beautiful.
Then comes the rain.
Aside from the thunder and lightning, the flights in the adjacent gates were already delayed. So basically two hours in an uncomfortable seat, waiting for the thirty planes ahead of us to leave.
P.S. American Airlines should really invest in personal TV's for each seat. 1997 is over, and I had to watch Monsters Vs. Aliens against my will.
Hellhole, indeed -- nothing short of horrendous.
I recently took a flight on Aer Lingus to Edinburgh with a layover in Dublin... And I've been in and out of JFK numerous times in the past -- somehow, no matter which airline I use, the experience is always terrible.
Terminal 7 (United/British airways) is pretty classy (and quite small for an Airport of this size). Nice staff and clean, comfy chairs while you wait. There's an Hermes and a Chanel store (pretty large-ish ones). But very few choices for eateries... Starbucks would be your best bet.
Managing JFK is like managing a gauntlet on some strange Japanese gameshow. You are certain you will be tortured, abused, insulted, and you may never get where you want to go ... it may have all been a massive joke at your expense. (And anyone who books a NY flight can tell you that can be expensive.)
Let's start with the parking. Long-term parking is about 497 miles away from the actual airport. You will be taking a tram to get anywhere. Be sure to add an extra 30-45 minutes on your travel time to account for it.
When you get to the airport you will be walking ... A LOT to actually get to the security line. God help you if you need to check bags. Just don't.
Once you are through security things aren't so bad. There's a good number of shops and eateries. Granted, the lines tend to be long and the prices are jacked up, but at least there are choices.
Assuming you've made it this far you are now likely to wait ... and wait ... and wait ... and wait. One of the world's busiest airports hasn't figured it out. It doesn't matter how many terminals you build!! If the # of runways is the same then the same # of planes can take off in a day. Adding extra gates actually exacerbates the problem!!
Ugh ... I guess it could be worse. It could be LGA.
I've been in much worse (London Heathrow) and better (Berlin TXL, Munich, and Zurich).
JFK is more convenient to get to than Newark, although sometimes it is harder to find a good flight from/to JFK, and in better condition than LaGuardia, which should probably be condemned.
Went to Berlin two weeks ago and we got through check-in and security in about 20 minutes total - win!
I really haven't had too much bad luck in the past at JFK, but then I flew out of Terminal 3 (Delta). What an absolute clusterfuck. Really, a pack of stoned chimps could do a better job than this.
I checked in for my flight online, only to find that the line for checking in my bag was longer than any check-in line I have ever been in, and staffed by a total of TWO Delta employees. Half hour there. Then there was the epic security line, over 200 yards long, even before you hit the snake up front, where passengers had to steer their way around the plastic bins left on the floor to catch the water dripping from the ceiling. When there are several hundred passengers queued up for over a dozen domestic and international flights, perhaps it's time to invest in more than one metal detector. Another 45 minutes there. One would think leaving Manhattan for the airport 4 hours ahead of time is not "cutting it close." One would be wrong.
Did I mention the pigeons in the terminal? They come for the french fries that litter the floor upstairs (pictures coming soon). Jesus, I don't expect much from an airline these days, but can we at least keep the wildlife out of the terminal?
With three major airports serving New York we might hope to fly out on time. More so because I flew from the new Terminal 5, Jetblue's brand new and slick terminal. Alas that was only a dream...
Taxiing is a code-word for sitting on your a$$ going nowhere. :-( Unfortunately JFK is way way overloaded with too much traffic coming in. I guess I should be positive, and be glad that safety is a priority, and they don't start pushing more planes out per hour or something equally crazy.
Checkin and security is pretty much painless and run-of-the-mill, so plan enough time, and you won't be stressed on that front...
I've always tried to avoid this airport. If I can find a ticket out of LGA or even Newark, I'll take it.
Unfortunately, the cheapest fare (even factoring in cab or long-term parking) I found was via this airport.
My adventure through JFK reminded me why I avoid this place.
