New York JFK airport put out that rideshare pickups for arriving passengers are no longer available at terminals 4, 5, or 7. That’s a miserable experience under all circumstances, but the need to take a shuttle or train to pick up an Uber is compounded for families and those with plenty of luggage (as passengers arriving off of international flights in New York sometimes do!).
- Terminal 4: (Delta, Aeromexico, Air India, China Airlines, Copa, Emirates, El Al, Kenya Airways, KLM, Singapore, Virgin Atlantic and others) can still do rideshare pickups there before noon, but otherwise take a shuttle to a separate lot.
- Terminal 5: (JetBlue, Sun Country, Cape Air) are instructed “to take AirTrain JFK to Howard Beach” for the ride app and car service pickup lot.
- Terminal 7: (Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Frontier, Icelandair, Ethiopian, ANA, Condor, Kuwait Airways, LOT and a few others) are instructed “to take AirTrain JFK to Howard Beach” for the ride app and car service pickup lot.
Rideshare pickups from @JFKairport Terminal 4, 5, and 7 are no longer curbside.
Terminal 4 customers: During peak hours of 12pm to 2am, you will need to take a free shuttle bus to our pickup lot and depart from there.
Terminal 5 and Terminal 7 customers: You will need to take… pic.twitter.com/lFAWeswbIE
— John F. Kennedy Airport (@JFKairport) September 8, 2025
It’s been over a year since New York JFK first announced rideshare pickups for terminal 4 moved off-site. One big reason to avoid Delta terminal 4 is the interminable walks, although the excellent lounge options there help to mitigate (Delta One, Capital One, Chase, American Express, Virgin Atlantic and more).
Those make the airport decent for departures, but it’s arrivals where the pain kicks in if you’re doing an Uber or Lyft into the city. This adds insult to the injury to the $20 surcharge Uber often imposes when you tell them you’re getting dropped off at Delta versus another carrier in the terminal.
Since the spring, the airport has been directing terminal 5 and 7 arriving passengers to the Airtrain Howard Beach station. It wasn’t a first-time imposition for JetBlue terminal 5, but it was an add for the hodgepodge old British Airways terminal slated for demolition. Live and Let’s Fly pointed out the smart play of taking the bridge from T5 baggage claim across to the TWA Hotel and grabbing your Uber from there.
To get to the parking lot at the Howard Beach station, passengers have to walk to the AirTrain (with luggage!), take the green line train to Howard Beach and exit towards Long Term Parking. Since the amount of time to get there is going to vary quite a lot, many will wait until after the schlepp to request their ride, further adding to the time it takes to get out of JFK.
There’s a lot of construction at New York JFK, but there has always been a lot of construction at New York JFK. It never makes the roadways better. In the meantime, this is a big advantage for American Airlines and its partners flying to JFK’s terminal 8.
Walking to airtrain with luggage is not some incredibly difficult feat. The corridors and the airtrain itself are built easily to handle luggage, even large checked luggage.
Having said that, I’ve arrived at 11:55am (five minutes before uber pickups shut off at T4) and already my driver and I were being shooed away. I had to stand my ground with the ground staff managing traffic to get into the uber I called and wasn’t about to pay a cancellation fee for.
Woah, hyperbole again… just take the AirTrain to T8… problem solved. Taxi to Manhattan $75. Entry-level Lyft/Uber slightly more. I do it regularly from T4/5. It’s not that bad or hard.
@ Gary — Avoid Delta? My motto!
@1990 – I am inclined to agree on it not being that bad or hard, if you live here. If you’re visiting, you gotta understand that the baseline expectation at a functional modern airport is to be able to get in a car either at the curb or in a parking garage (a la SEA). Telling people to take one form of transportation to get to another form of transportation is a non-starter.
Remember it’s bad enough that JFK (and for that matter LGA and EWR) all lack a one-seat ride to the city center (i.e. Penn or GCT).
Airtrains are miserable. They break down. When they do, the bus replacements can add up to an extra hour of intra-airport travel time.
There is a lot of complete nonsense in NYC that New Yorkers may be okay with but others are not. I could go on.
