JFK pick-up points, terminal by terminal
JFK is a building site, and pick-up points have moved with the works. The biggest change: at Terminals 5 and 7, Uber, Lyft and car services now collect you at the Howard Beach AirTrain station. Here is every pick-up point at each terminal, as the airport states it.
The 30-second version
Take a yellow cab only from the dispatcher's rank: kerbside at Terminals 1 and 8, an indoor queue at Terminal 4, and inside the car parks at Terminals 5 and 7. Uber and Lyft collect you in front of Terminals 1, 4 and 8; from Terminals 5 and 7, ride the free AirTrain to Howard Beach first. A friend collecting you should wait free in the Cell Phone Lot or the Lefferts Boulevard lot until you are outside with your bags.
Terminal 1
- Taxi
Kerbside on the arrivals level roadway
Follow the taxi signs after baggage claim and join the line; the dispatcher sends you to the next cab. The fare to Manhattan is a flat $70 plus fees, tolls and tip. Ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal.
- Uber and ride apps
In front of the terminal, at the Ride App Pick-Up point on the arrivals level
Collect your bags, then follow the signs to the pick-up area before requesting the car. The app confirms the spot, which can move with construction; check the plate before you get in.
- Pre-booked driver
The ground transportation area on the arrivals level
Follow the ground transportation signs. Authorised shared-ride vans also load at the kerb here. If your driver is not there, the Port Authority Welcome Center in arrivals, staffed in red uniforms, can help.
- Friends collecting you
Terminal 8 Red Lot (the Terminal 1 Green Lot is closed)
A friend who wants to meet you inside should park in the Red Lot; the free AirTrain links it to Terminal 1. Short-term parking starts at $6 for half an hour.
Terminal 4
- Taxi
Arrivals level, in the indoor queuing area
Follow the posted taxi signs from baggage claim to the indoor queue, where a dispatcher assigns the cab. The airport's taxi page shows the live wait.
- Uber and ride apps
In front of the terminal, at Ride App Pick-Up points A to D on the arrivals level
Follow the Ride App Pick Up signs after baggage claim and use the zone letter the app gives you; four points spread the cars along the kerb.
- Pre-booked driver
The ground transportation area on the arrivals level
Drivers meet you in arrivals or at the ground transportation area; charter coaches load at the kerb. Give your driver your flight number so they follow any delay at passport control.
- Friends collecting you
Terminal 4 Blue Lot, beside the terminal
$6 for the first half hour; the 24-hour maximum is $82. Space is reduced during construction, and the height limit is 6 ft 4 in.
Terminal 5
- Taxi
Ground floor of the Terminal 5 car park, near the AirTrain station
Follow the taxi signs to the Yellow car park; the rank is on the ground floor.
- Uber and ride apps
The Ride App and Car Services pick-up lot at the Howard Beach AirTrain station
Ride app pick-ups for Terminal 5 have moved because of construction. Take the AirTrain towards Howard Beach (free for this trip), leave towards the Ride App area and request the car there. Customer service staff and baggage handlers help at the lot.
- Pre-booked driver
The Howard Beach Ride App and Car Services lot
The move applies to any for-hire car or car service, so tell a booked driver to meet you at Howard Beach, not at the terminal. Wheelchair-accessible ride-app cars still pick up in front of the terminal.
- Friends collecting you
Terminal 5 Yellow Lot, entered by the new ramp
$6 for the first half hour; the 24-hour maximum is $75.
Terminal 7
- Taxi
First level of the Terminal 7 car park
The roads around Terminal 7 have been realigned, and the taxi rank, passenger pick-up and drop-off have all moved inside the car park. Follow the taxi signs from arrivals.
- Uber and ride apps
The Ride App and Car Services pick-up lot at the Howard Beach AirTrain station
As at Terminal 5, take the free AirTrain to Howard Beach before you request an Uber or Lyft. Staff are on hand at the lot.
- Friends collecting you
Inside the Terminal 7 car park
A friend collecting you meets you at the relocated pick-up area inside the car park; the Terminal 7 Orange Lot itself is closed for parking, so to park and come in they should use the Terminal 8 Red Lot and the AirTrain.
Terminal 8
- Taxi
Kerbside on the arrivals level roadway
Follow the taxi signs after baggage claim to the dispatcher's line.
