John F Kennedy International Airport – JFK

Are you planning your travels via John F Kennedy International Airport? If yes, then this manual is your reliable source for all the essential information you will need to plan your air journey. From booking to boarding your flights and arriving at your destination, this handbook will guide you through each step. 

Within this post, you will find all the essential information about JFK Airport that will help you prepare for smooth travels. It involves but is not limited to access to services, restaurant details, terminal information, and transportation facilities. Ready to explore the John F Kennedy Airport? Let’s begin.

Information about JFK International Airport

John F Kennedy is among the largest and busiest airports in the US, covering 5200 acres. You can find it in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, 26 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan. People called it the “Idlewild Airport before it was renamed John F. Kennedy Airport in tribute to assassinated former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. JFK serves as a primary international airport for over 70 airlines.

JFK Airport has some unique features as follows:

• It has five terminals for passengers, i.e., Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8
• It consists of 130 boarding or departure gates in total
• It Involves a backup runway for landing space shuttles
• It owns a luxury terminal only for pets named “ARK.”
• It contains an abandoned hotel, Ramada Plaza, aka “Heartbreak Hotel,” now used as temporary shelter for family and passengers connected with a plane crash
• Showcase artworks throughout the terminals
• A construction project worth $19B is in progress

Fly To And From JFK International Airport

Here is a detailed list of major Airlines operating at John F Kennedy Airport.

