Help Lyra get lost on the NYC subway system

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Cue NYC residents laughing here... I need to get from 29th & Madison (in Manhattan) to JFK to pick up a friend flying in from Ireland on Aer Lingus & then back again on Saturday. I'm a total idiot when it comes to subway- I have a vague idea that it goes out to JFK, but I haven't got any idea how to connect to there from 29th & Madison. Any suggestions? Also, is there a good subway map online somewhere that I can print out while I learn my way around??

― lyra (lyra), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:00 (nineteen years ago)

take the 6 up to grand central, take the shuttle to times square, catch the A train out to howard beach (but make sure it's the right A train).

― the real world meets laguna beach for adults (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:03 (nineteen years ago)

the mta has an official site with maps and schedules that you can print out.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

there's probably a less-roundabout way of doing that, but it's too early for me to think of it.

― the real world meets laguna beach for adults (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

do what Jody said:
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm

― jinx hijinks (sanskrit), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:06 (nineteen years ago)

(and if you're feeling cheap, you can ask your friend to meet you outside the turnstiles of the air train, so you won't have to spend an extra $5 just to go to the baggage claim.)

― the real world meets laguna beach for adults (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

Make sure the train car is the A to Far Rockaway, NOT the A to Lefferts Blvd. Get off at Howard Beach subway station and catch free shuttle bus to your airport terminal. Repeat in reverse.

Is there still a free bus? Cos I'm cheap like that, I've never taken the Airtrain.

― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:12 (nineteen years ago)

i once escorted a old gf to jfk by way of the subway, carrying her luggage in 95 degree heat. i told her when she returned from europe she could take a cab.

shortly after her return she broke up with me.

― jinx hijinks (sanskrit), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:13 (nineteen years ago)

Is there still a free bus?

i thought they got rid of that when the airtrain opened.

― the real world meets laguna beach for adults (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, someone beat me, but i'll still post:

I used to do this all the time. This should be a little faster:

1. Take 6 to down to Union Square
2. Switch to Downtown 4/5
3. Switch at Broadway/Fulton/Nassau to the A train
==> IMPORTANT: Make sure you get on the A train bound for Far Rockaway, and NOT the one bound for Lefferts Bldvd. Ask a conductor or look for the sign on the side of the train..
4. Ride @ 45 minutes through scenic brooklyn.
5. Get off at Howard Beach stop ($5 save is clutch but optional).

Good luck!

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

I usually call a car from home to Laguardia, it's only $25 and I'm usually going away for a week or more and taking a big fucking suitcase or two. Plus the public transit to LGA involves lots of stairs (HI DERE ELEVATED N/R IN ASTORIA). JFK and Newark have really decent public transit options, though.

― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

i'm close to an A station so it's one train for me.

― the real world meets laguna beach for adults (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:21 (nineteen years ago)

i can't believe i'd ever say this but poortheatre is right.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:25 (nineteen years ago)

SPEAKING OF ASTORIA........

― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:26 (nineteen years ago)

Get one Cab

― Jimmy Mod is a super idol of The MARS SPIRIT (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:32 (nineteen years ago)

Why not take a 30 minute E train ride instead of a 90 minute A train ride?

Get on the 6 at 28th and Lex, take it to 51st St., transfer to the Queens bound E and take it all the way to the second-to-last stop (30 minute ride)--Sutphin/Archer. Then follow the signs for the JFK Airtrain (costs an addl $5).

― Bnad (Bnad), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:38 (nineteen years ago)

you people are leaving out the AirTrain part of the equation.

I would recommend taking the Train there, but getting one (1) cab back. What's the flat fee again these days? $40? $45?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:42 (nineteen years ago)

you people are leaving out the AirTrain part of the equation.

did you read the thread?

― the real world meets laguna beach for adults (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:43 (nineteen years ago)

cab faire is metered to manhattang from LGA, 45 from JFK

― Jimmy Mod is a super idol of The MARS SPIRIT (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, but she's gotta know where to get on and off the AirTrain (which direction to go in?)

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

all the airtrains have the terminals listed by airline.

if she gets off the A at howard beach there's nowhere to go BUT the airtrain. and they all go to the same place.

― the real world meets laguna beach for adults (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

(x-post - why not the Air Train Jody? I've had the subway take over a hour-and-a-half each way !!!)

- cab to PENN Station (or walk there on outbound travel, but cab back from PENN with luggage)
- LIRR (Long Island Railroad) to Jamaica (Queens) (express is one stop - FUCKING FAST!) ($7 each way I think?)
- Air Train to JFK
($5 each way - buy a $10 per-ride subway card for this, if using cash make sure you change a $20 BEFORE you leave, trust me!: have $5's and $10's)

get off at correct terminal and you're there!
to return, repeat process in reverse (but check that you get on a JAMAICA BOUND Air Train!)

this will cost you LESS THAN HALF of a cab fare
and will REDUCE travel time: possibly OVER AN HOUR less than the subway (!)

research it a bit more first (have to make sure you take the right trains, get off at right stops) but once you've done this once you won't want to use any other JFK method...

(except the one time that the Air Train was shut down and I had to take the bus to Jamaica)

― Paul (scifisoul), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

i actually didn't know about the LIRR connection.

― the real world meets laguna beach for adults (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

also beats feeling like you'll be killed by the manic cab driver on Belt Parkway.

― Paul (scifisoul), Thursday, 4 May 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

also beats feeling like you'll be killed by the manic cab driver on Belt Parkway.

Instead I'm going to wander lost forever through the subway system! Many thanks for the directions. Hopefully I'll collect my friend in one piece.

― lyra (lyra), Thursday, 4 May 2006 14:12 (nineteen years ago)

arent there like $12 shuttle buses from grand central or penn station to JFK? its a few bucks more but then you get to sit on nice air conditioned bus instead of worrying about getting lost.

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 4 May 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, and I just took one of those buses to Laguardia the other day, but it's pretty lame not to be able to shot public transit when you don't have ANY LUGGAGE. Save the $12 bus for the return trip with friend's suitcases.

― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 4 May 2006 18:47 (nineteen years ago)

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