I LUV This Airport!
Written: Jul 15 '02 (Updated Jul 15 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy accessible from LI, JetBlue
Cons: not easily accessible from Manhattan
The Bottom Line: What you are looking for in an airport is right at JFK International Airport!
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| jetbluefan1's Full Review: JFK International Airport |
Location JFK International Airport is located in Jamaica, Queens. JFK International Airport is very convenient to Long Islands residents, and is very easily accessible to those residents. However, if you are coming from Manhattan is quite a hassle. There is a lot of traffic coming in.
I have been to T1, T4, T5, T6, and T8-9 in JFK. Therefore I would like to explain to you each of the terminals I have visited.
T1 The last time I was in T1 was in 2000. My cousin dropped me off along with my family for our flight to Cyprus. Therefore, I can't talk to you about parking at T1. Here are some airlines that service into T1: Virgin Atlantic, Olympic, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Korean, Lufthansa, and Austrian. Upon entering, you will see a large ticketing lobby which is not even close to crowded! Each airline operates their own ticketing counters, which are fairly large. After ticketing, you have to go through customs. During customs, you give the security agent your ticket, and then go through the machine. After customs, you will enter a very clean terminal with large windows to view the airplanes. There are many comfortable seats to sit while waiting for your flight. Located in the entrance of the departure hall is a small food shop with chips, hot dogs, and pizza. The prices are quite expensive however. Directly across from the food shop are TV screens with the departure and arrival time of the flights for the day.
T2 and T3 have been bought by Delta Airlines.
T4 Again, my cousin dropped my family and I off again for our flight to Cyprus. Therefore, once again, I can't tell you about the parking. You MUST be a passenger to enter the terminal. Once entering, you will see some smaller ticketing counters. After ticketing, you will go up an escalator, and will see a VERY crowded terminal. You will also see MANY travel shops. Of course, the items in the shops are expensive. There is also a bar/ snack bar which closes around 8:00pm. Therefore, I could not see what the prices there was, because I made it to the airport at 8:30pm for my flight at 10:00pm. After waiting for your flight, you will go through a door, and enter a VERY crowded security place. You will give the security personnel your carry-on, and then go through the security machine. About three minutes later, the personnel will give you your carry-on, and you'll continue down the gate. You will come to an intersection, saying something such as "rows 1-30" and then "31-60". Obviously, you'll continue down the hall that has your row. I found this to be very smart because it speeds up the boarding process. The airlines that operate from T4 are KLM, Northwest, Varig Brazil, El Al, Egypt Air, Iberia, Air India, Royal Air Marroc, Continental, and some other airlines.
T5 This terminal was used by TWA until the airline went out of business. Now T5 is empty, and United is considering on leasing it. Once, again, I was dropped off at this terminal for my flight to Orlando. Upon entering, there was a small staircase in the middle of the ticketing counters. When going up the silver stairs, you will see a lobby with many chairs in the middle, and a large window to view the gates. There are stairs on both sides leading to a restaurant, and a shop. I did not see the prices, so I can't tell you the prices. However, I bought some Sun Chips from a cart in the seating area, and they were at the expensive price of $1.35! Next to the stand was a large TV screen saying what time the flights left. After waiting for the flight, I gave a TWA worker my ticket, and he allowed us to pass through onto a tunnel taking you to one of the two concourses. After getting to the other side of the well-lighted tunnel, I went through customs in a breeze, and saw a very small seating area with several gates for the airplanes. The airlines that served into this terminal were: TWA, Sun Country, and Air Europe.
T6 Parking is very easy. You just follow the signs, park, pay a small fee, and then walk to the terminal by following the signs. Once you are at the terminal, you will see signs hanging side-ways showing that the terminal is occupied by JetBlue Airways. Upon entering the terminal, you will go through small, automatic, glass doors. Then you will see a large ticketing area, which is not crowded. After ticketing, you will turn to your right, and will see a shop with magazines, airplanes, and newspapers. Then you will make an immediate right, and will see an arrow pointing up, with the words, "gates 1-17". Obviously, you will go up the escalator, to go to your JetBlue gate. You will then go through an overpass, to the departure terminal. Going through customs is a breeze! You'll then end up in a sparkling clean terminal with many windows to view the JetBlue aircraft. You will also see JetBlue customer service, a small jungle gym, yellow punching bags to relieve stress, and a restaurant. You will have the option to turn either left or right. Either way you turn, you will see many clocks that show the time of many cities throughout the world, and TV screens showing the flight times.
T7 is occupied by British Airways, United, America West, and other smaller carriers.
T8-T9 Currently, this terminal is some construction work done, so it might be a little confusing on where to park. This terminal is actually two terminals in one. T8 is American Airlines domestic, and T9 is American Airlines, Finnair, and Aerolineas Argentinas International terminal. Upon entering, you will see a baggage claim (currently not working), and TV monitors showing the flights. A problem about the TV monitors is that they are messed up, and very fuzzy, so it is VERY HARD to find your flight! Past the TV monitors is an escalator. When going to the top of the escalator, you will see ticketing counters, and windows to once again, view the airplanes. You will also see customer service, but no food shops. Since I was picking someone up on an American Airline flight coming in from London, I did not go into the concourses. To pick up a passenger from an international flight, you have to wait downstairs with messed up video screens. After the international passengers pick up their luggage, they will come past the sliding doors, and into the waiting lounge.
JFK International Airport is very nice. It is easy to park at most terminals, and is very clean. There is hardly any traffic at the actual airport, and the service that you get is always high quality. JFK International Airport has half of its flights operating international, and the other half operating domestically. There are many selections of airlines, and the destinations you are able to fly to are endless. The airlines might have low fares, but the food can be pricey since it is NYC. Try to eat on the plane, or bring food from home. You won't want to get stuck in a four hour delay overlapping with a meal, and then pay for NYC food. However, JFK International Airport has the low fares for parking, and is the most on-time airport in NYC comparing to Newark and LaGuardia (hell). Isn't that what you are looking for in an airport?
Recommended:
Yes
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