Name Of The Airline	Destinations	Departures/Arrival
Air China	Beijing–Capital	Terminal 1
Air France	Paris–Charles de Gaulle
Air New Zealand	Auckland
Air Senegal	Dakar–Diass
Air Serbia	Belgrade
Asiana Airlines	Seoul–Incheon
Austrian Airlines	Vienna
Azores Airlines	Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Porto (begins June 3, 2024)[239]Seasonal: Terceira
Brussels Airlines	Brussels
Cayman Airways	Grand Cayman
China Eastern Airlines	Shanghai–Pudong
Egyptair	Cairo
EVA Air	Taipei–Taoyuan
Flair Airlines	Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson
HiSky	Bucharest–Otopeni (begins June 7, 2024)[265
ITA Airways	Rome–Fiumicino
Korean Air	Seoul–Incheon
Lufthansa	Frankfurt, Munich
Neos	Milan–MalpensaSeasonal: Palermo (begins June 9, 2024)[284]
Philippine Airlines	Manila
Royal Air Maroc	Casablanca
Saudi Arabian Airlines	Jeddah, Riyadh
Swiss International Air Lines	Geneva, Zurich
TAP Air Portugal	Lisbon
Turkish Airlines	Istanbul
VivaAerobus	Mexico City
Volaris	Guadalajara
Volaris Costa Rica	San José (CR), San Salvador
Aeroméxico	Mexico City	Terminal 4
Air Europa	Madrid
Air India	Delhi, Mumbai
Air Europa	Madrid
Air India	Delhi, Mumbai
Avianca	Bogotá, Cartagena, Medellín–JMCSeasonal: Cali, Pereira
Avianca Costa Rica	San José (CR)Seasonal: San Pedro Sula
Avianca Ecuador	Guayaquil, Quito
Avianca El Salvador	Guatemala City, San Salvador
Caribbean Airlines	Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Kingston–Norman Manley, Montego Bay, Port of Spain, St. Vincent–Argyle, Tobago
China Airlines	Taipei–Taoyuan
Copa Airlines	Panama City–Tocumen
Delta Air Lines	Accra, Amsterdam, Aruba, Athens, Atlanta, Austin, Barbados (begins December 21, 2024),[252] Barcelona, Bermuda, Bogotá, Boston, Brussels, Cancún, Dakar–Diass, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Edinburgh, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Frankfurt, Honolulu, Kingston–Norman Manley, Las Vegas, Lisbon, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Madrid, Mexico City, Miami, Milan–Malpensa, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montego Bay, Nassau, New Orleans, Orlando, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Portland (OR), Punta Cana, Rome–Fiumicino, St. Maarten, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa, Tel Aviv (resumes May 1, 2024),[253] Venice, West Palm Beach, ZurichSeasonal: Berlin, Bozeman, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Copenhagen, Geneva, London–Gatwick, Munich (begins April 9, 2024),[254] Naples (begins May 23, 2024),[254] Nice, Prague, Providenciales, Reykjavík–Keflavík, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, San José del Cabo, Shannon (resumes May 23, 2024),[254] Stockholm–Arlanda
Delta Connection	Baltimore, Bangor, Boston, Buffalo, Burlington (VT), Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Chicago–O’Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus–Glenn, Detroit, Indianapolis, Ithaca, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Milwaukee, Montréal–Trudeau, Nashville, Norfolk, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), Savannah, Syracuse, Toronto–Pearson, Washington–Dulles, Washington–NationalSeasonal: Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket
El Al	Tel Aviv
Emirates	Dubai–International, Milan–Malpensa
Etihad Airways	Abu Dhabi
Hawaiian Airlines	Honolulu
Kenya Airways	Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines	Amsterdam
LATAM Brasil	São Paulo–Guarulhos
LATAM Chile	Santiago de Chile
LATAM Perú	Lima
Singapore Airlines	Frankfurt, Singapore
Uzbekistan Airways	Tashkent
Virgin Atlantic	London–Heathrow, Manchester (UK)
WestJet	Calgary
Cape Air	Saranac Lake/Lake PlacidSeasonal: Hyannis, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket	Terminal 5
JetBlue	Aguadilla, Amsterdam, Antigua, Aruba, Atlanta, Austin, Barbados, Belize City, Boston, Buffalo, Burbank, Cancún, Cartagena, Charleston (SC), Chicago–O’Hare, Curaçao, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Houston–Intercontinental, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Kingston–Norman Manley, Las Vegas, Liberia (CR), London–Gatwick, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee (ends October 27, 2024),[271] Montego Bay, Nashville, Nassau, New Orleans, Ontario (CA) (ends October 27, 2024),[271] Orlando, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Ponce (ends October 27, 2024),[271] Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, Providenciales, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), Sacramento (ends October 27, 2024),[271] St. Kitts, St. Lucia–Hewanorra, St. Maarten, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San José (CR), San José del Cabo, San Juan, San Salvador, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, Sarasota, Savannah, Seattle/Tacoma, Syracuse, Tampa, Tulum (begins June 13, 2024),[272] Vancouver, West Palm BeachSeasonal: Albuquerque, Bermuda, Bozeman, Dublin (begins March 13, 2024),[273] Edinburgh (begins May 22, 2024),[273] Hyannis, Martha’s Vineyard, Montrose, Nantucket, Palm Springs, Pointe-à-Pitre, Portland (ME), Portland (OR) (ends April 30, 2024),[271] Puerto Vallarta, Reno/Tahoe, San Jose (CA) (ends April 30, 2024)[271]
Aer Lingus	Dublin, Manchester (UK), Shannon	Terminal 7
Aerolíneas Argentinas	Buenos Aires–Ezeiza
Air Canada Express	Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
Alaska Airlines	Portland (OR), San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle/TacomaSeasonal: Anchorage (begins June 13, 2024), Palm Springs
All Nippon Airways	Tokyo–Haneda
Condor	Frankfurt
Ethiopian Airlines	Abidjan, Addis Ababa
Kuwait Airways	Kuwait City
LOT Polish Airlines	Warsaw–Chopin
Norse Atlantic Airways	Athens (begins May 30, 2024),[286] London–Gatwick, Paris–Charles de GaulleSeasonal: Berlin, Oslo, Rome–Fiumicino
Scandinavian Airlines	Copenhagen
Sun Country Airlines	Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul
British Airways	London–Gatwick, London–Heathrow	Terminal 8
Cathay Pacific	Hong Kong
China Southern Airlines	Guangzhou
Finnair	Helsinki
Iberia	Madrid
Japan Airlines	Tokyo–Haneda
Level	Barcelona
Qantas	Auckland, Sydney
Qatar Airways	Doha
Royal Jordanian	Amman–Queen Alia

JFK Airport Map

The airport map JFK will help you quickly find your way to any location at JFK Airport. For better navigation, you can see the interactive map of John F Kennedy Airport on their official site. 

Terminals at JFK International Airport 

John F Kennedy Airport consists of 5 terminals with 130 gates. You can transition between terminals through the AirTrain system or shuttle buses. The terminals surround the central area where you can access parking, the power plant, and other facilities. It is equipped with free internet services and offers a variety of amenities to its passengers for a convenient traveling experience. Let’s look into each one of the terminals step by step.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 has 11 gates and is capable of handling Airbus A380 Aircraft. If you travel through Terminal 1, you must consider making early arrivals at the airport as the terminal is going through a redevelopment project. After the reconstruction, it will expand to include 23 new gates.

Terminal 1 comprises the following levels:

• Levels 1 and 2, where passengers arrive, collect their baggage, and take ground transport to leave to their destinations.
• Level 3: It covers gates 1 to 9. Here, you can check in and head to the departure gates to catch your flights.
• Level 4 is your security checkpoint and your stop for various food options. From here, you can access the AirTrain (temporarily unavailable due to construction) to transition between terminals.

