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).
Travel Time
Is 1 hr 30 mins enough time to go from Terminal 5 to Terminal 7? (A)8:52pm - (D)10:25pm
Hi I have a plane that gets
Hi I have a plane that gets into JFK at 9:20 pm Terminal 1
and I have a connecting flight leaving at 10:55 from Terminal 5, will I make it, how long does it take and what is the best way to get from one terminal to the other ?
In reply to Hi I have a plane that gets by frenchtraveler (not verified)
Will you have to clear U.S.
Will you have to clear U.S. Customs and Immigration upon your arrival at JFK? Will you have checked baggage to claim? If so, does your inbound airline have an interline baggage agreement with your outbound airline, so that you can re-check the bags at Terminal 1 after you clear Customs? These factors can affect whether you will make your connection.
Getting from Terminal 1 to Terminal 5 should only take about ten minutes: you can take any AirTrain, in either direction.
TIME FROM JAMAICA TO CONTINENTAL TERMINAL JFK
How long will it take me from Jamaica to Terminal at JFK where Contintal flight leaves. And how often does the Airtrain come?
I am trying to figure out what train to take for a flight
In reply to TIME FROM JAMAICA TO CONTINENTAL TERMINAL JFK by Margiedee (not verified)
Are you sure that you are on
Are you sure that you are on a Continental flight, as opposed to a "code share" flight operated by another carrier? I do not believe that Continental flies out of JFK.
In any event, the AirTrain ride from Jamaica Station will take about 10-15 minutes to the terminals. (In three minutes, you will not have even arrived at the first stop, which is Federal Circle.) And from Jamaica Station, the AirTrain can depart from either track, as Jamaica is a terminal for AirTrain.
Is "sutphin station" the
Is "sutphin station" the same as Jamaica Station?
In reply to Is "sutphin station" the by jake shimabukuro (not verified)
Sutphin Boulevard/Archer
Sutphin Boulevard/Archer Avenue/JFK is the name of the "E" train subway station located directly beneath Jamaica Station, where the AirTrain and Long Island Rail Road stop.
Do not confuse Sutphin/Archer/JFK with Sutphin/Hillside; the latter is an "F" train subway station, several blocks north of Sutphin/Archer/JFK and Jamaica Station.
Hi, I´m helping a friend
Hi, I´m helping a friend checking in at terminal 5 later today. My flight to San Diego leaves from terminal 8 at 5.15 pm. When should I be leaving terminal 5 in order not to be late for checking in for my flight at terminal 8? /Thanks.
JFK to Van Dam St, Long Island City 11101
Hi!
Iʻm from Hawaii and visiting New York City for the first time! How do I get from JFK to Van Dam Street in Long Island city using the subway?
In reply to JFK to Van Dam St, Long Island City 11101 by Hawaii to NYC! (not verified)
AirTrain to Jamaica Station.
AirTrain to Jamaica Station. Then, Manhattan-bound "E" train to Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights, and transfer to a Manhattan-bound #7 train to 33rd Street/Queens Boulevard. If you want to avoid taking two subways, you can instead take a Manhattan-bound Q-60 bus from Jamaica Station to 33rd Street, but the bus ride will take longer.
Note that if your particular destination on Van Dam Street is not close to Queens Boulevard, you might have a long walk (or short taxi ride) to get there. Map the location on www.mapquest.com to see how far it is from Queens Boulevard.
The fastest way to get to the airtrain
I live by the D train i need to get to JFK using the the air train my flight leave at 645 pm thru British airways i want to get there the easiest way possible and what is this service disruption mean will this affect me getting to the airtrain i dont wanna pay a taxi from the bronx to JFK
Thank you
In reply to The fastest way to get to the airtrain by DRodriguez (not verified)
D train to Seventh Avenue
D train to Seventh Avenue station in Manhattan; then, Queens-bound E train on the lower level to Sutphin/Archer/JFK station. AirTrain from there to your terminal. There is normal AirTrain service until 9:00 PM nightly.
Caution: on weekday afternoons, some E trains run along the F line in Queens. Make sure you board an E train whose destination sign reads "Jamaica Center," or "Parsons/Archer."
Best way to go from JFK airport to Wall Street
Allo,
I'm landind at JFK airport and I want to get to Wall Street, do you know which is the best way to get there? Do I have to use train only or subway?
thanks in advance
In reply to Best way to go from JFK airport to Wall Street by Chris B (not verified)
You will need to take the
You will need to take the subway to reach Manhattan. Take a "Howard Beach" AirTrain from your terminal to the last stop. At Howard Beach station, take a Manhattan-bound "A" train to "Fulton Street"; Wall Street is a short walk from there.
There is also a slightly less expensive option: From JFK Terminal 4, you can take a Q-10 or Q-10 Limited bus to Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue, and board the "A" train to Manhattan from there. This route will likely take a little longer than the AirTrain/subway combination.
Air Train reliable?
I need to take the Airtrain this Thursday morning to make a 9:30 am flight. I know the service advisory says service to the Howard Beach stop resumes normal service after 7am. Has this been happening without delay? I don't want to arrive at 8am to find they haven't resumed running to Howard Beach. How quickly to they actually get that service back in order every morning?
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