The AirTrain is the fastest way to move around JFK and connect to New York City's public transit — but fares, free zones, and payment rules trip up a lot of travelers. Here's everything you need to know before you tap in.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Free Inside the Airport, Paid to Leave It
Riding the AirTrain between terminals, parking lots, rental cars, and hotel shuttles is always free. You only pay when you ride to or from Jamaica Station or Howard Beach Station — the exits that connect to the subway and LIRR. Tap OMNY only at those two stations.
What Is the JFK AirTrain?
The AirTrain is a fully automated, elevated people mover that connects:
- All passenger terminals
- Parking lots
- Hotel shuttles
- Rental car facilities
- Two rail stations: Jamaica and Howard Beach
- Frequency: Trains run every 5–15 minutes, depending on the line and time of day.
- Terminal-to-terminal travel: Under 10 minutes.
- Terminal to Jamaica or Howard Beach: Under 20 minutes (typically 8–15 minutes).
Landing soon and need to know where your ride will meet you? Check our JFK curbside pickup and drop-off guide for the rules on meeting arriving passengers.
AirTrain Routes: Where It Goes
Jamaica Line
Connects all terminals to Jamaica Station, where you can transfer to:
- LIRR (Long Island Rail Road)
- NYC Subway lines E, J, Z
Howard Beach Line
Connects all terminals to Howard Beach Station, where you can transfer to:
- NYC Subway line A
Federal Circle
The stop for rental cars and hotel shuttles.
Lefferts Boulevard
The stop for long-term parking.
When the AirTrain Is Free vs. When You Pay
✅ Free Rides
- Between terminals
- Between terminals and parking
- Between terminals and Federal Circle (rental cars, hotel shuttles)
- Between terminals and Lefferts Boulevard (long-term parking)
💳 Paid Rides
- Between JFK and Jamaica Station
- Between JFK and Howard Beach Station
Parked long-term and heading to Lefferts Boulevard? See our JFK parking guide for lot details and shuttle timing.
AirTrain Fares (2026)
- One-way fare: $8.75 per person
- Children under 5: Ride free
- Fare is automatically adjusted for inflation — it increased from $8.50 to $8.75 in 2026.
Rolling 30-Day Fare Cap
- You pay $8.75 per ride.
- Once your total AirTrain fares in a 30-day period reach $43.50, all additional AirTrain rides in that period are free.
- The system automatically adjusts your last charge so you never pay more than $43.50 in 30 days.
Important: Use the same payment method every ride if you want the discount cap to apply correctly.
Group Fare (Up to 5 People)
- First rider: $8.75
- Each additional rider: $4.50
- Maximum total for the group: $26.75
- All riders must tap the same card/device within 5 minutes.
- That same payment method cannot be used again for a group fare for the next 15 minutes.
How to Pay: OMNY System
The AirTrain uses the MTA's OMNY contactless fare system. You can pay with:
- Contactless credit/debit card (with the contactless symbol)
- Smartphone or smartwatch (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.)
- OMNY card (physical prepaid card)
How Payment Works in Practice
- OMNY readers are located at the gates of Jamaica and Howard Beach stations only.
- Approach the gate and tap your card, phone, or OMNY card.
- For the return trip, tap the same card/device again.
- OMNY cards can be purchased and reloaded at vending machines in Jamaica and Howard Beach stations (cash, credit, or debit).
OMNY also works across all NYC subway trains, buses, and the Roosevelt Island Tram — but note that AirTrain fares are charged separately from subway, LIRR, and Metro-North fares.
Connecting to Manhattan: Your Options
| Option | Approx. Total Time | Approx. Total Cost (2026) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirTrain + Subway (E/J/Z from Jamaica or A from Howard Beach) | 60–75 min | $8.75 + $3.00 = $11.75 | Budget travelers, light luggage, 24/7 service |
| AirTrain + LIRR (Jamaica to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison) | 35–45 min | $8.75 + ~$5–$7 (CityTicket) = $13.75–$15.75 | Faster rail option to Midtown, less crowding |
| Taxi (flat fare to Manhattan) | 45–75+ min (traffic dependent) | $70 flat fare + tolls + tip | Door-to-door, groups, heavy luggage |
| Uber/Lyft | 45–75+ min (traffic dependent) | Typically $65–$130 (surge possible) | Convenience, dynamic pricing |
Breaking Down the Rail Options
- AirTrain leg (terminals to Jamaica or Howard Beach): about 8–15 minutes.
