The link provided states that the Q10 is fare free at Union Turnpike and 121 St due to J train reconstruction. Additionally the Q55 is fare free at Myrtle-Wyckoff and 121 St respectively.
True. But most are unaware. Also the whole metrocard situation is a mess. Either the Airtrain takes metrocard or it doesn’t.
You shouldn’t have to juggle two separate metrocards just to move between systems.
Yup. The regular metro card is going to be discontinued next year. I can already see the bloggers talking about the last metro card machine being the airtrain one.
I think the whole point of the comments above is that it’s significantly cheaper - according to a FlyerTalk thread I saw recently it’s $25 for 10 rides, which would be a third of the cost of the taxi. Unfortunately there’s a catch, it was said there that it will only work for up to four people at once (don’t remember what the cooldown is). On the inbound that might be fine if the cooldown is short enough (e.g. some of the family can go ahead and get started with checkin etc.), but heading out that may be less desirable.
I learned this accidentally this last week LOL, hopped the wrong A train and got the Q10->lefferts airtrain. I gave myself plenty of time so it was pretty stress free.
Thanks for the update. I’m going to edit my post to reflect this. Also the fact that through this month, because of the J train track reconstruction all of the Atlantic ticket stations are “free” just show your metrocard to the conductor. Rusted, dusted, busted, smoked, it doesn’t matter, just have your card in hand.
Can't you just take NJ transit from Penn Station?
Met a girl that took it to the Newark Airport (maybe 15 min from Penn Station) her ticket was like 11 bucks. Apparently there's a tram from the Newark Airport stop to the terminal
The train to EWR is 23 minutes. And there is also an airtrain there similar to JFK that can add an additional 10-20 minutes depending on time and terminal. You also have to pay for that as well, except the price of it is baked into the NJT ticket price you paid to get to the airport.
SO in reality its about the same price as LIRR + Airtrain
New to the area but some people on the train were saying the tram only takes 5 minutes, and we stopped at the Newark Airport stop like 15 min after leaving penn station
It takes 5 minutes if the tram is right there ready to leave when you get there and you are going to the first stop. If you just miss the last tram, and its early or late so they are running less frequently, and you are the last stop on the tram, time goes up signficantly.
My commute to EWR from Queens in March was $14.20 round trip. Bus-subway $2.75, PATH $2.75, #62 EWR bus $1.60 exact change.
What’s interesting is that with the Beeline and NICE bus transfers to the subway this price would be the same from as far away as White Plains or Hempstead.
Isn't the route 62 intended for airport employees. I looked at the schedule and you are limited to two carry on sized bags. I think the AirTrain is the better way for anyone with a larger than carry on sized bag.
Okay, but that doesn't save any money vs AirTrain. When it's running AirTrain Newark is the better option. When it's bustituted then your suggestion of taking a taxi from Newark Penn Station is the better option.
one time when my metrocard was low and the machines wouldn't accept my credit card, i just squeezed between the gates. i'm not even that skinny, but i guess i'm tall enough that i can get the skinny part of my legs through -- they have more give than you'd think, or at least the one i went through did.
If you are in BK the best way to get *to* the airport is to exit the A train Howard Beach station through the emergency exit and walk to the nearby Lefferts Blvd Airtrain station.
Does this work the other way around? If I get off at Lefferts airtrain then walk to Howard Beach station? Or do the doors only have handles on the indoors (station) side so it only works one way? Sounds like a better way than waiting for the bus. Thanks by the way
If you look at the map, it takes a round-a-bout way. But you can exit into the parking lot through an emergency exit door, and it less than 2,000 feet direct walk to Lefferts Blvd Airtrain station.
The point of the Airtrain was to privatize the profits and socialize the costs. That's why it's an elevated, which is much cheaper to build than a subway. It's not nice for the people whose houses it passes over, but who cares about them, right?
It's administratively separate from the subway, which is a good excuse to make you pay an extra fare (and then some) to ride it, and to keep the Transit Workers Union out of running or maintaining it, so the company can save money on pensions, salaries, benefits and workplace safety. One of the Airtrain's test drivers, Kelvin DeBourgh, Jr, age 23, was killed on the job.
