New York Airport Transfers: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark

A lot of us have had to connect between New York's airports to catch an onward flight. It's common to land at JFK and connect from there to LaGuardia if you're heading to other US cities, or the other way around: if you're already in the US and flying abroad, you'll probably land at LaGuardia and then continue your trip via JFK or Newark.

If that's your situation, here's how to get from one New York airport to another, and most importantly, in the cheapest way possible.

Shuttles connecting JFK, LaGuardia and Newark

There are a few companies running connections between New York's airports, such as ETS Airport Shuttle, Super Shuttle Express and GO Airlink NYC. Booking a shuttle online used to be simple, but after the pandemic the system got a little tangled, and I honestly don't know why!

So my advice is that as soon as you land, look for the signs pointing to the shuttle stops or ask at an information desk.

Where to buy shuttle tickets

These services usually run every half hour, but that's not guaranteed. So if your layover is tight, I seriously recommend booking a private transfer in advance. It costs more, but missing your flight costs even more 😉.

Schedule for airport-to-airport transfers in NYC

Buses run frequently during normal hours. If you arrive in the early morning you'll have to wait a bit longer, and if you can't wait, you'll need another kind of transfer.

How long does the transfer between airports take?

Travel time between airports depends on the day, the hour and traffic conditions.

To give you an idea, here are the average times published by the inter-airport services:

• Average transfer time between JFK and LaGuardia: 1 hour.
• Average transfer time between Newark and JFK/LaGuardia: 3 hours.

How many bags can I bring?

On the shuttles you can bring 2 regular-size suitcases and one carry-on bag for your airport-to-airport transfer.

If you have more luggage, you'll be charged for an extra seat.

Do kids pay?

Children under 3 ride free.

Guide to New York's airports

If you want to know more about the airports serving New York, check out our airport guide, where we go into detail on each terminal and on other services like cheap transportation into the city.

How long does immigration take at NYC airports?

It's a common question, and I'm sorry to say the answer is: it depends.

Depends on what? On the time you arrive, where your flight is coming from, whether you have an ESTA or travel with a visa, and which airport you land at.

For example, at JFK it can take as little as half an hour during a quiet stretch, or up to 2 hours if several flights land at once. That's why you should never book flights with very little connection time, especially if you have to get from LaGuardia or JFK to Newark. The traffic is brutal!