Terminal 4

It is the largest terminal at JFK Airport, comprising 38 gates distributed across concourses A and B. This terminal primarily serves Delta Airlines among 30 international and domestic airlines. Terminal 4 has transformed with several upgrades from a recent Phase 2.5 redevelopment program in 2023.

You can use walkways to transition between these levels at Terminal 4: 

• The Arrivals Level welcomes you to the JFK Airport, where you can claim your baggage and access ground transportation such as Air Train. You can find the information desk and immigration center at this level.
• At the Departure Level, you can check in to onboard your flights and find lounges at the terminal.
• In the two Concourse Levels, A and B, you can use facilities such as exchange your currencies, nursing suites, and pet relief areas. You can also find some departure gates here. This level contains 

Terminal 5

The JFK Terminal 5 operates with various airlines, including Jet Air, Air Lingus, and Cape Air. It consists of 29 gates. A skywalk will connect you to the two levels of the terminal.

• The Arrivals greet you at your new destination. Here, you can collect your baggage and head to your destinations.
• At the Departures Level, you will go through security and check-in counters to board your flights.

Terminal 7

Terminal 7 serves several airlines, such as Qatar Airways, Ukraine International Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. There are ten gates at the terminal distributed between three levels. 

• The Arrivals, like in other terminals, involve baggage claim areas, ground transportation, and some shops and airport facilities.
• The Departure Level involves check-ins and security checkpoints.
• Concourse Level is where you can find most of the departure gates.

Terminal 8

This JFK airport terminal handles nearly 13 million passengers every year. Some airlines that operate at this terminal are British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Southeastern, Finnair, and Qatar Airways. It has the following levels:

• Arrivals involve a welcome center, information counters, immigration desks, and baggage claim areas
• Departures have check-in desks and security checkpoints.
• The Concourses have one currency exchange service in both. You can access lounges at these levels. There are a total of 29 gates at this level.

Are you Arriving At John F Kennedy International Airport? 

Are you preparing to land at the John F Kennedy Airport? You can check your JFK flight status arrivals on their online JFK Airport Arrivals page. Depending on the airline you are traveling with, you will arrive at one of the five terminals at the airport. The welcome centers will greet you upon your arrival. Here, you can find information counters, protective sealing services, medical aid, ATM kiosks, charging stations, nursing centers, and pet relief areas. You can also exchange your currency at Travelex ATMs. Don’t forget to collect your luggage from the baggage claim areas at the arrivals level.

Are you Departing from John F Kennedy International Airport?

Are you going to fly to international destinations through JFK Airport? Then, your next stop is the departure level. You can access services like meet and greet, airport transfers, medical aid, and fast track. Here, you can also get assistance for luggage and immigration. This level opens your way to multiple lounges and restaurants. If you wish to transition between terminals, you can do so with ground transport such as the AirTrain.

Check-In Counters

You can check in with your flight at the departure level of your respective terminal. When boarding an international flight, you must arrive for check-in at least 3 hours prior to your departure, as the boarding process involves several steps. You can arrive up to 1 hour before the flight takes off for domestic flights. The check-in times differ for each airline, which is why you must stay informed about your flights to plan your travels properly. You can check in at JFK Airport from either the Curbside – where the airport staff will assist you with the whole check-in process – or through self-service kiosks – where you enter your details at a kiosk and collect your board pass. 

Canceling Your Flights

You can track your flights to stay informed about delays or cancelations and plan your travels more effectively. If you wish to cancel your flights, you can contact JFK Airport’s customer service, cancel it online, or send them an email. You will get a full refund if you cancel your flights within 24 hours of booking through the airport.

Security Checkpoints

After your check-in, you will have to go through the dedicated security checkpoints. It is wise to arrive about 1-3 hours before your flight to get enough time for the screening process. You can enroll in programs like TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, and Global Entry to speed up your security screening process at the airport. You can also track JFK airport security wait time to plan your journeys better and save time at security checkpoints.

Duty-Free Shops

If you are a shopaholic, you won’t be leaving the airport without a bunch of shopping bags, right? You can find a number of duty-free shops and retail stores at the JFK Airport for all your shopping wants and needs. Here you can find a range of things to buy, such as electronic gadgets, travel essentials, fashion and accessories, gifts, flower bouquets, souvenirs, books, and magazines. You can find these shopping places at various destinations at the airport. Don’t forget to buy gifts for your loved ones on the go.

Facilities At John F Kennedy International Airport

Traveling through the JFK Airport is a journey filled with phases and levels. Beginning from the parking garages to boarding your flights, this airport adventure has several services to offer along your air travels. 