@Un — Since you live here, you should know this is temporary (JFK is undergoing a major renovation). Just as with LGA for a few years, it’s disruptive, but the finished product is worth it.
Har-har… Let me tell you of the joys of a little thing we have on the Lefto Coast called LAXit.
All these airports are in a race to the bottom– and here, like LAX, the airport authority is helll-bent on NOT bringing mass transit all the way to the terminals. Even as they make The Car Thing even more miserable.
Although we just celebrated the LAX Metro Transit Station opening– a billion dollar explosion of taxpayer waste that, much like the GreenLine Station, ended up several miles from TBIT.
“We aim for LAX, but sometimes we miss and hit El Segundo or Manchester by mistake. Ooops.”
In my experience, getting on the train the overcrowded packed train with luggage is difficult. Why is that train packed? Right, because everyone had to get on to catch the Uber. So far, I am not happy.
On LGA, I have mixed feelings. At LGA, I used to be able to get to my gate, 10 minutes after arriving. Now, it is a lengthy walk to the gate. Albeit, I now have access to the 3 lounges (American, Amex, and Sapphire) with reasonable food, whereas before, best I could do was a bagel.
Arriving at LGA is a bigger problem. The walk is so long, that if I do not rush to the baggage claim, the bags are sitting there unguarded. Plus, it is a long walk with several heavy bags to the central Uber center. When I get there, I usually have to wait about 30 minutes, sometimes longer, while the Uber driver tries to figure out how to get in.
LAX: Yea, Ha Ha. Once or twice I left 2 hours early, but stuck non-moving traffic on the 405, thought I was going to miss my plane by 2 hours. Never actually missed a plane at LAX, but it is always a risk.
@Other Just Saying — If the new LGA isn’t ‘good enough’ for you, then honestly I’m not sure anything ever will be; like, my goodness, even if you are on the farthest ends of Terminal C, enjoy the exercise, and appreciate that it’s far better than the original terminals. And, if you’re exhausted from the walk, then stop by Bubby’s (near gates 70-79) for some fluffy pancakes; you’ll re-energize quickly.
@Tom Dually LAX APM (Automated People Mover) is coming out next year. LAX Metro Transit Station will be directly connected to that, as will be rideshare and car rental to streamline everything. Is it the perfect solution? No. Is it a huge leap forward to be able to go to LAX with mass transit? Yes.
LGA is much nicer, but a lot less convenient. Time is valuable. LOL: See Gary’s post about not wasting time at the airport.
@ Tom — Yeah, I’ve given up and just pay the extortionate black car price to avoid the LAXIt disaster.
@Other Just Saying — Ah, yes, go so late, occasionally miss a flight… such a great ‘hot take’ on here. *wink*
@Gene — Somehow this JFK post has become an LAX discussion… kinda like how @Tim Dunn can turn any comment into a Delta talk-a-rama. And, I’ll say, I’m all for it. Let the conversation go where it goes… haha.
Just take the AirTrain to the subway or LIRR. Costs less than $14 and no stress about traffic. Current time difference is 6 minutes vs a taxi. Usually takes about the same time as an Uber but sometimes is faster when there is traffic. If my 90 year old mother can do this with a suitcase so can nearly all of you. You can also feel superior by killing fewer people with your carbon footprint.
Everyone complains about that Western European socialism but most of the major airports in those countries have direct rail access to their city centers.
It’s kind of scandalous to me that airports in New York and LA lack reasonable connectivity to their urban centers.
First world problems.
Know your way around! @1990 broke the code, air train to T8 problem solved. T5 is a real hike from the station to the terminal and then to the curb, but if you need to get steps in that’s also an option. Or just yellow cab it.
It actually might not be such a bad thing not to be able to Uber from Terminal 4. I recently Ubered from Federal Circle and saved myself a lot of traffic, time and money.
Do what Andrew said!!!
“Just take the AirTrain to the subway or LIRR. Costs less than $14 and no stress about traffic. ”
Jamaica baby!
Millions of air travelers with all sorts of baggage manage to pick up rental cars at airports every day. This is no worse than that.
