V-Flyer

18:05 on my day of arrival.

Would you risk an 8:30pm table booking in Midtown? Or 9:30pm?

lots

quote:Originally posted by lots@lhr
18:05 on my day of arrival.

Would you risk an 8:30pm table booking in Midtown? Or 9:30pm?

lots


Will your car go straight to the restaurant? If so yes, if no then 930.

quote:Originally posted by lots@lhr
18:05 on my day of arrival.

Would you risk an 8:30pm table booking in Midtown? Or 9:30pm?

lots


Another vote for 9.30 pm - early evening traffic can be a nightmare [:0]

Given that immigration at JFK can be a nightmare at that time of night and then with all the traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway out of JFK - I'd go for the later time of 9.30pm.

I have done the same many times, if you go straight to your restaurant and it is midtown or similar then there is a good chance you will make it. Now this assumes an on time arrival (earlier is better):

- land 5.45 pm
- disembark 6 pm if lucky and in Upper
- walk and queue at immigration say 1hr 15mins average
- bags waiting on belt pick up and ten minutes later get into prebooked car (not a taxi)
- drive into Manhattan up to 1 hr 15 mins
- arrive restaurant 830 pm

It is possible, it's also possible the sod's law will interrupt but I have made 830 pm dinners off the VS045 before with a hit rate of say 70% and then others up to 30 mins late.

Of course, if you don't want to risk it, go for 930 [:D].

I last flew into NY on BA, and we ended up 3 hours late, due to a luggage bin not being in the right place.

The times mentioned above are accurate. I would err on the safe side and go for 9.30.

I arrived on VS45 last Thursday and it landed on time (17.00) and I was through immegration and baggage pick-up and customs in 30 mins but it did help that I was in UC and got off the plane smartish then a brish walk to the immegration hall.

A taxi took me an hour from JFK to the wall street area