James William
The John F. Kennedy Airport covers an area of the neighborhood of Jamaica in New York that’s larger than quite a few cities in North America. If you’re feeling anxious about being able to find your way around JFK, that’s perfectly understandable, especially if you need to change terminals between flights.
The secret to navigating JFK without collapsing from the sheer stress of it is to allow yourself twice as much time as you think you’ll need and then another hour on top of that. If everything goes smoother than expected, you can pat yourself on the back and treat yourself to a celebratory drink in the departure lounge. You can also allow yourself a smirk or two when you see the late arrivals, who didn’t allow themselves enough time, break the hundred-meter sprint record as they try to find their gate.
And don’t forget that the airport has things to make your trip more convenient, including convenient luggage storage options. Here’s everything you need to know to beat JFK:
How Many Terminals Are There At JFK?
There are six terminals at JFK that cater to the passengers of over 90 different airlines. The annual passenger traffic passing through those terminals amounts to well over 35 million, so you won’t be alone in feeling a tremor of trepidation about being there.
The number of the terminal you need to arrive at will be provided by the airline you’re flying with when you make your reservation. Each terminal has numerous check-in desks. To find out which check-in desk you need to present at, if any, you will need to check the digital displays detailing the flight information once you’re in the terminal your flight is departing from. Once you’ve checked in and obtained your boarding pass, you’ll be ready to tackle the next leg of your journey.
Getting Through Security At JFK
Getting through the security section of any airport terminal can be extremely time-consuming, and JFK is no different from any other, especially if there are several flights taking off within a short period of time. You can expect to take anywhere from five to 45 minutes to go through the security checks at any of the terminals at JFK.
If you arrive at the airport early and don’t want to go straight through to your departure gate, you can keep an eye on how long it will take you to get through security by checking the real-time updates on the airport’s official security wait time webpage. Don’t take it as gospel, though, as security can back up pretty quickly, and it could end up being you who’s running for their gate.
Also published on the same webpage are the walk times it takes to get from the security area in each terminal to the different gates. That’s a useful tool to help you calculate just how much time you’ll need to get where you want to go.
NB: Some gates only take a couple of minutes to get to once you’ve picked up and repacked your stuff from the security conveyor belts, but there are a few gates in Terminal 4 and Terminal 8 that take between 10 to 15 minutes to walk to. If you’re flying from either of those, make sure to allow extra time.
How Do You Get From One Terminal At JFK To Another?
If you have a connecting flight that departs from a different terminal to the one you first land at, you’ll find there are two very efficient ways to get from A to B.
JFK Jitney Bus
When you need to get from Terminal 2 to Terminal 4, or vice versa, you will need to use the JFK Jitney Bus. This is classed as an internal transfer, so you don’t need to go through the rigmarole of passing through security before you can get to the departure gate of your ongoing flight.
The service is free of charge, but if you’re transferring from T2 to T4, check which gate you need to be at to catch your ongoing flight before boarding. The two bus stops in T4, gates B18 and B54, are some distance apart, so getting off at the closest to where you need to be is a good idea. There is only one stop in T2, and that’s by gate C60.
JFK AirTrain
To transfer between any of the other terminals at JFK, you will need to use the AirTrain. The AirTrain also services T2 and T4. While the train isn’t a slow one by any means, you will need to allow extra time to get to your ongoing departure gate as all AirTrain passengers are required to pass through the terminal security checks.
If you landed at JFK on an international flight, you will need even more extra time to get from one terminal to another, unless its T2 and T4 and you use the Jitney bus, as you will have to collect your luggage and pass through customs before boarding the train. Travel on the AirTrain between terminals is free of charge.
NB: The AirTrain also runs to two stations outside of the airport. They are Howard Beach and Jamaica. The service isn’t free if you travel outside of the airport, so if you want to get off at either of those, you will need to purchase a ticket before boarding.
Accessibility Services At JFK Airport
For anyone who will be attempting to navigate JFK and requires assistance, you’ll find there’s a complete range of support in place that you can make use of. All of the terminal areas, including departure gates, are accessible, and there are elevators between every level. Any one-on-one assistance you need, such as help in boarding, should be previously arranged with the airline you’ll be flying with.
JFK also utilizes the Sunflower lanyard program, initially brought into use in UK airports for those passengers who have hidden disabilities and may require additional help on their journey through the airport. You can acquire a lanyard at the Welcome Centers in the arrivals area of all the terminals in JFK.
Conclusion
The bottom line with any visit to JFK is that with a little preparation and a little extra time, you should have no problem having a relatively good experience. Just remember, the airport is extra busy on holidays, and during the peak travel season, so you may need even more time to get around.
