This site is closed to new comments and posts.

Notice: This site uses cookies to function.
If you are not comfortable with cookies then please don't browse this website.

A Train to JFK? — Brooklynian

A Train to JFK?

littleredmenace
littleredmenace
edited November -1 in Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Anyone in the neighborhood ever take the A to JFK? I live about a ten minute walk from the Nostrand stop and was considering giving that a try, although my flight leaves pretty early in the morning (7:45am).

If you've done it, how long did it take? It seems like it should be an easy thing to do. I usually call a car, but I would like to save the money.

Thanks and my unlimited love to you all. :)

Comments

  • jocelyn
    jocelyn
    I would not do it because that is too freaking early in the morning to take any chances.
  • littleredmenace
    littleredmenace
    Yeah, that did cross my mind. Thanks!
  • am
    am
    It takes about an hour. I leave myself an hour and a half because you never know how long the A will take and you need the one to JFK. Then you hop to the AirTrain which is fairly timely but still takes a while depending on what terminal you need to shuffle to.
  • daver
    daver
    I've done it many times, at that time, earlier and later. I also allow about an hour, and have not had any trouble. Make sure you understand that not all A trains go there. Get off at Howard Beach. $5 via Metrocard for the airtrain, so you if have an unlimited make sure you have one with some cash on it too.
  • naif
    naif
    Or if you're REALLY cheap (like me), you can get the A bound for Ozone Park/Lefferts Blvd. and use your free transfer from there to take the Q10 bus all the way to Terminal 4. From there, you can take the Airtrain from terminal to terminal for free. Give yourself about 1 hr. and 45 minutes to be safe.

    Alternatively, us the Nostrand stop on the 3 and take it to the end of the line, New Lots. From there it's a free transfer to the B15 and on to Terminal 4. I'd say this option takes more like 1 hr 30 min, depending on where you exactly you're starting from.

    If you're super-concerned about time in the morning, you could always try one of the above on the return. That's how I got my feet wet.

    Both of these options work well and you'll save yourself $5!
  • littleredmenace
    littleredmenace
    Naif, I was seriously just thinking that maybe I should just experiment on the return flight rather than an outgoing flight at such an early hour. It's probably worth the cab fare to not stress out about making my flight on time.

    Thanks to everyone for your helpful replies!! I will send you good vibes from Southern California when I get there on Thursday.
  • whatchuwant
    whatchuwant
    If you haven't gone to bed yet- and if you're like me who can't really think about new routes and stuff that early in the morning....

    LIRR from Atlantic to Jamaica- Airtrain is right there. Take about 1/2 hour- tops!
  • dapearl9
    dapearl9
    There's an LIRR stop on Nostrand too actually, just 2 blocks south of the A stop.
  • bullyboy
    bullyboy
    We took the subway to AirTrain and were pleasantly surprised.

    The only time I missed a flight at JFK was a time when I had taken a cab. What an expensive bummer that was...
  • littleredmenace
    littleredmenace
    My roommate also mentioned the LIRR, so I might check that out. I leave tomorrow morning.

    I've had great luck with using a car, but I don't really ever travel in times where there's tons of traffic. So that probably helps.
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    yep the LIRR is the better way to do this
  • daver
    daver
    I honestly find the A train much better than LIRR for this. It is cheaper, and runs more frequently. The travel time will be about the same, FWIW.
  • naugastyle
    naugastyle
    I take the LIRR frequently because I don't live near the A...well, I don't live near the LIRR either but I can take the 2/3 there. Throwing in the extra subway ride + transfer at Atlantic means it's STILL an hour to get there (not 1/2 hour as posted above) but it's relatively reliable, for the extra $5 (off-peak...if it's peak I'm probably at the office where I can take the E). If I had such an early flight I'd probably opt for the LIRR.

    It's not as good on the way back though...hard to tell if the Airtrain will get you to Jamaica in time and if not...that extra 30 minutes of waiting for another train often makes me wish I'd taken a car.
  • littleredmenace
    littleredmenace
    Hello everyone! I just got back from my trip. I ended up taking a car service to JFK but then last night, I ventured on the Air Train to the A. It wasn't too bad except that my journey started at 11:45pm, so it was a bit of a wait for the A. In any case, it was worth the savings.

    Again, thanks for everyones responses. I do have to say that although I do like NY much more than Southern California, the weather here just absolutely BLOWS in comparison. So I am a little displeased to be back in that regard. :)
Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In

Categories