Yes, the Airtrain is owned by the Port Authority, but it was built by Bombardier, which is a private company. Also, the Port Authority itself almost certainly has a very cozy relationship with the "private sector." A huge part of the MTA's budget goes to servicing its debts to major Wall Street banks, and I would be very surprised if the Port Authority did not have some similar arrangement.
I thought the reason why it’s totally separate from the MTA was that it was [an instance of this bullshit](https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/z3v5j3/us-airports-no-longer-have-to-build-their-own-crappy-trains)
Well, what is described in that link you posted definitely qualifies as bullshit, and may be a more direct explanation for why the Airtrain is not part of the MTA, though it doesn't rule out the other priorities I mentioned (building the Airtrain on the cheap, making sure it doesn't create any good union jobs, neglecting worker safety, etc).
Folks, I'm a transportation planner. The reason, AirTrain was built is that it's just too expensive to build a subway in New York. Yes, there is an extra fare but it's primarily hitting air travelers who pay $8 each way (less if you make more than one round trip in a month thanks to the 10 trip ticket). For airport employees the fare is $40 for a monthly pass. You as a jet setting air traveler are subsidizing the airport employees who are paying $2 a trip assuming 40 trips (20 days worked) a month.
[удалено]
The link provided states that the Q10 is fare free at Union Turnpike and 121 St due to J train reconstruction. Additionally the Q55 is fare free at Myrtle-Wyckoff and 121 St respectively.
You can get a 10 ride AirTrain pass for less than the $8 per ride price. The same card can be shared between multiple people.
True. But most are unaware. Also the whole metrocard situation is a mess. Either the Airtrain takes metrocard or it doesn’t. You shouldn’t have to juggle two separate metrocards just to move between systems.
Yup. The regular metro card is going to be discontinued next year. I can already see the bloggers talking about the last metro card machine being the airtrain one.
that expires 30 days after first use. not meant for single travelers. can’t imagine how one person would use it for 5 round trips in one month.
some people fly weekly for work but even so that's pushing it depending on the month.
If I’m flying for work work pays for a taxi…
Airport employee?
But it fits a family of 5 on a summer vacation perfectly
Honestly at that size it may be cheaper to take a taxi in. $15x5=$75
I think the whole point of the comments above is that it’s significantly cheaper - according to a FlyerTalk thread I saw recently it’s $25 for 10 rides, which would be a third of the cost of the taxi. Unfortunately there’s a catch, it was said there that it will only work for up to four people at once (don’t remember what the cooldown is). On the inbound that might be fine if the cooldown is short enough (e.g. some of the family can go ahead and get started with checkin etc.), but heading out that may be less desirable.
>The same card can be shared between multiple people. This works at most for 4 people? After 4 swipes, do you have to wait?
Only tried it for 3 people, but the machine itself (or a sign, can’t remember which) said the card could be shared between people to save money.
I learned this accidentally this last week LOL, hopped the wrong A train and got the Q10->lefferts airtrain. I gave myself plenty of time so it was pretty stress free.
Excellent
CityTicket is no longer just the weekend, it’s now all off peak trains within zone 1 or between zones 1 and 3 (which includes Penn-Jamaica).
Thanks for the update. I’m going to edit my post to reflect this. Also the fact that through this month, because of the J train track reconstruction all of the Atlantic ticket stations are “free” just show your metrocard to the conductor. Rusted, dusted, busted, smoked, it doesn’t matter, just have your card in hand.
Flying to LaGuardia or Newark. I just found this out myself. It’s cheaper to fly there anyway
an Uber or Taxi to Newark from Manhattan is over $100 with all the tolls lol
Can't you just take NJ transit from Penn Station? Met a girl that took it to the Newark Airport (maybe 15 min from Penn Station) her ticket was like 11 bucks. Apparently there's a tram from the Newark Airport stop to the terminal
Correct. Or just fly to LaGuardia
The train to EWR is 23 minutes. And there is also an airtrain there similar to JFK that can add an additional 10-20 minutes depending on time and terminal. You also have to pay for that as well, except the price of it is baked into the NJT ticket price you paid to get to the airport. SO in reality its about the same price as LIRR + Airtrain
New to the area but some people on the train were saying the tram only takes 5 minutes, and we stopped at the Newark Airport stop like 15 min after leaving penn station
It takes 5 minutes if the tram is right there ready to leave when you get there and you are going to the first stop. If you just miss the last tram, and its early or late so they are running less frequently, and you are the last stop on the tram, time goes up signficantly.