- Uber and ride apps
In front of the terminal, at Ride App Pick-Up points A to C on the arrivals level
Follow the Ride App Pick Up signs and use the point the app names.
- Friends collecting you
Terminal 8 Red Lot, beside the terminal
$6 for the first half hour; the 24-hour maximum is $70.
AirTrain stations (all terminals)
- Train
Jamaica station, for the LIRR
The AirTrain is free between terminals; you pay $8.75 when you leave at Jamaica. The LIRR reaches Penn Station or Grand Central Madison in about 20 minutes.
- Metro
Jamaica station (E, J and Z trains) or Howard Beach (A train)
Tap a contactless card or phone at the AirTrain fare gate, then again for the $3 subway.
- Hotel shuttle
The hotel shuttle area at Federal Circle station
Take the AirTrain from any terminal to Federal Circle (free); every hotel shuttle uses the designated area there.
- Car hire
The rental car centre at Federal Circle station
All the on-airport car hire companies are at Federal Circle, a free AirTrain ride from every terminal.
- Friends collecting you
The free wait lot at Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain station
A free on-airport lot for pick-ups and drop-offs, 8 minutes from the terminals by free AirTrain. Drivers must stay in the car. Enter "JFK Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Station" in the satnav or follow signs for the Wait Lot.
Being picked up by a friend: where to wait and what it costs
Not at the kerb: terminal fronts are for active pick-ups only, cars cannot wait unless you and your bags are ready, and unattended cars are towed. Your friend should wait in the free Cell Phone Lot, under five minutes from every terminal and closest to Terminals 5, 7 and 8, or the free Lefferts Boulevard lot, closest to Terminals 1 and 4, then drive round when you call.
To meet you inside, they need the short-term car park beside your terminal, from $6 for half an hour. Drivers should use the Van Wyck Expressway for Terminals 1 and 4 and the JFK Expressway for Terminals 5, 7 and 8.
- Cell Phone Lot
- Free, under 5 minutes from all terminals
- Lefferts Boulevard lot
- Free, 8 minutes by free AirTrain
- Short-term parking
- $6 for the first half hour
Terminals 5 and 7: the Howard Beach rule
Arriving at Terminal 5 (JetBlue) or Terminal 7, you cannot be collected by Uber, Lyft or a car service outside the terminal for now. Follow the AirTrain signs, ride to Howard Beach, which is free for this trip, and request your car at the pick-up lot there, where staff and baggage handlers help. Taxis still run from ranks inside each terminal's car park, and departures can still be dropped at the terminal.
Meeting a pre-booked driver
At Terminals 1, 4 and 8 a pre-booked driver meets you in arrivals or at the ground transportation area. At Terminals 5 and 7 the meeting point is the Howard Beach lot, so put that in the booking. Give your flight number so the driver tracks delays, and ignore anyone without a uniform offering a car: soliciting rides at JFK is illegal.
Accessible pick-up
Wheelchair-accessible Uber and Lyft cars pick up in front of every terminal, including Terminals 5 and 7. Accessible yellow cabs cost the same as any other and can be booked through Accessible Dispatch on +1 646 599 9999, by text on +1 646 400 0789, or in the Curb and ARRO apps. Arrange help from the gate to the car with your airline before you fly; all AirTrain stations are step-free.
Questions people ask
Good questions about New York JFK
Where do Uber and Lyft pick up at JFK?
In front of Terminals 1, 4 and 8, at the Ride App Pick-Up points. For Terminals 5 and 7, pick-ups have moved to the Howard Beach AirTrain station; the AirTrain there is free.
Where is the taxi rank at JFK Terminal 4?
On the arrivals level, with an indoor queuing area; follow the taxi signs from baggage claim.
Where is the taxi rank at JFK Terminal 5?
On the ground floor of the Terminal 5 car park, near the AirTrain station.
Is there a free waiting area for pick-ups at JFK?
Yes: the Cell Phone Lot, under five minutes from all terminals, and the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain lot, 8 minutes away by free AirTrain. Both are free; drivers stay with the car.
Can my friend wait at the kerb at JFK?
No. Cars may stop only when you and your bags are ready, and unattended cars are towed. Wait in a free lot, or park in the short-term car park from $6 a half hour.
Where do hotel shuttles pick up at JFK?
At Federal Circle station, reached free on the AirTrain from every terminal; the car hire centre is there too.
Image credits: Acroterion (CC BY-SA 4.0)