Getting to the New York Airports
There's lots of reasons to go to New York: great shows,
world-class museums, and that big-city buzz. But, did you know that the
Big Apple also offers extremely affordable airfare? Sure enough, the most
expensive city in America actually has some of the cheapest plane tickets!
And while it's a real "schlep" to get there, as a New Yorker would say, the
extra time and costs of the trip can very well be worth your while. So
after you've consulted our
Guide to Flying
Cheap from Swat and decided that the best deal lies in NYC, take heed of
these directions on the journey ahead:
First of all, let's talk price concerns. Since you're
considering flying out of New York in the first place, money is obviously
something of an issue. How much of an issue may depend on exactly how much
you're saving by going to New York - so be sure to weigh your savings against
the costs of getting there when choosing a transportation option. In any
case, if you want a simple method for getting to either
JFK or
LaGuardia (LGA), and
don't mind paying extra for the convenience, consider one of the limousine
services operating between Center City and NYC:
Each service costs about $45/one-way and will take about 2-1/2
with good traffic conditions.
Of course, you can use the Jolt's
Ride Board to find your
own personal "limousine service." Swatties are always heading in that
direction around breaks, and you just might find yourself a ride for the price
of gas. And if you're driving yourself, here's a map from
Swat to JFK and from
Swat to LGA.
But, if you can't find a ride buddy, and you want to keep things
as cheap as possible, there's good news. The density of public transport
options in this neck of the Northeast Corridor means that you can go from Swat
to either of the airports without stepping foot in a private vehicle - and that
means savings for you. Still, it's gonna take some legwork (and trainwork
and buswork!), so read these directions carefully:
1) Get to Penn Station in NY, taking
SEPTA to Trenton (via the R7) and
NJ Transit to New York. The
complete directions are
here.
If you feel like taking the bus (which is a bit faster, and not much more
expensive), take a Greyhound from Market
East station to the New York's Port Authority Bus Depot.
Train: (Time: 3-4 hours, Cost: $30-35 - roundtrip)
Bus: (Time: 2-1/2 - 3 hours, Cost: $45-50 - roundtrip)
2) If you've decided that you've had enough public
transportation by this point in your trip, feel free to catch a private
Airport Shuttle from either Penn
Station or the Bus Depot. This service will take you directly to the
airport of your choice.
JFK: (Time: 1-1/2 hours, Cost: $23 - roundtrip)
LGA: (Time: 1 hour (Bus Depot) or 1-1/2 hours (Penn St.), Cost: $17 - roundtrip)
However, if you want to stick with cheap, but complex public
transportation, here ya go:
To JFK: Take the
A-line on the
MTA Subway going
South towards Far Rockaway (not Lefferts). Get off at the Howard Beach/JFK
Airport station. From here, take the blue, white and yellow Long-Term
Parking Lot Bus (free!) to the terminal - the bus runs every 15 minutes.
(Time: ~1 hour, Cost: $3 - roundtrip)
To LGA: Take the
1 train going
North towards Van Cortland Park. Get off at 116 St.-Columbia University
station and go above ground, where you'll find yourself at the intersection of
116 St. and Broadway. From here you can catch an
M60
bus going directly to LaGuardia. (Time: ~1 hour, Cost: $3 - roundtrip)
Enjoy your flight from the Apple!
$$$ for College