John F. Kennedy International Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport is located about 12 miles from Lower Manhattan and was originally named Idlewild Airport, but changed to John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963. The airport is generally referred to as either “JFK” or “Kennedy.” The airport is the 15th busiest airport in the world and America’s busiest airport, as it serves about 45 million passengers a year. John F. Kennedy International Airport is the newest, as well as the busiest of New York City’s three airports. There are many transportation options to and from the airport. There are many facilities at the airport as well as many shopping and dining options. Over 100 airlines service the airport and travel to over 50 countries and every state in the United States. John F. Kennedy International Airport is the main base of operations for JetBlue and the gateway hub for international travel for Delta and American Airlines.

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John F. Kennedy International Airport has nine passenger terminals that form a U-shape around an area that has parking areas, hotels, a power plant, and facilities for the airport. An AirTrain system connects all the terminals. All the terminals at the airport have eating, shopping facilities, and business facilities, except for Terminal 5. Every terminal at the airport, except for Terminal 9 and Terminal 6, serves international flights and has duty free shops. Terminal 7 serves most of the flights that travel to and from Canada.

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John F. Kennedy International Airport is an extremely large airport and is easy to get to. The airport lies next to the POW / MIA Memorial Parkway. The airport is connected by the JFK Expressway and the Van Wyck Expressway, and both have direct access to the terminals at the airport. There are color-coded signs on both expressways that show where the main parking areas are located. Considering that the airport is one of the largest in the world, and in New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, there can be major traffic congestion, especially around the morning rush hour, late afternoon rush hour, and the weekends. Make sure to allow enough time to get to the airport, especially when you are traveling internationally.

To get to the airport from Manhattan, drive on the Belt Parkway heading east. Take the Junction 19 Exit and merge onto the Van Wyck Expressway, Highway US-678, and the Airport Junction Exit. Follow the signs and turn into the airport.
To get to the airport from eastern Long Island, drive on the Belt Parkway heading west, take Junction 20 Exit and merge onto the JFK Expressway, and then take the Airport Junction Exit following the signs directly to the airport.

To get to the airport from New Jersey, drive on the New Jersey Turnpike and take the Junction 14C Exit at Holland Tunnel heading south. Merge onto West Street continuing south and follow the signs directly to the airport.

To get to the airport from upstate New York, take Highway US-87, Major Deegan Highway, heading south. Merge onto Highway US-278 heading east towards Highway US-495, Long Island Expressway. Merge onto the Van Wyck Expressway and follow the signs directly to the airport.

To get to the airport from Connecticut, drive on Highway US-95 heading south. Merge onto Highway US-678 and continue south joining the Van Wyck Expressway and follow the signs turning into the airport.

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There are many transportation options at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Transportation options at the airport that serve New York City and the surrounding area are bus services, taxis, trains, and shared vans. These transportation options are located outside the Baggage Claim areas.

The least expensive way to travel from the airport to New York City and the surrounding areas is by bus. The New York Airport Express Bus Service at the airport provides transportation directly from the terminals to destinations in the city. Some of the major stops that the bus services are various hotels in Midtown, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Penn Station, and Grand Central Terminal. These buses run on a regular schedule. The Super Shuttle Manhattan is in operation 24 hours a day and a door-to-door service that can be taken to any destination in New York City. This shuttle can be taken both to and from the airport.

JFK serves the surrounding area with the AirTrain. The AirTrain is a rail system that connects all the terminals at the airport. The AirTrain is also one of the fastest ways to get to areas all over New York City and Long Island.

There are many taxis available at the airport. Taxis are an easy way to travel to and from the airport. It will take around 45 to 60 minutes to get from the airport to central New City, but depending on traffic it may take longer. It is recommended that you use JFK taxis to make sure that you are safe and not overcharged. The taximeters for the JFK taxis begin at a basic fare, but there are additional charges for things such as luggage, driving late at night, and driving during the holidays. You should make sure you discuss the fare with the taxi driver beforehand to avoid any misunderstandings. Some of the taxis at the airport accept credit cards.
When the weather is bad and at many times during the day, especially around 6 PM and between 9 PM to 11 PM, the demand for taxis is at its peak at the airport and the waiting time to pick one up can be significant. If traveling to Manhattan during these busy hours, it may be a good idea to take other transportation to the city. You may want to look into the SuperShuttle Manhattan, New York Airport Services Express Bus, or the Gray Line Air Shuttle. If you need more information on these and other transportation services available at the airport, you should visit the Ground Transportation Information counters, which are located in the Arrivals area of every terminal.