And it’s necessary. Each individual rider summoning their own car is tremendously less efficient than a line of cabs and you get in the next one. So if you don’t want to use the taxi stand, get on the air train and pay the penalty for being the problem.
(I understand that construction at JFK currently has the taxi stand relocated, this is more a general comment on ride share vs taxi stand.)
@Pilot93434 — I got even more ideas…
@ren @Andrew — Oh, here I was thinking we were just talking access ti more affordable ride-shares. If we’re truly bargain-hunting, and using mass transit, please save that $8.50 fare (sometimes it’s half-price, but still… save it) to exit the ‘red’ AirTrain at Jamaica (skip the E train, extra $2.90, or the LIRR, extra $5-7); and, instead, just take the ‘green’ AirTrain towards Howard Beach, but get off at Lefferts (2nd to last stop), then either walk the 0.5 miles to the Howard Beach station for the A train there, paying just the $2.90 fare to go anywhere in the system (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, etc.), or take the Q10 bus to the A train at Lefferts (and do the same). Fellas, there is always a cheaper way…
That said, ‘time is currency,’ so, if you’re a big-shot, or a Platinum BILT member, then use your free ride on Blade to get to Wall St. or Hudson Yards in 15 minutes (or pay the $300+ out-of-pocket), then take a limo to your $3,500/night stay at Aman New York. Like, enjoy your Dom and Beluga, too. Again, a price point and a method for everyone here.
I fortunately do not connect through NYC airports very often and I have never stopped there. I hope that the people mover at LAX works correctly when it is finished. I typically have to take at least one bus to somewhere else to catch a ride home. When you have a lot of luggage, you have to be careful of some bus drivers driving off with some of your luggage on the bus and some of it not. I have had to yell out quite a few times. They sometimes shut the doors in your face on their race to get to the next stop. Hopefully the people mover will be a full roll on, roll off solution instead of having to lift luggage up and also set down. I suppose that a lot of the problem is that they only have mirrors instead of a lot of cameras.
@jns — Aww, you’re sadly missing out. JFK, LGA, and EWR each have some pretty nice things these days (new lounges, new terminals, and true global connectivity). Also, NYC is always an interesting place to live, work, and/or visit. That is, so long as your preferred news/entertainment sources (say, Fox, OAN, Newsmax, AM radio, rightwing podcaster, etc.) tells you the ‘big city’ is a dystopian hellscape (then, maybe, stick to Manhattan, Kansas, instead.) Oh, and we’re supposed to get free buses and groceries after November… if you believe that…
Maybe I’ll just fly American next time.
Idiot politicians. Just wait until the moron socialist gets elected. Uber and Lyft will be outlawed and you will need to take a bus to JFK riding with the homeless that get a free ride. Want to know what it will be like? Just look at Charlotte.
Not to mention the Free Free keffiyeh thugs blocking the entrances to JFK whenever they please….
I think “Avoid flying Delta and JetBlue” covers it just fine.
I think I’m more annoyed JFK is a prime example of an airport with unconnected terminals and a people mover that connects them landisde..
“Change at Jamaica” – every train conductor on the LIRR
PLEASE STAND BY FOR TIM DUNN ……
@George Nathan Romey — Uh, it’s the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that governs JFK airport (and the other NYC area airports), including the JFK AirTrain; so, while it’s ‘cute’ that you’d attack perceived political opponents and ‘politicians,’ generally, in this case, no, it’s NOT the mayor (currently, Adams; not Mamdani, yet), who decides airport construction or the transportation system within. But, nice try!
I take public transportation to JFK every time, and I’ve never had a problem.
The Van Wyck is a parking lot. Always has been.
What about older people, families with kids, people work tons of luggage, etc.? If the able-bodied majority take public transportation, there will be plenty of Ubers and room on the Van Wyck for all of them.
I don’t really care to take a taxi or other car service to get into and out of the city for my flights as I try to use mass transit as much as practical, but it’s very unpleasant when the Airtrain is out of service and having to deal with the buses to get between terminals or around JFK.
