Peter Greenberg: Kennedy Airport/Manhattan Transit

By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2009-01-30

What is the least expensive transportation, bus or subway, from Kennedy Airport to the Upper West Side of Manhattan?
Thank you.
–Netta, Somerville, Mass.

The cheapest option, probably unsurprisingly, is public transportation. From Kennedy Airport, you'll take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station. You can then take the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station and transfer there to the 1-Red, which will take you to the Upper West Side. For seniors, the cost is about $5-7 altogether, depending on when you travel (peak vs. non-peak), and it's a few bucks more for younger travelers.

Another option is shuttle service. New York Airport Service Express Bus and SuperShuttle operate at Kennedy. Shuttles charge a flat rate per person, and some (SuperShuttle) offer door-to-door service. You're looking at roughly $15-20 per person, including tip, for a shuttle. Fares are flat, meaning there won't be any surprises.

For comparison, taxis operate at a flat rate of $45 (plus tolls) to Manhattan from the airport. However, if you've got 3 people in your party, splitting the cost of a cab would be fairly economical, although it's pretty much impossible to beat New York City's public-transit system in terms of inexpensiveness.