It took us close to a fuckin' HOUR to find the long-term parking lot because Buddha forbid JFK puts up clear & concise signs directing you were to go.
Thank Yahweh I had factored in some extra time for some stupid shit like this...we made it to our flight on time...no help of JFK though.
How do you spell Hellhole?
J. F. K.
it can make a Buddhist cut a bitch.
This has to be America's worst airport. Seeing how New York City is a first-class city itself, and with all the high traffic and tourists that stroll through year by year, you'd think that someone, anyone, would try to fix the irritating eyesore that is JFK International.
The way the place is constructed is completely confusing and nonsensical. I understand that the airport needs to expand to accommodate the amount of people who fly through, but c'mon. Some of the terminals look like they haven't been touched since 1963, and the maze-like traps to get from one to the next are enough to make you miss your connection and make you want to slap yourself silly.
On our way to Israel, we had to make a stop at JFK to get our connecting flight to Tel Aviv. What an ordeal that turned out to be!
It really shocked me that a well known busy international airport could be such a... as Ryan M. puts it... HELLHOLE.
The service is often inefficient and clueless and even rude sometimes. The bathrooms are nasty and they seriously need to build more. At an airport this size, I was amazed by the lack of restaurant choices available. All sit down restaurants have freaking long lines of people waiting. We ended up have to eat at Burger King and it was the first Burger King that I've ever encountered that ran out of diet coke. This airport doesn't feel right, looks right, and worst of all, doesn't even smell right. Something is definitely wrong with their ventilation system if you ask me.
Going through an airport like JFK truly makes you appreciate SFO even more.
BOOOOO!!!
My flight got in thirty minutes early.
But a flight that had arrived twenty minutes later had gotten their bags first before my flight.
We waited over an hour before our luggage came. The attendants at the baggage claim didn't promptly respond to our complaints.
B.S.!
Yup still 3 stars. I absolve Jetblue as they've built a shiny newn terminal T5 but I'll praise them in their own review.
JFK is average for a large airport but $5 for the airtrain? Get real guys - no other airport I've come across in the whole world charges for internal airport transportation! Bad bad people!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/31/2008
Bearing in mind that I have to fly from the abomnation that is London's Heathrow Airport, any… Read more »
Crowded
Chaotic
Hectic
I hate flying in and out of here.
Fly with the best at JFK International Airport
As the base of operations for some of the best airlines in the United States, you can expect excellence when flying from JFK International Airport. The Airports biggest airlines include JetBlue Airways, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, and United Airlines. Millions upon millions of travelers choose JFK International each year because of it's convenient location and reputation as one of the world's top airports. When you plan to arrive in NYC, choose to travel from New York City's biggest and best airport.
JFK, you get 3 stars for the following three reasons:
1. You have the cheapest fares most of the time for flying into the NYC area. Cheaper than Newark and LaGuardia most of the time.
2. You are large and have alot of airlines. Can be an advantage I guess if you need to have an array of options to choose from in booking travel.
3. In terms of everything else- You're okay. You're what I would expect for a big city airport, not too nice and new and shiny, and not too ghetto or run down but getting close.
But visitors beware, wear tennis shoes hear, your platforms don't work, because you're going to be doing some walking around this place from gate to gate or from wherever you gotta go.
First, I will pose the question why I should need to exit the building to reach the international terminal and go through security all over again, especially in the blinding dead of winter? Does that really make sense?
But on this trip, our flight arrived half an hour early from SFO due to amazing tailwinds and proceeded to be half an hour late to the gate because it took us an hour to taxi around the runway. I can understand if we were only able to get to the gate at our appointed time, but really? What if I'd had an important connection that I happened to miss?
The inside of terminal two is kind of sparce, but there are enough places to snack and purchase crossword puzzles to amuse you for a time.
When my connection to Reagan did board, they had to tag our luggage planeside on the tarmac (one of those tiny commuter jets) instead of tagging it at the gate entrace. That way, we couldn't just throw it in a pile by the plane and run inside, but had to stand out in the blinding 20 degree weather and 30mph winds. Oh so much fun.
