Every year, thousands of British travellers land at the wrong New York airport. Not wrong in the sense that they get the flight wrong — but wrong in the sense that they spend £40 and 90 minutes getting to Manhattan when they could have spent £15 and 30 minutes. Here is the guide I wish someone had given me on my first trip.
JFK: The Default Choice
John F Kennedy International is the most common arrival airport for transatlantic flights from the UK, and with reason. BA, Virgin, American Airlines, Delta, United, and most European carriers all operate to JFK. It's larger, better connected internationally, and the new Terminal 8 (shared by BA and American) is a genuinely pleasant place to arrive.
The challenge is the journey into Manhattan. The AirTrain to Jamaica station, then the LIRR or subway to Midtown, costs about £9 and takes 55–75 minutes from the gate to Penn Station. It's straightforward once you know it, but confusing the first time. An Uber or taxi to Midtown costs £45–£65 depending on traffic and time of day, and takes 45–90 minutes. Traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway is notoriously terrible.
Newark: The Underrated Option
Newark Liberty International is technically in New Jersey, and it gets a disproportionately bad reputation from people who've never used it. I fly into Newark whenever I have the choice, and here's why: the NJ Transit train from Newark Airport station to Penn Station (Midtown Manhattan) takes 27 minutes, costs £12, and runs every 15–20 minutes. It's the fastest airport transfer in the New York metro area.
United Airlines operates a substantial transatlantic hub at Newark — if you're flying with United or a Star Alliance partner, you'll likely arrive here. Norwegian and TAP also use Newark. The airport itself is older than JFK and less impressive aesthetically, but Terminal C (United's terminal) was renovated in 2023 and is functional and comfortable. Don't be deterred by the location — once you're on the train it's an easy journey.
La Guardia: Avoid for International
La Guardia (LGA) is primarily a domestic airport and handles very few transatlantic flights. If you're connecting from LGA to an onward domestic flight after arriving at JFK or Newark, be aware that the airports are 45–90 minutes apart by road. Leaving at least 4 hours between an international arrival and a domestic connection in a different airport is strongly advised.
The Verdict
For most UK travellers: fly into whichever airport your chosen airline operates, because the service quality on the flight itself matters more than the arrival airport. But if you have a genuine choice (code-sharing options or similar pricing on different carriers), I give the edge to Newark for its faster, cheaper city connection. JFK is more glamorous and better positioned for Brooklyn and Queens hotels. For Midtown Manhattan hotels, Newark wins on transport ease.
