How to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan by AirTrain and subway: the cheapest option at $11.75 in total, with route choices, journey times and tips for every terminal.
At a Glance
How to Get from John F. Kennedy International Airport to the City
The A Train and E Train and J Train and Z Train connect the airport with central New York, and are usually the most predictable way to travel at busy times.
Travel Tips
- The AirTrain is free between terminals. You pay the $8.75 fare only when you leave or enter at Jamaica or Howard Beach.
- Tap your contactless card, phone or OMNY card for both the AirTrain and the subway.
- For Midtown, the E train from Jamaica is usually the quickest route. For Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, the A train from Howard Beach can be simpler.
- The subway fare counts towards the OMNY seven-day cap; the AirTrain fare is separate.
- The AirTrain runs 24 hours a day, every few minutes at busy times.
- Allow at least 90 minutes from Midtown to your terminal for a departing flight.
Paying for the Journey
Payment methods: OMNY: tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch · OMNY card (reusable, sold at stores and station machines) · Reduced-fare OMNY (seniors and riders with disabilities).
💡 Tap the same card or phone for every ride. Once you have paid $35 within seven days of your first tap, the rest of your subway and local bus rides in that seven-day period are free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to get to JFK from Manhattan?
The subway plus AirTrain, at $11.75 in total. Take the E, J or Z to Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av–JFK Airport (Jamaica) or the A train to Howard Beach, then the AirTrain to your terminal.
How long does the subway take to JFK Airport?
From Midtown, about 50 to 65 minutes via Jamaica on the E, J or Z, or 60 to 75 minutes via Howard Beach on the A. Allow extra time at rush hour and late at night.
How do I pay for the AirTrain at JFK?
Tap a contactless card, phone or OMNY card at the AirTrain fare gates at Jamaica or Howard Beach. The fare is $8.75. Travel between terminals is free.
Does the AirTrain run 24 hours?
Yes. AirTrain JFK runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
See also: New York City Subway ticket prices · Payment card guide · Full New York City Subway guide
Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Journey times and fares are indicative, so verify before travel.