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There are many facilities at John F. Kennedy International Airport, more than other airports considering its size. There are facilities located in each of the nine terminals at the airport. There are business services, currency exchange desks, banking facilities, information desks, conference facilities, and meeting rooms. The airport also has many facilities for disabled travelers and guests. The airport has a hotel booking service that passengers can use to book accommodations.

The airport information desks are located in Terminals 3, 6, 7, and 8. The airport information desks can give you information such as airport transportation options, maps to the area, directions, weather conditions, tourist information, and the latest flight times for both arriving and departing flights. The airport also has an Automated Airport Information System, where passengers using the airport can speak with an operator for other information pertaining to the airport. The telephone number for the airport information desks is (+1) 718-656-4870.

There are currency exchange facilities, communication points, and banking facilities spread throughout the airport. There are full service banks, as well as many ATM Machines in each terminal at the airport, except for Terminal 6. There are postal services, pay phones, and at the airport information desks, you can pick up free airport maps. There are a few bureau de change outlets, mainly at the terminals serving international flights, which give up-to-date exchange rates for various currencies.

The airport has many business facilities; some of these services include telephones, private work areas, data ports, fax machines, photocopying machines, conference rooms, and meeting rooms. Every terminal has these business facilities with the exception of Terminal 5 and Terminal 6.

John F. Kennedy International Airport has many facilities for the disabled. These facilities include wheelchair access, as well as toilets, elevators, and telephones for the handicapped. There are also many disabled parking spaces located near the entrance of the airport at reduced prices. If disabled travelers need any special assistance, they should contact the airport information desks before arrival.

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There are many shopping and eating options located throughout John F. Kennedy International Airport in each of the nine terminals, with the exception of Terminal 5. There are many newsstands, retail shops, souvenir stands, duty free shops, and specially shops at the airport. To get a full map and more descriptions of the eating and shopping options at the airport, you can pick up a map at an information desk. The only terminal that does not have any eating or shopping options is Terminal 5. A few of the shops include Hudson Books, Brookstone, Hudson News, NY Apparel Shop, and Sunglass Hut. There are countless eating and drinking possibilities to choose from at JFK, such as snack bars, cafes, fast food outlets, bars, and restaurants. Some of these establishments are Starbucks, McDonalds, Sam Adam's Pub, Cibo Pizzeria, Murray's Irish Pub, Napa Valley Wine Bar, and Times Square Café.

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John F. Kennedy International Airport has plenty of parking with literally thousands of parking spaces. The short-term parking is located near the terminal buildings at the airport. The parking lots are color coded for each of the nine terminals. On the roof of Terminal 3, there is also a short-term parking area. Short-term parking is great for quick drop-offs and pick-ups of passengers. The long-term parking for the airport is 4 miles from the terminals and is served by 24-hour courtesy shuttles. This shuttle is in operation every 15 minutes between 6 AM to midnight, and after midnight the shuttles run every 30 minutes. The long-term parking area can be reached by taking the Belt Parkway and exiting at Junction 19 to the JFK Expressway, keeping to the right and following the signs to Lefferts Boulevard, which will lead directly to long-term parking. In each parking area at the airport, there are disabled parking spaces that are close to walkways. Disabled passengers must have the required permits in order to use the disabled parking spaces.

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There are many accommodation options near John F. Kennedy International Airport. The closest accommodation to the airport is the Ramada Plaza Hotel, which is actually located on the grounds of the airport. This is a very popular hotel, considering all the passenger traffic at the airport, and reservations are recommended. There are also several accommodations near the airport in New York City’s Jamaica area, along Baisley Boulevard, 153rd Lane, and 140th Street. The accommodations within three miles of the airport are Crowne Plaza Hotel JFK Airport, Best Western Kennedy Airport, Comfort Inn JFK Airport Hotel, Doubletree Hotel at JFK, Sheraton JFK Hotel, Holiday Inn New York Airport Hotel, and Econo Lodge Ozone Park.

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New York City is one of the biggest cities in the world, and there are unlimited accommodation options in the city. From cheap hotels and hostels to luxurious 5 star hotels, New York City has it all. Many people choose to stay in the heart of New York, and the accommodations can get filled up many times throughout the year since there are over 50 festivals annually. Whenever you travel to New York City, you should reserve your accommodations beforehand. The Midtown District has many nice hotels, and there are numerous bars, restaurants, and shopping possibilities in the area. There are also inexpensive guesthouses and Bed & Breakfast’s in the area. The Upper East Side is the more affluent area of New York City where many of the 5 star luxury hotels are located. The Upper West Side is close to Central Park and has many accommodation options from larger hotels to short-term rental apartments. These are just a few options, as there are accommodations all throughout the city and in the surrounding areas. If you are looking to save some money, you can also look for less expensive accommodations in New Jersey, which is right across the river from New York City.

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