Give each airport the same flight-search brief.
Use the same destination-airport set, departure and return dates, cabin and passenger count. Compare the number of stops and arrival times alongside the fare. If one result goes to a different destination airport, write that down before assuming you have found a saving.
Our index compares sampled seven-night searches across all three New York origins. One airport winning on one date does not establish a permanent cheapest-airport rule. Browse several matched dates to see how the result changes.
Browse matched airport comparisons ↗JFK: choose the rail connection that fits your starting point.
MTA describes both subway-plus-AirTrain and LIRR-plus-AirTrain journeys to JFK. The railroad can make sense from Midtown or Downtown Brooklyn; the subway can make sense from other neighborhoods. Check your actual connection and terminal before committing.
Look up the fare and service status for your travel day rather than using an old estimate. Include the return journey, luggage handling and any transfers that matter to your group. A simple route you can comfortably make may be worth more than a small fare difference.
MTA: getting to JFK ↗LaGuardia: compare the bus connection, too.
The free Q70 connects with subway and LIRR services in Queens. MTA also lists the M60-SBS from uptown Manhattan. Check the terminal: the Q70 serves B and C, while Terminal A needs an airport shuttle connection from B.
For a short trip, the practical question is how the airport journey fits around work or an early departure. Compare the route you can actually take at that hour. Do not assume a daytime journey planner represents an overnight trip.
MTA: getting to LaGuardia ↗Newark: check the rail link and current advisories.
Newark lists AirTrain connections with NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak at the airport rail station. The airport also publishes construction and service advisories; consult them when planning your connection.
Use one consistent formula: sampled round-trip airfare + your round-trip airport transport + any baggage or seat extras you intend to buy. Keep time as a separate consideration. Entering a transport estimate in our route calculator is a planning exercise, not a live transit quote.
Newark: AirTrain and service advisories ↗