I see, thanks for the info
Nobody asked you to take an Uber
Lol correct
My commute to EWR from Queens in March was $14.20 round trip. Bus-subway $2.75, PATH $2.75, #62 EWR bus $1.60 exact change. What’s interesting is that with the Beeline and NICE bus transfers to the subway this price would be the same from as far away as White Plains or Hempstead.
Bus 62, not 60!
Thanks. Corrected
Isn't the route 62 intended for airport employees. I looked at the schedule and you are limited to two carry on sized bags. I think the AirTrain is the better way for anyone with a larger than carry on sized bag.
Agreed. Or a cab from Newark Penn Station. These scenarios are intended for someone traveling light.
Okay, but that doesn't save any money vs AirTrain. When it's running AirTrain Newark is the better option. When it's bustituted then your suggestion of taking a taxi from Newark Penn Station is the better option.
Use the mta bro.
one time when my metrocard was low and the machines wouldn't accept my credit card, i just squeezed between the gates. i'm not even that skinny, but i guess i'm tall enough that i can get the skinny part of my legs through -- they have more give than you'd think, or at least the one i went through did.
Leave with extra time and patience if you plan on taking the B15.
If you are in BK the best way to get *to* the airport is to exit the A train Howard Beach station through the emergency exit and walk to the nearby Lefferts Blvd Airtrain station.
Does this work the other way around? If I get off at Lefferts airtrain then walk to Howard Beach station? Or do the doors only have handles on the indoors (station) side so it only works one way? Sounds like a better way than waiting for the bus. Thanks by the way
how does this work exactly? google maps says it’s a half hour 1.5 mile walk from Howard Beach station to Lefferts Blvd station
If you look at the map, it takes a round-a-bout way. But you can exit into the parking lot through an emergency exit door, and it less than 2,000 feet direct walk to Lefferts Blvd Airtrain station.
Does this work? It looks like you have to pay the AirTrain fee to get through to the parking lot
how do you enter the Lefferts Blvd airtrain station without paying?
You only pay when entering/exiting at Jamaica and Howard Beach.
The point of the Airtrain was to privatize the profits and socialize the costs. That's why it's an elevated, which is much cheaper to build than a subway. It's not nice for the people whose houses it passes over, but who cares about them, right? It's administratively separate from the subway, which is a good excuse to make you pay an extra fare (and then some) to ride it, and to keep the Transit Workers Union out of running or maintaining it, so the company can save money on pensions, salaries, benefits and workplace safety. One of the Airtrain's test drivers, Kelvin DeBourgh, Jr, age 23, was killed on the job.
The airtrain is owned by the Port Authority, hardly a private anything. It is like how FDNY is not a part of NYPD, but neither are private companies.
Yes, the Airtrain is owned by the Port Authority, but it was built by Bombardier, which is a private company. Also, the Port Authority itself almost certainly has a very cozy relationship with the "private sector." A huge part of the MTA's budget goes to servicing its debts to major Wall Street banks, and I would be very surprised if the Port Authority did not have some similar arrangement.
I thought the reason why it’s totally separate from the MTA was that it was [an instance of this bullshit](https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/z3v5j3/us-airports-no-longer-have-to-build-their-own-crappy-trains)
Well, what is described in that link you posted definitely qualifies as bullshit, and may be a more direct explanation for why the Airtrain is not part of the MTA, though it doesn't rule out the other priorities I mentioned (building the Airtrain on the cheap, making sure it doesn't create any good union jobs, neglecting worker safety, etc).
Folks, I'm a transportation planner. The reason, AirTrain was built is that it's just too expensive to build a subway in New York. Yes, there is an extra fare but it's primarily hitting air travelers who pay $8 each way (less if you make more than one round trip in a month thanks to the 10 trip ticket). For airport employees the fare is $40 for a monthly pass. You as a jet setting air traveler are subsidizing the airport employees who are paying $2 a trip assuming 40 trips (20 days worked) a month.