Right when you arrive at the Airport welcome centers, their friendly staff are there to greet you. Need to exchange your euros with dollars? Travelex has got you covered. If you need medical help or want your luggage in security wrap to protect it from damage, the airport meets all your traveling needs and wants. JFK International Airport has a variety of solutions for your hunger, too. Grab the chance to enjoy premium comfort and food at luxurious lounges and fine dining restaurants at JFK Airport. And don’t forget to collect your souvenir items from the duty-free shops here.

• Welcome centers
• Restaurants and duty-free shops
• Airline clubs
• TSA PreCheck Security service
• ATMs
• Charging stations
• Travelex ATMs for currency exchange
• Healthcare, nursing, and pet relief areas
• USO center
• Secure wrap
• Interfaith chapel

Transportation Options At John F Kennedy International Airport 

Even though JFK is bustling as one of the busiest airports in the U.S., there’s no need to stress about missing your flight. The airport offers a variety of convenient transport options that’ll speed you through to your airport gates or anywhere else you need to go, both inside and outside the airport. Let’s find the perfect ride to get you to your desired location:

Traveling Within JFK Terminals

Since the terminals at the airport are close to each other, you may consider walking to them. However, you must not do that due to the rush at each terminal. Currently, there are two ways you can reach your gates at JFK Airport:

The AirTrain

Get a free ride to terminals, parking lots, hotel shuttles, and rental car services from John F Kennedy International Airport AirTrain at any time. You can travel to subways in New York City and Jamaica, Queens, using this transport at affordable fares with a Metro Card. Your little companions under five years ride for free. The AirTrain ensures safe and convenient travel for people with disabilities with elevators, escalators, moving walkways, CCTV, alarms, and emergency contact points.

Shuttle Bus Service

As JFK Airport Terminal 1 is under construction, the Air Train is temporarily unavailable. Hence, passengers can use the free shuttle bus service as an alternative. You can use it from 9 AM to 11 PM between terminals 1 and 4, while from terminal 8 to terminal 1, you can use it anytime. There are also shuttle buses to and from other airports, such as La Guardia and Newark Liberty Airport.

Skywalk

If you are traveling via Terminal 5 of JFK Airport, you can connect to various essential locations such as parking garages, AirTrain services, and the NYC metro area through the revamped Skywalk. JetBlue Airlines provides a functional and convenient pathway for its passengers to travel efficiently.

Traveling To And From The Airport

Ready to explore New York? Whether you want to travel like a local with public transport or enjoy the comforts of private one, you can choose among the various ways you can move to your destinations from John F Kennedy International Airport, Ready Set Go.

Train

Swipe your tokens and wait at the platforms to hear the anticipated sound of your train arriving. Trains are a common means of transport to get around New York. Get on “Long Island Rail Road” at Jamaica Station, near the airport. With this commuter train, you can quickly travel anywhere from Long Island to Midtown Manhattan, taking around 35 minutes.

Subway

If you are not in a rush and have minimum luggage, Subway can be an affordable option, available around the clock. Board the E-line train if you wish to reach Midtown Manhattan through Queens. If your destination is Brooklyn and lower Manhattan, you must take the J or Z line subway train. To reach Downtown Manhattan, your stop is the A train. This underground transport is great when you want to enjoy a slow and easy ride of 60-90 minutes to your destinations.

Destination	Connection
Midtown Manhattan Penn Station W. 34 St.	MTA NYC Transit E Subway at Jamaica Station
Lower Manhattan below W. 14 St.	MTA NYC Transit A Subway at Howard Beach Station
Midtown Manhattan Penn Station W. 34 St	Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) at Jamaica Station
Grand Central	Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) at Jamaica Station
Upper Manhattan W. 125 St.	MTA NYC Transit E Subway at Jamaica Station. In Manhattan, transfer to a subway or bus for your final destination.
Southern Queens, Northern Brooklyn	MTA NYC Transit J or Z Subway at Jamaica Station

Bus

You can only experience New York and its liveliness closely by traveling like a local. Get into the bustling streets of this popular city with a bus ride. If you want to reach Manhattan directly from John F Kennedy International Airport, get aboard the NYC Express Bus from right outside terminals 1, 4, and 8. You can recognize these express buses from their black color and golden touch transportation logo that work from 11 AM to 7 PM every 30 minutes. 

You will reach Manhattan for $19 from a one-way trip with this bus service and $35 if you plan to return. Another feature of the express bus is that kids below five can travel for free. You can also get off at Grand Central, Bryant Park (Times Square), and Port Authority Bus Terminal, the three stops of the NYC Express bus.