- Subway (Jamaica to Midtown): about 40–55 minutes.
- LIRR (Jamaica to Penn Station/Grand Central Madison): about 17–22 minutes — the fastest rail option if your flight lands near Jamaica Station.
Service Frequency & Hours
- Trains run every 5–15 minutes, depending on the line and time of day.
- Exact hours and any temporary restrictions may vary due to construction — check station displays and the official JFK website for updates.
Onboard Rules
❌ Not Allowed
- Eating, drinking, or smoking on the train
✅ Allowed
- Luggage, suitcases, baggage carts, strollers
- Small pets in carriers
- Bicycles — maximum of 4 per train
⚠️ Note for cyclists: Bicycles are not allowed on Central Terminal Area roadways. Cyclists must use designated access routes.
Accessibility
All AirTrain stations and trains are ADA-compliant, featuring:
- Elevators and escalators
- Wheelchair space on trains
- Visual information and audio announcements
- Tactile platform edges and Braille/tactile signage
Accessible subway connections are available at both Jamaica and Howard Beach stations.
Where to Get Help
- On-site: Customer Experience Specialists in red uniforms are stationed throughout the AirTrain system.
- OMNY customer support:
- Phone: +1 (877) 789-6669
- Web: OMNY.info
Quick Reference: AirTrain Cheat Sheet
- Free: Terminal-to-terminal, terminal-to-parking, terminal-to-rental cars/hotels.
- Paid ($8.75): Only when riding to/from Jamaica or Howard Beach stations.
- Pay with: Contactless card, phone/smartwatch, or OMNY card — tap at Jamaica/Howard Beach gates only.
- 30-day cap: Never pay more than $43.50 in AirTrain fares per rolling 30 days.
- Fastest to Manhattan: AirTrain + LIRR from Jamaica (35–45 min total).
- Cheapest to Manhattan: AirTrain + Subway ($11.75 total).
Routes to The Manhattan Hotel
Hi there. We arrive at JFK at 8:00am on a Thursday. What are our options to get to our hotel at 7th Ave and 51st St? I can't tell which of the LIRR, E-Train or A-Train is quickest. Will it be busy on all routes because of rush hour and should we take a taxi instead? Many thanks.
In reply to Routes to The Manhattan Hotel by Dan (not verified)
How many people? How much
How many people? How much luggage? AirTrain to Jamaica and then the "E" subway to 50th Street/8th Avenue would get you very close to your destination. The subway will be crowded at that hour, but you would be boarding at the second stop, so you should be able to get a seat. (You also have the option of riding the "E" train one stop in to opposite direction -- to its terminal at Jamaica Center -- and you would certainly get a seat there.) If you only have carry-on size luggage, you can probably slide it under your seat to keep it out of the aisles.
A taxi is always an option, but it will cost about $60 with toll and tip, and might not be any faster than the AirTrain/"E" subway combination at that hour.
From Manhattan to JFK
Hi,
We're leaving tomorrow back home with my husband, plane leaving at 11.05PM from JFK to London. Since our hotel is very close to Port authority bus terminal and subway + we still have valid MetroCards we'd like to take subway/Airtrain to the airport. How much time should we reserve for the journey (I think we should be at the airport around 8.30PM)? Subway A to Howard Beach is the route - right? Can we then buy Airtrain tickets at the Howard Beach station? Thanks already in advance for any answers!
In reply to From Manhattan to JFK by Hanne (not verified)
From Port Authority, it's
From Port Authority, it's slightly faster to take a Queens-bound E train (on the uptown platform) to the Jamaica AirTrain station (Sutphin Boulevard), and take AirTrain from there. The AirTrain uses pay-per-ride Metrocards (not "unlimited" Metrocards) for fare payment. You would need a pay-per-ride Metrocard with $10.00 in value for two AirTrain fares. You can purchase such Metrocards at any subway station, or at the AirTrain terminals.
