Jamaica Station, photo by beigeinside
I’m in Japan so I can’t call you back, but the fastest way to get to or from JFK is via the Long Island Railroad to Jaimaca Queens. I learned that from Frank, who’s full of useful information like that. That’s still true if you’re coming from Brooklyn. It’s also fun to say “Jamaica Queens”. Have fun on your trip, and say ‘hi’ to your mother for me.
A lot of help this post was! I’ve already made it back to Seattle, but will remember this next time I’m in New York.
And my mom lives in Philly.
I actually disagree! Okay, I kind of agree.
It depends on where you’re going. If you’re headed for Chinatown or Brooklyn, the A might get you there a lot faster.
If you’re at the AirTrain at JFK, if one comes for Howard Beach first, just take it. The wait time for the next Jamaica train plus the much longer trip to Jamaica over Howard Beach makes it close to a wash – plus, LIRR is more like $5, so your total trip cost is over $10 instead of $7 for MTA.
The LIRR gets you to downtown brooklyn (flatbush av) in 18 minutes, which is about 20 minutes ahead of the any subway line. It also gets you to Grand Central in 20 minutes, which is about 25 minutes ahead of any train from Jaimaica to Grand Central.
The difference between howard beach and Jaimaca is less than 20 minutes, and the LIRR cars have luggage racks.
It actually gets you into Penn Station, not Grand Central.
Well not at least until the East Side Access project is complete in 6 years or so.
Penn Station is even more convenient.
Ha! Indeed. Having been brought into this world at Flushing Hospital, mere blocks from the Jamaica station, decades before the AirTrain, I can’t say for sure that it’s the *fastest*, but it sure is the most convenient. But never take the A. The A sucks. ;)
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