It's not the worst, but it's certainly not great.
Can you say confusion!?!
I understand how sometimes you get better deals on flights by leaving or arriving from this airport but I'm really not sure if it's worth it.
And don't you dare ask for info because that place is full of rude people!
Good luck finding your gate and have a nice trip.
1st time. . .
Delayed for 30 min and then sat on the taxi way for an hour. . .
2nd time. . .
Ghetto TSA screener giving me attitude because she failed to find weapons of mass destruction in my backpack full of chips and candy.
Gate changed from 28 to 2 . . .
Stuck on the runway for an hour 1 . . .
love the president . . .hate the airport
When is someone going to master the quantum mechanics of teleportation???
*Offers up toast glass*
Here's to JFK:
* Thank you for always being unpredictable and causing an accident on the Expressway using only your good kharma.
* Thank you for keeping us inside of our plane for 2 hours to admire your beautiful runway.
* Thank you for providing an MTA bus service that must revolve around you at least one full rotation no matter where you take it from, again, for admiration purposes.
* Thank you for indefinitely hosting us inside of your pristine terminals by never actually telling us where an exit is.
* Thank you for giving people jobs. It's really important that they delay everyone behind me by 15 minutes and wand me because I tried to maliciously sneak in an unopened can of Aranciata as my suicide potion.
1st-rate city. 3rd-rate airport.
You'd think that a flagship International Airport to one of the most popular cities in the world would be a bit nicer and more modern... When I flew into JFK, I was on a Delta 777. The flight was good, but it took about 45 minutes to get our bags off the plane (and this was at about 12 am). After that, I had to drag my luggage all the way to the tram, which took me to my transportation. There were no porters, or even SmarteCarts, around.
My outbound experience was even worse. While my friend and I were unloading luggage from the car while talking with each other, we were constantly being harassed by security guards who claimed we were loitering. Then, even though I was a premium class passenger, I had to fight through two insanely long lines; one for check-in and one for security. Next, our flight was delayed because they could not find anyone to refuel the 777 (what?). I was even more dismayed by this since I was at one of the busiest International airports in the world. Finally, we boarded the flight and took off. Perhaps I'll fly through La Guardia next time...
NYC should invest in some serious remodeling/reconstruction at JFK!
JFK should be a premier airport in the United States, but alas, it is not. In fact, it feels like an airport that you would find in a developing country. The amenities are extremely poor, the actually structure is falling apart, the food is bleak and over priced (even over priced for NYC standards), and the apathy of many of the workers is overly apparent.
Come to think of it, I don't think I would give a shit either if I had to work at JFK.
When I have to fly from NYC I prefer Newark. A much nicer airport, fewer delays, and without a doubt, 100% better food and shops.
NYC should be ashamed.
I have only flown out of here a few times, but it definitely claims last place in my airport experiences.
Checking in was a pain, the employees were not exactly courteous. I can only imagine how this airport has been after all the increased security we've been through. I've been lucky enough to not have to fly out of here since and I really hope I don't have to.
For being one of the largest airports in the world, it's just ok. Many problems with this airport can be solved by arriving early and actually knowing how to go through security.
Your experience at JFK depends on which terminal you're at.
Jetblue is new with wifi and a central seating area that is reminiscent of many international airports. The walk from the airtrain is a good five minute walk just to get to the baggage drop off area. During the holiday season, they got rid of the Expert-family line designations and it was just one very long line.
Delta is pretty basic and nothing to write home about. If you're arriving from the airtrain, the entrance is slightly confusing to find. Also, the walk from security to the gates can take a good 5 minutes. If you're one of their fancy-upgrade members, you get to check in closer to the actual gates.
British airways had a decent terminal with decent restaurants.
Transportation to and from the city can be confusing for those brand new to the city. Taxi lines can get long and will cost you $45 if you're going into Manhattan.
