Quick question for the NYC crowd

[trinityvixen]

I'm heading out to Reno for my brother's "graduation" (he has completed his fellowship and is getting a party or something), and I need to get to JFK. I was planning on taking the A down to the AirTran, like I've done before.

But every time I went to any site to map out the time it would take (MTA Trip Planner, Google, etc.) they keep wanting me to transfer to the E and go to Jamaica Station instead. Is there really any goddamned difference in time? Why do they keep sending me that way if there isn't?

Comments

[ecmyers.livejournal.com]

I have no idea! From where we are I can't cope with the trip to JFK, so I fly out of LaGuardia for domestic when I can, or take the SuperShuttle.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I can't quite cope with the 1.5-2 hour trip to JFK from here, but at least it's direct. Or it would be if I did it my way instead of listening to every trip planner site (except HopStop, which was like, "Why get off the train?"). But I've had bad luck being delayed at LaGuardia to the point of almost missing connections too many times, so I tend to default to JFK unless it's cheaper not to.

[shell524.livejournal.com]

I, too, have no idea. The only time I've flown out of JFK since I stopped working there, I took a cab.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I thought, based on the pamphlet that the Port Authority puts out, that maybe the Jamaica stop was closer. Not so. The Subway System map makes it out to be longer. So now I'm really stumped why the trip planners would want me to waste time changing trains for one that will put me farther away from my destination...

[shell524.livejournal.com]

Well... if the E takes less time to get to Jamaica than the A takes to get to Lefferts (or whatever), then you may save more than you lose by spending longer on the AirTrain. When I went out there to interview with LSG, I took the LIRR to Jamaica, and that was super fast. :p

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was being suggested. I'm not really in any hurry, so I'll save the $6 to spend on Diet Pepsis in the airport or whatever.

[moonlightalice.livejournal.com]

The E is faster, yes. But even faster is taking LIRR to Jamaica and connecting to the air train.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

But the LIRR is more expensive on top of a subway ride. I'm more cheap than I am worried about the time it takes to get there.

[moonlightalice.livejournal.com]

But it's only 5.75....

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but then it's another $5 for the AirTran. ::whines:: I could definitely see doing it from the coming home portion of my trip, but I have the time to kill this afternoon. Might as well travel.

[moonlightalice.livejournal.com]

...except you're paying for the AirTrain anyway! :)