JFK to Lower Manhattan by Subway: AirTrain to Jamaica, Then the E
The route, step by step
AirTrain to Jamaica, then the E. That's the whole thing, and it's why we tell guests flying into JFK not to bother with a car.
- AirTrain at your terminal: board any AirTrain heading for Jamaica Station. It serves every terminal, so check yours with the airline and get on.
- Pay at Jamaica: you tap out of the AirTrain and pay the $8.75 fare there, with a card, phone or OMNY card. Children under 5 ride the AirTrain free.
- Down to the subway: at Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport, take a Manhattan-bound E train. The $3 subway fare is separate from the AirTrain fare.
- Stay on until the end: World Trade Center is the E's southern terminal, so you can't overshoot it. Doze off if you want.
Total: $11.75 for most riders. Give it about an hour from terminal to street, and pad that at rush hour.
Why the E and not the A
The E ends where you're going. The other subway option from JFK is the AirTrain to Howard Beach-JFK Airport, where you pick up the A. It costs exactly the same, $11.75, and if the A serves your block better it's a fine choice. But the Jamaica route puts you on a train whose last stop is World Trade Center, with no transfer and no counting stations with a suitcase between your knees.
One thing to know before you buy anything: unlimited passes don't work on the AirTrain. The $8.75 is its own fare no matter what else you're holding.
What about the LIRR?
Skip it if you're staying downtown. The Long Island Rail Road runs to Jamaica and connects to the same AirTrain, and it's quicker, but it's $14 to $16 all in and it drops you at Penn Station, Grand Central or Atlantic Terminal. All three are the wrong end of the trip for us, so you'd pay more and still have a subway ride ahead of you. The LIRR earns its money when you're staying in Midtown.
Where you end up
World Trade Center is a short walk from our door at 17 John Street, and Fulton Street station, which several lines run through, is about three minutes on foot from us. That's the whole argument for staying down here: you land, you take one train, you walk.
It also means you can be useful the minute you're in. Our studios and suites have fully equipped kitchens, so if you land hungry at 10pm you can put something on rather than hunt for a table. The Laundry Room is free for guests, which matters more than people expect after a long-haul flight.
If you're arriving late or hauling a lot of bags, a taxi or car service is the honest answer and no page is going to talk you out of it. But for two people with carry-ons, the E beats sitting in traffic on the Van Wyck.
Book your stay at 17John Hotel