JFK Airport Terminal 1

I am a frequent traveler who takes at least two international trips a year and 5 or so domestic, and today was one of the worst traveling experiences of my life. I was at JFK seeing off my father who is legally blind and speaks only a few words of English. He was finishing his 5 week trip around the US, and was flying on the Aeroflot flight SU 103 to Moscow.

We were greeted at Terminal 1 by less than friendly personnel. As our turn came and I approached the Aeroflot check in desk, the girl at the counter looked at me and said “I have not called you yet. I am busy. Go back online.” I was a bit shocked, as nowhere in the world have I ever heard words like these come from the service personnel. A few seconds later a window on the other side opened up, and the next passenger was called. Unfortunately the way was blocked by a large group of passengers, and I could not make my way through. The same girl at the counter looked at me and said “Go! Do not hold up the line”. I told her that I could not pass, she gave me a stare and shouted “Go!”. She then added “People, listen! Don’t hold up the line”.

At any other airport an incident like this would constitute a firing offense. Apparently JFK makes nothing of it, since her supervisor who was sitting at the next window took absolutely no notice.

When a window finally opened up that I could make my way to, I requested a security pass to accompany my disabled father to the gate. The same request has been accommodated many times in Newark, LAX and SeaTac airports on both domestic and international flights. I was told that JFK does not allow these passes to be issued. I requested to speak with the Aeroflot supervisor who told me the same thing, indicating that this was rule instituted by TSA. When I explained that my father has high anxiety and requires special assistance since he is blind, the only option that I was offered was a wheelchair accompanied by airport representative. I am glad that airports offer wheelchair to passengers who are not able to walk, but for many other disabilities like my father’s a wheelchair is not the right solution. He is able to walk, he is not able to see. A simple thing like getting a drink of water after passing the security is a challenge, wheelchair or not.

I left the check-in counter in tears and went looking for TSA personnel. After a few more rude encounters when I was told “You are not allowed to ask questions of TSA, go stand behind that line”, I was able to speak with a TSA supervisor who told me that issuing of the security pass to accompany a passenger to the gate was up to each airline, and not the TSA policy.

I had no more strength to fight. I politely asked the young man who came with the wheelchair to please assist my father in getting him a bottle of water after the security check. He said that he would.

Firstly, I would like to find out whose policy is it that special needs passengers are not allowed to be accompanied to the gate, is it indeed TSA or is it up to each airline?

Secondly, I am interested to know why is JFK not able to accommodate these requests? It’s clearly not a security related policy since other international airports around the country are able to effectively function without this policy in place.

And finally I would like to add that from now on, I will do my absolute best to avoid setting foot in JFK ever again. The absurdity of the policy combined with unacceptable rudeness of the personnel made it clear that JFK does not care about the well-being or comfort of its passengers. I don’t ever want to go through or subject any of my family to the same experience ever again.

Hi, I have a flight abroad from JFK with TK next week. My flight is in the late afternoon, but I was hoping to do a little duty free shopping before the flight. how early can I check in my luggage and go into the duty free area? Is there a limit (I vaguely remember 3 hours before flight, but that might have been a long time ago...)
thanks for your help! - blue

I am talking AA arrive 11:45am at Jfk termainal 1, after I will go to terminal 8 to connect 14:20pm aeroflot fight to Russia. Please let me know how long to take me walk from terminal 1 to terminal 8? Do I have enough time(2 hours) to connect my fight? Thanks.

Amy Chan

please tell me where is the terminal for INTERJET lines ?

Hello,
I was going to come to JFK from Miscow on Jan 3rd, but russian Customs stopped me due to some buracratic reasons. But the problem is that before this, I came to Moscow from other russian city and my luggage as well was going to transfer straightly to JFK. SO I was stopped, but my luggage wasn't (Aeroflot airlines says, that it was sent to JFK). I wanted to ask you if it's possible to track my luggage whether it is in JFK, so when I go there on Jan 6th I can get it. Flight details: Aeroflot; SU-102 (terminal 1); Jan 3rd.

Thank you