NYC Airport Guides
JFK Airport Guide: Terminals, Ground Transport, and How Not to Overpay
How JFK actually works in 2026 — which terminal your airline uses, every way into Manhattan and Brooklyn with real prices, and the pickup rules that save you money.
JFK handles more international arrivals than any other airport in America, and it shows: five terminals that don’t connect airside, a rebuild that keeps moving the furniture, and a ground-transport ecosystem that ranges from an $11.75 train ride to a black car that costs twenty times that. This page is the map. The detail — prices, routes, pickup points — lives in the guides linked from each section.
Which terminal is my airline?
The stable landmarks, as of August 2026:
| Terminal | Anchor airlines | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Air France, Korean Air, Turkish and other international flags | Being progressively replaced by the new Terminal 1 build |
| Terminal 4 | Delta, plus Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Singapore and many more | The biggest terminal — and the busiest arrivals hall |
| Terminal 5 | JetBlue | Connected to the new Terminal 6 as it opens |
| Terminal 7 | A shrinking mix of international carriers | Slated for demolition as the rebuild advances |
| Terminal 8 | American Airlines, British Airways and their oneworld partners | The other mega-terminal, on the airport's east side |
The terminals are landside-separated: to move between them you leave the secure area, ride the AirTrain (free between terminals), and clear security again. Budget a solid hour for any terminal change with a boarding pass, and do not plan a tight connection between two airlines in different terminals.
Getting into Manhattan
Six real options, from $11.75 a head to a chauffeur-driven flat rate. The short version: the train wins for solo travellers with a carry-on, and one car starts beating four train fares as soon as you are a luggage-laden group. The full comparison — every price, every surcharge, every trade-off — is in our JFK to Manhattan guide.
- AirTrain + subway — $11.75 per person, 60–90 minutes. Cheapest, most tiring.
- AirTrain + LIRR — $14–16 per person, 50–60 minutes. The most predictable timing of anything on this list, because traffic cannot touch it.
- Yellow taxi — $70 flat fare to Manhattan, roughly $90–110 once surcharges, tolls and tip land. No booking, no surge, official rank at every terminal.
- Uber / Lyft — $45–75 off-peak, over $120 when surging.
- Shared shuttle — around $35 per person, slow, multiple hotel stops.
- Pre-booked private car — a flat rate agreed before you fly, a chauffeur in arrivals, and the only option that absorbs a delayed flight for free.
Getting into Brooklyn
Different game entirely: the $70 flat fare does not apply — Brooklyn trips run on the meter — and JFK is actually closer to Downtown Brooklyn than to Midtown. The A train from Howard Beach and the LIRR from Jamaica to Atlantic Terminal are both genuinely useful here. Full prices and routes in the JFK to Brooklyn guide.
Arriving: pickup, terminal by terminal
Where the taxi rank is, where app rides actually pick up, and where a meet-and-greet driver will be standing — it differs by terminal, and getting it wrong with luggage is miserable. Terminal guides so far:
- Terminal 4 arrivals and pickup guide — Delta and most international arrivals
More terminal guides are on the way. One rule applies everywhere in the meantime: never ride with anyone who approaches you inside the building. Licensed drivers do not tout in arrivals halls; the people who do are the airport’s oldest scam, and the ride ends with a creative price. The official taxi rank, the signed app-ride zones, and a pre-booked chauffeur with your name on a sign are the three legitimate ways out of the terminal on four wheels.
Estimate your fare before you land
Our fare calculator prices every option — taxi with every surcharge itemised, rideshare ranges, transit chains, pre-booked cars — for your exact combination of airport, destination and time of day. Two minutes on the plane’s wifi and you land knowing what the ride should cost, which is the single best defence against being overcharged.
Terminal assignments and regulated fares on this page were checked in August 2026 against the Port Authority’s JFK pages and the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission fare rules. The rebuild moves fast and airlines move with it — if something here has drifted, tell us and we will fix it.
Frequently asked questions
How many terminals does JFK have?
Five in use: Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. The gaps in the numbering are real — Terminals 2, 3 and 6 were demolished over the years, and a new Terminal 6 is now opening in phases next to Terminal 5 as part of the airport's ongoing rebuild.
Is the AirTrain free between terminals?
Yes. Riding the AirTrain between terminals, parking lots and car-rental facilities is free. You only pay the $8.75 fare when you enter or exit the system at Jamaica or Howard Beach stations to connect with the subway or LIRR.
How much is a taxi from JFK to Manhattan?
The regulated flat fare is $70 to anywhere in Manhattan, but surcharges, tolls and tip bring the real total to roughly $90–110 — more at weekday rush hour. Trips to Brooklyn, Queens and everywhere else run on the meter instead.
What is the cheapest way from JFK into the city?
AirTrain plus the subway, at $11.75 per person — $8.75 for the AirTrain and $3.00 for the subway. It takes 60–90 minutes and involves stairs and transfers, so it suits light packers far better than families.
Which terminal does Delta use at JFK?
Terminal 4, which Delta shares with most of the airport's international carriers. JetBlue is at Terminal 5, and American and British Airways share Terminal 8. Assignments shift during the rebuild, so trust your airline's email over any printed list.
Where does a pre-booked car service meet you at JFK?
Typically inside the arrivals hall, just past the exit from customs, holding a sign with your name — that is what meet-and-greet means. Some operators offer a cheaper curbside pickup instead, where the driver calls you to a signed pickup point outside.