You can avoid the AirTrain altogether -- and save $10 -- by taking the Queens-bound E train to Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike station, and transferring for free to the Q-10 or Q-10 Limited bus, which will take you to JFK Terminal 4. The E train from Port Authority to Kew Gardens takes 25-30 minutes; the bus ride takes about 35-40 minutes, and there is frequent service. From Terminal 4, you can ride the AirTrain free of charge to other terminals in 5-10 minutes.
If you take the E train and AirTrain, I would estimate 75 minutes to get to your terminal; if you take the E train and the Q-10 bus, I would estimate 90 minutes to your terminal. Your individual airline can tell you how far in advance of departure time they want you to check in.
From JFK to Ronkonkoma
Hi. I have now spent over an hour trying to find a time table that will show me the AirTrain times to Jamaica and the connection trains on LIRR to Ronkonkoma. Nothing. nothing. i can't find anything at all.
Can someone please tell me how i can get from JFK Terminal 1 to Ronkonkoma on a Thursday afternoon August 11th. I will be at JFK terminal 1 around 2:30pm.
In reply to From JFK to Ronkonkoma by Helen Homewood (not verified)
There are no published
There are no published timetables for AirTrain service. Service is frequent, and at the time of day that you are traveling, you should not have to wait more than 5 to 10 minutes for an AirTrain from Terminal 1 to Jamaica Station. (Do not board an AirTrain bound for a different destination.)
From Jamaica, service to Ronkonkoma is provided by the Long Island Rail Road. Fare and schedule information can be found at www.mta.info. If you are able to make a train that departs Jamaica before 4:20 PM, you can use an off-peak-fare ticket; after then (until about 8:15 PM) you would need a peak-fare ticket. When you arrive at Jamaica Station, if you use one of the Long Island Rail Road ticket vending machine, you can purchase your railroad ticket and your $5.00 AirTrain fare in a single transaction.
Transport between terminals
My daughter arrives at Terminal 1 at 12:45 pm on a Lufthansa international flight and departs from Terminal 7 two hours later on a United domestic flight. What is the best/fastest way to get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 7? Is the Air Train easy to find? How long does it take?
JFK TO MANHATTAN
we will have a 10 hrs,transit time &want to visit Manhattan.We are reaching JFK at 6A.M and next flight at 4P.M.please advice best possibility
Thanks
regards
madhumita
to path
on a wednesday night 8 p.m. how long would it take to go from the airport to the PATH at world trade center? Would the E line throug Jamaica be the best option?
travel between T4 &t7
Is it possible to travel between terminal 4& 7. How long is the journey and how frequent are trains
we are taking the air train
we are taking the air train from jamaica to JFK tomorrow morning at 10:30, will there be any delays on the air train?
Stuck in Airtrain
Been stuck in the air train for over an hour now. Many people upset because they are missing their flights. I highly doubt they will get reimbursed for their flights. God this really sucks!!!!!
Jamaica station.
I am flying into NYK at 2:30pm, I will leave for Ireland out of NYK at 10:00PM. I want to go to Bayside to see some older aunts and an uncle while I am waiting for connecting flight.
MY Uncle told me I could take the train from JFK to the Jamaica station and then catch the 31 bus to a stop on 32nd Ave. I might just take a taxi from the train station to his house, but I would like to know how to get this train from the airport to the Jamaica station, and how long does it typically take?
Any help would be great. I am nervous thinking about it. I might break down and get a taxi both ways, but i would prefer to save a bit of money.
THank you! ;)
In reply to Jamaica station. by Kathleen (not verified)
There is limited service on
There is limited service on the Q31 bus ($2.25), and they do not run late, so I would not take it at 10:00pm. However, I think taking it at 2:30 will be fine (you might just have to wait a bit).
To get to the Jamaica station from the Airport, you need to take the JFK Airtran ($5) to the Jamaica station; it will take approximately 15-20 minutes from what I can remember. To get to Bayside from Jamaica, I would say that will take another 20 minutes or so. So just to be safe, I would say the trip will take 45 minutes or so, and taking a cab is always a good option too if you don't want to deal with this...
Need advice on airtrain
Hello! We are arriving on the 16-th of September. We need to get our hotel which is at 161 Lexington Avenue. What train/subway we need to use? Tottaly lost with the map.
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