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).
From NJ to JKF airport
Hi I need to be at JFK airport on June 15 by 9 am and I’ll be leaving from Newark, NJ what is the easiest way via train to get to the airport? Thanks so much
From JFK to New Brunswick NJ.
I am arriving at JFK at 10PM. What is the cheapest way to go to Newarc airport at that time? My final destination is New Brunswick NJ. How can I get there from JFK? Thanks a lot.
jfk from newark
leaving from newark new jersey it seems difficult to get train to the plan directions....can somebody instruct I am leaving on 5/54/07... going on jetblue airlines.....ps using public transportation from newark airport
How do I get to the AirTrain
How do I get to the AirTrain from the city??
In reply to How do I get to the AirTrain by Anonymous (not verified)
You have to take the A train
You have to take the A train to Howard Beach and then t-fer to the Air Tran.
In reply to How do I get to the AirTrain by Anonymous (not verified)
Penn Station -- LIRR to Air Train
The absolute easiest way to get to JFK from Manhattan, or from Manhattan to JFK, is to take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) out of Penn Station to the Jamaica station. Almost every LIRR line goes through Jamaica, but a few don't, so make sure you're getting on the right train. It's 35 minutes on a LIRR train to/from Penn Station. There are many trains that run between Jamaica and Penn Station every hour.
From Jamaica, it's a 30-second walk to the JFK AirTrain, which takes 5-10 minutes to get you to your terminal. The AirTrains run every couple of minutes.
I had allowed myself 90 minutes for the trip to JFK from Penn Station, and it probably would have taken that long by taxi or by subway. It ended up being 45 minutes from the time I bought my ticket at Penn Station until I was walking into Terminal 4 for my outbound flight. Total cost on a Sunday: $10. (It's a total of $12 if you travel during peak hours.)
A cab would have set me back more than $50, and would have taken at least the same amount of time and probably more. It's AirTrain and LIRR for me from now on when landing at JFK.
From JFK airport to Mcarther airport
I am trying to find the quickest and cheapest way to get from JFK airport to Mcarthur Airport. Could you please help. Thanks a million!
In reply to From JFK airport to Mcarther airport by April (not verified)
Take the AirTrain from JFK
Take the AirTrain from JFK to Jamaica Station on the Long Island Railroad (LIRR)($5). Then take the LIRR all the way to Ronkomkoma station (last stop, about an hour, $15?). Then you can take a taxi from the Ronkonkoma station to MacArthur. I think it's something like 10 or 20 bucks.
JFK to Hotel
I need to know the best and cheapest way to get from JFK to New York Midtown Fifth Ave, 15th West 45 th Street. Please help!
Philadelphia to JFK
IS THERE A TRAIN FROM PHILADELPHIA THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO JFK AIRPORT? IF SO, WHAT TRAIN SHOULD I TAKE?
Train from JFK to Long Island
This will be my first trip to the east coast. I will be flying into JFK and need to get to Long Island. What train shall I take, what will it cost and where do I find the times it travels? Thank you for any help and/or guidance you can give me. Sincerely, Cindy
In reply to Train from JFK to Long Island by Cindy (not verified)
You can take the AirTrain to
You can take the AirTrain to the Jamaica Station then take the Long Island RailRoad to whatever stop is closest to where on Long Island you are going. Here's a link to the LIRR's website: http://mta.info/lirr/
Hope this helped.
I'd like to know what
I'd like to know what train/how to get from JFK to Grand Central Station. Is it one train or do we need to change? What is the name of the train?
Thanks :)
In reply to I'd like to know what by Australia (not verified)
hi..it is a bus, not a train
hi..it is a bus, not a train that runs from JFK to GCT. it is $13 and runs about every 15 minutes. I am unsure from which terminal it leaves, but if you specify you are looking for the bus to grand central, someone will point you in the right direction.
In reply to I'd like to know what by Australia (not verified)
You could take airtrain to
You could take airtrain to MTA Subway, take A Train to Downtown and transit in B-Way Nassau Street to 4,5,6 Train to 42nd Street Grand Central Station.
Good Luck
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