The only thing I’d add to the excellent analysis by @1990 is that Terminal 8 also generally has the best short term parking pricing. So if I am parking at the airport, I’m going to T8 and taking the airtrain anyway if not flying from T8.
This really isn’t a big deal other than perhaps for T5 given how long the walk is from the airtrain to T5 (as others have commented). But T5 is a dump and T6 can’t come soon enough… the construction is simply needed.
Finally, the idea that you would have to take a short monorail ride to the LIRR to get into the city just isn’t that crazy to me. Sure it would be nice if the LIRR was extended to JFK, but so what. LGA, admittedly, is much more of a public transportation problem, notwithstanding the now free Q70 bus link from LGA to the subway. EWR theoretically has public transportation, but if you think the walk from T5 to the airtrain is long, the walk from the EWR airtrain to Terminal A should come with a trail map. And if you suffer from claustrophobia, those EWR airtrain cars are, um, compact…
UNITED rising at EWR with convenient curbside pickup regardless of whether you use an Uber/Lyft or taxicab
@Gary:” In the meantime, this is a big advantage for American Airlines and its partners flying to JFK’s terminal 8.”
If you consider flying American an advantage.
@AlanZ – it’s literally an AAdvantage!
@Greg – That’s about the only thing EWR has going for it. FWIW I think the system at the new LGA Terminal B works very well, short 5 minute walk to the garage, very orderly to find your pickup location.
Just take AirTrain to Lefferts and Uber from there.
OMG! I think I aged 10 years reading these comments, and at 75 years that’s not something I take lightly. Haven’t flown in many years but was aware many changes have come to the two NY airports. Being last minute or often late to everything , I can see that’s never going to work anymore. As far as Ubers are concerned, don’t have an account, never needed one. Always took a cab to airport for departures, and some horrible crappy bus to Grand Central upon return. Although I will go 10 blocks out of my way to save a buck, I always figured the cab fare to the airport as part of the expense of the trip. And although I know I was reading English describing the various public transportation options, I thought my brain would explode. What the hell are you all talking about??? If I do start traveling again, clearly I’ll have to leave 2 days in advance if I want any chance of making my flight. Ah progress.
@Kim – not fun with kids and luggage!
People outside of the city also need to get Ubers. I live 2 miles from the Bronx, Uber $70. Yellow taxi $150 or more. Public transportation is a 3 hour ordeal for a car ride that is under an hour.
I prefer LGA but it doesn’t serve many cities.
@NakedHikerNYC said “I take public transportation to JFK every time, and I’ve never had a problem.”
Yes, the wonderful memories of taking the traveling Homeless Hotel (aka A train) at 4AM to JFK for morning flights. I did that a lot.
Gary.. Why do you hate JetBlue so much ? They are the BEST domestic airline out of the bunch, as far as comfort and amenities are concerned. I LOVE JETBLUE ! #LongLiveJBLU
@DaveFromBoca – I do not ‘hate’ JetBlue. They are great in the air, something of a mess on the ground. Ops are terrible.
@Peter — Thank you, sir! AAdvantages, indeed.
@JERogers — If you couldn’t handle these comments, fine, just stick to the flat-rate $75 taxi Manhattan-JFK.
@NEV — If you’re north of Bronx, have you tried Westchester airport (HPN)? Otherwise, you probably have a car, so just drive to any of the other three.
@DaveFromBoca — I’m also a B6 fan, especially their Mint service on transcon, transatlantic, even some Caribbean routes. Even in Economy, they’re better than most, more legroom, WiFi included, one of the first airlines to have live TV, individual IFE screens, etc. I wish they had a lounge at JFK T5. If you fly from FLL, T3 there at least has the Amex Escapes lounge.
Soon it’ll be just as crappy an experience getting an Uber at *any* terminal at JFK as it is at LAX. Taking that shuttle bus to the Uber parking lot at LAX is so cringe
Why so late. Could’ve used this info last week. Jet Blue was kind enough to email on 8/29 to warn me about the changes and giw to navigate. It wasn’t as bad as I thought and actually better than the previous pickup spot. Now if you could do something about the Van Wyck I would appreciate it. Are they still blaming the monorail construction?