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).
In reply to hours of operation by kawibarbi (not verified)
Air train is available 24.7.
Air train is available 24.7.
I would like to know how
I would like to know how long is the commute from JFK to Penn Station on train.
In reply to I would like to know how by ali (not verified)
Allow about one hour +/-.
Allow about one hour +/-. The Long Island Rail Road from Jamaica will be a little faster (but more expensive) than the "E" train subway.
is it too far?
hi from rome!
i arrive at terminal 3 on sunday at 15,22 p.m. and my next plane leave at 21.40 from terminal 1.
Can i go to manhattan for a couple of hours?
which is the faster way to go and come back?
thank you!
Arriving today DL2050 (Gate
Arriving today DL2050 (Gate 16) at 6:03 and have a connection on DL78 (Terminal 3, Gate 4) to Berlin at 7:10pm.
Is the arriving flight also in Terminal 3, and/or should I have any problem making this connection?
Thanks
JFK to Queens
Hi, I need to get from JFK (not sure which terminal) to Queens Plaza Station on an upcoming Saturday evening. Am pregnant and do have luggage so need the easiest option. Any suggestions lovely people?
Does the air train go
Does the air train go between terminals in both directions? How often do the trains leave, and how much time do I need to get from terminal 7 to terminal 5 after collecting my bags and everything?
Directions
Hey,
1)what is the fastest way to get from terminal 4 to terminal 8?
2)I'm going from Jordan to New York to Dallas. Jordan-New York flight has been canceled, how do i make sure if my New York- Dallas flight is still confirmed?
After arriving from a great
After arriving from a great vacation with my two daughters we hopped on the Airtrain to jamaica to catch the LIRR, my daughter realized she left her bag with her new I-Pad2 in it. In a panic I ran back into the Airtrain terminal and found Ms. N. Davis. Thanks to her professionalism and quick actions it saved what would have been a horrible ending to a great vacation.Thank you again.
Hello! I'm arriving at
Hello!
I'm arriving at terminal 7 and want to travel by train to Pittsburgh. Could someone help me figure out which trains to take? Would like to switch trains as few times as possible.
In reply to Hello! I'm arriving at by Anonymousf (not verified)
Train service from NYC to
Train service from NYC to Pittsburgh departs from Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. From JFK, take AirTrain to Jamaica Station, and then either the Long Island Rail Road or the "E" subway to Penn Station. There's only one direct train a day from Manhattan to Pittsburgh. It is Amtrak's "Pennsylvanian," which departs daily at 10:50 AM. There's also a connection available to Amtrak's "Capitol Limited," which departs from Washington, DC, to Pittsburgh, leaving Washington at 4:05 PM daily. You can check fares and availability at www.amtrak.com.
Have you looked into an inexpensive flight from JFK to PIT instead? Check fares at www.jetblue.com.
Airline Terminal route
Good morning from Italy.
I'll have to go from terminal 1 to terminal 8: where is the Airline Terminal Station?And is there a timetable with the duration of the travel between two terminals?Thank you very much!
Airtrain travel
I am meeting a friend who is coming in at Terminal 7 and she has never been to NY. Will I have to pay the $5 fare in both directions for myself just to get her? Also, the flight arrives at 11:08 PM tonight, is the airtrain running from Howard Beach or will we have to take a shuttle? Thanks.
Lost Black Laptop
Lost black apple mac book. Left on train on Tuesday August 23 rd. Please contact if found. I am going to Haiti to work on relief construction. Really could use my laptop. Please email me if you have any information. Thank you.
In reply to Lost Black Laptop by Justin (not verified)
This website has no official
This website has no official connection with JFK Airport, or with the airport's operator, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Suggest you visit the Port Authority's website at www.panynj.com for contact information for the Port Authority Police, and/or JFK lost and found.
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