JFK guides

Practical answers for flying through JFK Airport, each backed by the site's live data. Start with what today looks like: live JFK delay and weather status.

New to this

• First time at JFK: what actually happens

  Six steps in a fixed order, what happens at security, and what to do if something goes wrong. For anyone who has never flown or flies rarely.

Before you book or drive

• JFK parking: every option, honest prices + how to book

  Official lots vs off-site with the ~17% taxes nobody quotes, the is-off-site-legit checks, and the free options.

• JFK lounges: can you actually get in?

  By terminal and by how you would get in, including the Priority Pass gap in Terminal 7 and what to do with no access at all.

• Why is JFK delayed during UN General Assembly week?

  Every late September, airspace restrictions and world-leader arrivals slow JFK down. The 2026 dates and the playbook.

At the airport

• Which terminal is my airline?

  Every JFK airline mapped to Terminal 1, 4, 5, 7, or 8, with live boards to cross-check on the day.

• JFK terminal map: how the 5 terminals connect

  Where each terminal sits on the loop, the AirTrain that links them, and how long a terminal change really takes.

• I lost something at JFK. What do I do?

  Where you lost it decides who has it: airline, TSA, terminal, airport, or MTA. The right contact for each, verified.

• Arriving at JFK from another country

  The five steps from landing to exit, why published customs wait times contradict each other, and how long to really allow for a connection or a pickup.

• JFK airport transportation

  The hub for every way in and out: rail, taxi, bus, rental car, parking, and transfers to the other airports.

• Hotels near JFK Airport

  Exactly one hotel is on airport property. Everything else runs a shuttle from Federal Circle, and that decides your morning.

• Accessibility at JFK

  Wheelchair assistance is booked through your airline, not the airport. The sunflower lanyard, its 14-day lead time, and what every terminal has.

• Taking the bus to JFK

  The Q10, the Q3, and an honest answer about when the bus is the wrong choice.

• JFK car rental

  Rental cars are at Federal Circle, not your terminal. How to collect, how to return, and whether you want one at all.

• Luggage storage at JFK

  Staffed storage in Terminal 4 and Terminal 1, 24 hours, up to 72 hours, usable whichever terminal you fly from.

• What to do on a JFK layover

  Can you leave? Where to put the bags, day rooms at the TWA Hotel, and lounge access without a business ticket.

• Getting from JFK to Newark

  The longest NYC airport transfer. Why the $70 flat fare does not apply, the $20 surcharge, and the four-leg rail route.

• Getting from JFK to LaGuardia

  Catching a connection at the other airport. Why the $70 flat fare does not apply, and the free bus most people never hear about.

• Getting from JFK to Manhattan

  AirTrain plus subway or LIRR, taxi, rideshare or shuttle. What each costs, and the honest tiebreaker nobody writes down.

• JFK conditions right now

  One live verdict: delays, ground stops, weather, and the trains that get you there.

Know the airport

• About JFK Airport: history, terminals, and the airport today

  From the Idlewild golf course to the $19B rebuild, with live stats and a terminal-by-terminal timeline.

More guides ship regularly: lounges, hotels, international arrivals, and getting to Manhattan are next. Every guide follows the same rule: verified facts, live data, and the worst news first.