US Airport · New York

New York JFK (JFK)

John F. Kennedy International (JFK) is New York's primary long-haul gateway and one of the busiest international airports in the world. It sits about 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan in the borough of Queens. JFK is unusual in the US in that it has no single dominant airline — JetBlue, American and Delta all operate sizeable bases, and dozens of foreign carriers fly trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes from here. The airport is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar redevelopment that is consolidating six terminals into a smaller number of larger ones. One quick factoid: JFK's TWA Flight Center, designed by Eero Saarinen and opened in 1962, has been preserved as the lobby of the on-airport TWA Hotel.

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Terminals at JFK

Terminal 1
Air France, Lufthansa, Korean, Saudia and other foreign-flag carriers
Currently being demolished and replaced by the New Terminal 1 (NTO), with phased gate openings through the late 2020s.
Terminal 4
Delta, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, plus many partner carriers
Delta's main JFK terminal with extensive Sky Club presence and direct AirTrain access.
Terminal 5
JetBlue and select partners (Hawaiian, Aer Lingus)
JetBlue's flagship JFK home, designed around the preserved TWA Flight Center building.
Terminal 6 (under construction)
Future home of JetBlue international, Lufthansa Group and others
Phased opening from 2026 onward; will eventually replace older facilities.
Terminal 7
British Airways, Iberia and select partners (winding down)
Closing in stages as carriers move into the New Terminal 1.
Terminal 8
American, British Airways (transitioned), Iberia, and Oneworld partners
Oneworld's New York hub, with significant expansion underway to absorb BA from Terminal 7.

Getting to New York JFK

Mode Details Cost Frequency
Rail (AirTrain + LIRR / NYC Subway)Free AirTrain inside the airport connects to Jamaica Station (LIRR + E/J/Z subway) and Howard Beach (A subway). To Penn Station via LIRR is about 35 minutes total.AirTrain $8.50; LIRR peak about $11; subway $2.90AirTrain every 7-12 min; LIRR every 15-30 min; subway every 6-12 min
Rideshare / TaxiYellow taxis charge a flat fare to Manhattan; rideshare uses dedicated pickup zones outside each terminal.Taxi flat fare $70 to Manhattan plus tolls and tip; rideshare typically $60-110 to MidtownOn demand
NYC Express BusScheduled coach service between JFK and Grand Central / Bryant Park / Port Authority on the Manhattan side.$22 one-way; $40 round-tripEvery 30-60 min
Hotel shuttlesSeveral JFK-area hotels run free shuttles from the AirTrain station at Federal Circle.Free with stayEvery 15-30 min

Parking at JFK

Tier Rate Shuttle Best for
Terminal Parking (Yellow, Orange, Green)$45/day maxNone — short walkTrips under 24 hours
Long-Term Parking Lot 9 (via AirTrain)$24/dayAirTrain (free) connects to all terminalsTrips of 2-14 days
Off-airport private lots (Queens / Howard Beach)$13-22/day typicalOperator-run shuttle every 10-20 minLong stays booked in advance
Valet$60/day maxNonePremium drop-off; available at most terminals

Lounges at JFK

Delta Sky Club
📍 Terminal 4, multiple including Concourse B
Delta One, Sky Club membership, Amex Platinum/Reserve with same-day Delta flight, paid day pass
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse
📍 Terminal 4
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class and eligible status
JetBlue Mint Lounge
📍 Terminal 5
Mint long-haul transcontinental and TrueBlue Mosaic 4 status
American Flagship Lounge & Admirals Club
📍 Terminal 8
Flagship for international First/Business on AA or BA; Admirals Club for membership/eligible flights
British Airways Galleries / First Lounge
📍 Terminal 8 (consolidated from T7)
BA Club World/First, Oneworld eligible status
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club
📍 Terminal 4
Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ritz-Carlton, J.P. Morgan Reserve cardholders
The Centurion Lounge
📍 Terminal 4
Amex Platinum, Centurion, Business Platinum cardholders

Top destinations from JFK

Destination Country From
London (LHR)United Kingdom$449Open route guide →
Paris (CDG)France$449Open route guide →
Rome (FCO)Italy$449Open route guide →
Los Angeles (LAX)United States$249Open route guide →
Miami (MIA)United States$169Open route guide →
Cancún (CUN)Mexico$169Open route guide →

Airlines at JFK

Delta Air Lines American Airlines JetBlue Airways British Airways Virgin Atlantic Air France KLM Emirates Qatar Airways Singapore Airlines Cathay Pacific ANA United Airlines Spirit Airlines

5 things you didn't know about New York JFK

Verified by the CompareFlights team
  1. 1JFK was originally named 'Idlewild' — for the golf course that previously occupied the land — and was renamed for John F. Kennedy in December 1963, six weeks after the president's assassination in Dallas.
  2. 2Terminal 5 at JFK is the original TWA Flight Center, an Eero Saarinen-designed 1962 structure preserved as the lobby of the TWA Hotel — the only on-airport hotel in the US that's also a National Historic Landmark.
  3. 3Terminal 4 handles more international airlines (over 30) than any single terminal at any other US airport — and is the busiest international gateway by passenger volume on the East Coast.
  4. 4JFK's runway 13L/31R is the longest at any New York-area airport at 14,572 feet — long enough to land the Space Shuttle, which actually used it as an emergency abort runway during the program.
  5. 5The AirTrain to Jamaica was first proposed in 1968; it took 35 years of debate before opening in 2003 — making it the longest-developed major airport rail connection in US history.

Frequently asked about JFK

Which terminal does Delta use at JFK?

Delta operates from Terminal 4 for both domestic and international flights, alongside SkyTeam and other Delta partners. Delta One long-haul flights and the dedicated Delta One Lounge are also at T4. Some seasonal Delta partner flights use Terminal 1; check your boarding pass to be certain.

How early should I arrive at JFK for an international flight?

Three hours before departure is the standard recommendation. Evening departure banks (5pm-10pm) at Terminals 1, 4, 7 and 8 generate dense queues at check-in and security. With TSA PreCheck and a light bag, two hours is workable but uncomfortable.

Is the AirTrain free at JFK?

Inside the airport (between terminals, parking and the rental car centre) the AirTrain is free. To exit at Jamaica or Howard Beach to connect to NYC Subway or LIRR, the fare is $8.50, paid with OMNY contactless or a MetroCard.

What's the cheapest way from JFK to Manhattan?

The cheapest option is the AirTrain ($8.50) plus the A subway from Howard Beach to Manhattan ($2.90), totalling $11.40 and around 75 minutes. The fastest rail option is AirTrain plus LIRR from Jamaica to Penn Station — around 35 minutes for $19.50.

Does JFK have a hotel inside the airport?

Yes — the TWA Hotel sits airside-adjacent at Terminal 5, built around the preserved 1962 TWA Flight Center. Rooms have soundproofed windows facing the runways. There is no internal walkway from the secure side, but it is steps from T5 land-side.

Nearby airports

LaGuardia (LGA)
10 mi NW
New York's main domestic short-haul airport; closer to Midtown Manhattan
Newark Liberty (EWR)
22 mi W
United hub and major trans-Atlantic alternative; reachable by NJ Transit
Long Island MacArthur (ISP)
45 mi E
Smaller Long Island airport with limited domestic carriers
Westchester County (HPN)
40 mi N
Smaller airport for northern suburbs