Private Transport

Traveling NYC is fun when you can visit and stop by different city locations on your own. Public transport may not give you this independence, but you can do so with private transport. Here are some private transport options at JFK Airport, where you can choose to move around the streets of New York.

• Taxis: They can be costly but are comfortable and convenient.
• Ride-hailing services: They offer the same comfort and convenience as taxis but in a cost-effective way.
• Shuttle services from hotels

Parking Your Vehicle At John F Kennedy International Airport

If you are arriving in your own vehicle, it is good to know about JFK airport parking rates and availability beforehand. If you wish to pre-book your vehicle, do so at least 24 hours before reaching the airport. Due to the ongoing renovation, parking at Terminals 1 and 7 is unavailable except for prepaid bookings at Terminal 7. 

JFK Short-Term Parking

Blue Lot And Yellow Lot: Terminals 4 (Blue) and 5 (Yellow) have similar parking rates. You need to pay $6 to park for half an hour and $80 for a maximum of 24 hours. If you have prebooked your vehicle, the rates are reduced to $48. 

Red Lot: Terminal 8 charges $4 for half an hour, $70 for a full day, and $36 in case of pre-booking.

Long-Term Parking at JFK Airport

If you want to keep your vehicle at the airport for 24 hours or more, the long-term parking will charge you $35 for the first 24 hours and $17.50 for each added 12 hours. If you have prebooked your vehicle, the charges for extended parking will be $30.

Dining Options In And Near The Airport

If you are looking for a bite to eat at JFK Airport, you will be spoilt for choice with the variety of restaurants and food options available. Whether you crave a juicy steak, a fresh sushi roll, a spicy taco, or a sweet cupcake, you can find it all at the different terminals of this airport. You can map out restaurants at JFK Airport to easily find food destinations before you head to your flights. 

Some popular food options at the John F Kennedy International Airport include:

• Buffalo Wild Wings
• JikJi Cafe
• The Local
• Bento Sushi
• Uptown Brasserie
• The Palm Bar & Grille
• 5ive Steak
• La Brea Bakery
• Dunkin’
• McDonald’s
• Blue Point Brewery
• Starbucks

Lounges At John F Kennedy International Airport

There are about 20 lounges at the John F Kennedy International Airport. Some are as follows:

• Delta Sky Club (T4)
• The Centurion Lounge (T4)
• Emirates Lounge (T4)
• Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (T4)
• Lufthansa Business Class Lounge (T1)
• Aer Lingus Lounge (T5)
• Chelsea Lounge (T8)
• Greenwich Lounge (T8)
• Air India Maharajah Lounge (T4)

The TWA Hotel

John F Kennedy Airport showcases its one-of-a-kind TWA Hotel. It is connected with Terminal 5 by incredible pathways designed by Saarinen. Located 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan, this hotel serves around 160,000 daily travelers at JFK Airport. It is furnished with luxurious amenities that make travel an exotic experience. You can enjoy swimming at its infinity rooftop pool as the planes fly over your head. 

This hotel houses several lounges and restaurants with fine dining services, such as The Sunken Lounge, Connie Cocktail Lounge, Paris Café by Jean-Georges, and Intelligentsia Coffee. You can book a small retreat at this hotel from 6 AM to 8 PM at 65$/65£ before resuming your air travel.

You can also visit the following hotels near JFK Airport with a shuttle:

Name Of Restaurant	Location
Fairfield Inn by Marriott JFK Airport	156-08 Rockaway Boulevard, Queens, NY 11434, US
Courtyard by Marriott New York JFK Airport	145-11 North Conduit Avenue, Queens, NY 11436, US
Hampton Inn NY-JFK	144-10 135th Avenue, Queens, NY 11436, US
Marriott New York JFK Airport	135-25 142nd Street, Queens, NY 11436, US
Radisson Hotel JFK Airport	135-30 140th Street, Queens, NY 11436, US
Hilton Garden Inn Queens/JFK	148-18 134th Street, Queens, NY 11430, US
Comfort Inn JFK Airport	132-15 150th Avenue, Queens, NY 11430, US
Queens chateau	140-19 169th Street, Laurelton, NY 11434, US
Miad’s Guest House	147-30 232nd Street Unit 1, Jamaica, NY 11413, US

Conclusion:

Located in the bustling, vibrant, and lively City of New York, John F Kennedy International Airport is the busiest, serving the largest number of passengers. This expansive airport has enormous facilities and amenities all of which are covered in the article comprehensively. This John F Kennedy International Airport guide will help you plan your journeys with ease. The article covers each and every piece of information about the airport. Still, if you want to go into the details, you can visit the Airport’s official site or seek assistance from information desks at the Airport. Have safe travels.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)