John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — Terminals, Lounges & Travel Tips
New York, NY, United States · JFK
Terminal Guide
| Terminal | Airlines |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, JAL, Korean Air, Turkish Airlines |
| Terminal 2 | Delta domestic (some) |
| Terminal 4 | Delta (international hub), Etihad, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Jet2 |
| Terminal 5 | JetBlue (home base) |
| Terminal 7 | United Airlines, British Airways |
| Terminal 8 | American Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, Royal Jordanian |
Getting There — Ground Transportation
- AirTrain + Subway: AirTrain ($8.25) + NYC Subway A train (Jamaica) or Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. Total ~50–60 min, ~$15–18 combined. Most cost-effective option.
- AirTrain + LIRR: AirTrain to Jamaica Station then LIRR to Penn Station in ~35 min for a combined ~$17–22. Faster than the subway at peak.
- NYC Taxi: Flat rate of $70 + tolls + tip to Manhattan. Metered for other boroughs. Available in designated zones outside arrivals.
- Rideshare: Uber/Lyft pickup from designated lot. Fares to Midtown are typically $60–90 depending on demand; surge pricing frequent.
- Express Bus: NYC Airporter buses serve Grand Central, Penn Station, and Port Authority from all terminals (~$20).
Airport Lounge Directory
| Lounge | Location | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Centurion Lounge | Terminal 4 | Amex Platinum, Centurion cards |
| Delta Sky Club | Terminal 4 | Delta Sky Club membership, Amex Platinum/Reserve (limited visits) |
| British Airways Galleries Club | Terminal 7 | BA Business/First class, BA Gold, oneworld Emerald |
| United Club | Terminal 7 | United Club membership, United MileagePlus Club card |
| American Admirals Club | Terminal 8 | Admirals Club membership, Citi AAdvantage Executive card |
| Air France/KLM Lounge | Terminal 1 | AF/KLM Business class, Flying Blue Platinum, SkyTeam Elite Plus |
| JAL Sakura Lounge | Terminal 1 | JAL Business/First class, JAL Global Club |
| Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge | Terminal 1 | Turkish Business class, Miles&Smiles Elite |
Pro Tips for JFK Travelers
- The AirTrain + A-train combo is the cheapest way to Midtown — and unlike a taxi, you'll know exactly how long it takes.
- JFK's terminals are not connected inside security; if your itinerary involves a terminal change, confirm the airline handles the connection or allow 2+ hours.
- Terminal 4 is the best-appointed terminal at JFK — Delta's renovation and the Centurion Lounge make it pleasant even for long layovers.
- JetBlue's Terminal 5 (T5) is compact and easy to navigate; it's often the least stressful JFK experience for domestic travel.
- Traffic to/from JFK on the Van Wyck Expressway can be brutal; most GPS apps underestimate drive time from Manhattan by 20–30 minutes.
- Construction on the new Gateway project means some terminal numbering and routes will shift 2025–2030 — verify your terminal the day before.
- Check if your airline has expedited bag drop before heading to the check-in hall — JFK lines can be very long during summer peak.
Know Before You Land — JFK Checklist
Review these before your flight so you hit the ground running at New York.
- Confirm which terminal your airline uses — John F. Kennedy International Airport has 8 terminals and inter-terminal transfers may take 15–30 minutes.
- Rail is available: AirTrain ($8.25) + NYC Subway A train (Jamaica) or Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. Total ~50–60 min, ~$15–18 combined. Most cost-effective option.
- Amex Platinum/Centurion holders: Amex Centurion Lounge (Terminal 4), Delta Sky Club (Terminal 4).
- JetBlue hub: expect higher flight frequency and stronger upgrade/standby availability for JetBlue elite members.
- JFK's terminals are not connected inside security; if your itinerary involves a terminal change, confirm the airline handles the connection or allow 2+ hours.