Best New York Airport to Fly Into
If you are planning to visit New York, no doubt you are looking for the best airport to fly into New York City. Traveling via airplane can be quite tiring, especially if the flight is long. It is quite understandable that you want to arrive in a safe, clean airport with friendly staff. However, that doesn’t always happen. Often, arriving at the airport only adds to your stress. So, how do we find which airport in New York is most suitable for you? Below is an interpretation based on the customer reviews for various airports in New York.
Major Airports
The Big Apple has three major airports for you to choose from. First, is the La Guardia Airport in Queens, New York. The second is Newark International Airport, found southwest of Midtown Manhattan. The third major international airport is the John F. Kennedy Airport, also known as JFK airport, which is also located in Queens but is also around 12 miles away from lower Manhattan. So, if you are planning to go to the City that Never Sleeps, you might want to land closest to the area where you will be visiting or staying. However, before you book that ticket, let’s take a closer look at what real customers say about each place.
La Guardia Airport
The airport is quite large and has four terminals: Terminals A, B, C, and D. Terminal B also holds four concourses: Concourses A, B, C, and D. It has the following amenities you would expect: airport lounges, airport hotels, and free Wi-Fi. However, it does not have the following services: showers, rest zones, luggage storage and mobile charging. So, if you are looking forward to having that hot shower when you arrive, you might want to consider another airport. And make sure that your mobile gadgets are fully charged when you land.
Delayed flights are on top of the list of what makes travelers anxious. If you want to arrive right on time, you might want to reconsider landing here as it holds around 70% on-time arrival with 64.73-minute average delay. So, if you have an urgent meeting, we suggest that you book your flight earlier so you can rest and still be punctual to your meeting. If you are meeting someone, it is best for them to arrive just before your flight, as rest zones aren’t available for comfort during a long wait.
Another issue that you may face upon arriving at this airport is the number of homeless people who have made their residence there. So, it is strongly advised that you do not attempt to sleep inside the airport for precautionary reasons. Instead, it is best to book a room at an airport hotel. As for the staff, most customer reviews say that the airport staff’s services are not satisfactory.
One of this airport’s strongest points is that it is near the city at just around 8.6 miles away from Midtown Manhattan. So, if you are eager to go somewhere near the city, then this could be right for you.
Newark International Airport
Delays are less common in this airport than at La Guardia with about 74% of on-time arrival with an average of 59.31 minutes delay. The airport has the following services: airport lounges, nearby airport hotels, free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, and mobile charging. You can also find some regular shopping areas and dining alternatives. It has three terminals connected by AirTrain Newark.
If your gadgets are going low on power, you can easily find a charging station as they are located throughout the terminals both from the land side and the air side. Customers comment that Wi-Fi connectivity is not very strong, but it is free. Since it is accessible by mass transit, several homeless people can be found both inside and outside its premises. However, this has not stopped many customers from sleeping inside the airport, as there are only a few reports of thefts in the vicinity.
JFK Airport
This is one of the most popular airports for people with flights to New York. If you want your flight to New York to be on time, this is the most punctual of all three major airports as it has 75% on-time arrival and an average delay of 63.75 minutes. This large airport has six terminals, namely Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 which are connected to the land side by AirTrain. Although there are fewer delays in this airport as compared to the others, flights are known to be canceled due to weather conditions, especially during winter. Thus, try to schedule your travel earlier, especially during the winter season, so you may have enough resting time and also avoid being late.
Some of the services to expect from this airport are its airport lounge, airport hotels nearby, free Wi-Fi, showers, luggage storage, and mobile charging stations. This place certainly has more amenities than the other two airports. If you are feeling peckish, know that there are several dining places there, especially in terminals 1 (on the air side) and 4 (on the land side) which have dining areas open 24 hours. Although it isn’t closest to the city, it has the best public transport as the AirTrain connects JFK airport to Manhattan, which is also connected to A, E, J, and Z subway trains and the Long Island Rail Road at just $5.
Best Airport
All three airports have their own perks and pitfalls. If you prefer proximity to public transport and available amenities, then JFK may be the best for you. If you want to be closer to the East Side or North Brooklyn, La Guardia may suit you well. However, if you’re going to Manhattan, you might want to try Newark. In the end, it’s all a matter of personal preference and convenience.