JFK check-in time?

In June we're off on holiday, flying LHR-IAD, and the JFK-LHR. We'll be on the VS046, which doesn't leave JFK until 7:50pm. We're just trying to figure out how we can make best use of our day. Does anyone know what the earliest time we could checkin for the flight would be? Ideally we'd like to go the airport at around 9am, checkin our bags, the head back in to the city for some last minute sightseeing.

Rather than making an early dash to JFK and back - Would it not be better to store your bags with your hotel concierge and stay in Manhattan?

JFK check-in will be open very early in the morning for the VS26 to LHR, I would imagine it shuts around 07.00 and probably doesn't re-open until early afternoon...

[HighFlyer]

Not sure of Check-in, but the JFK Clubhouse hours are 13.30-22.00 & 03.30-07.00, so i presume that check-in runs on a similar timeframe. Unless you want to get there super early, I'd take Rob's advice. Check in online if you want specific seats, then store your bags at the hotel and enjoy Manhattan. You'd lose a good few hours getting to and from the airport anyway, what with the NYC traffic.

We are off to JFK in a little over a week, more than happy to get the opening times if you want them.

Thanks,
Sarah

[ChuckC]

Agree with Rob and Sarah. If it were me I'd leave my luggage with the hotel, have lunch at one of the places in the theater district and take in a matinee show on Broadway. You're out around 4-430pm, then it's a cab to JFK where the Clubhouse awaits.

Chuck-

lol. No Clubhouse for us unfortunately, its enough of a stetch to afford the PE seats The trouble is, we are both very cautious and not sure if we'd trust leaving the bags in a room at the hotel where anyone could in theory gte in to them. I know they're not 100% safe even after checkin, but we'd just prefer to if we could. We may try and get a late checkout from the hotel if we can. I don't know, maybe we are just being too cautious. Staying in Manhattan and just travelling to JFK late afternoon would certainly be easier. Hmmm...

Sarah - If you managed to find out the opening hours that would be great. Thanks

Slightly off topic, has anyone ever used the subway to get to JFK from midtown Mahattan? As it'll be on a Saturday, we were considering doing that, as it would cost less and would mean avoiding NYC traffic. We'll only have one wheeled suitcase each plus a small carry-on (probably a rucksack), so were wondering how practical the subway would be? I don't mind how long it takes, so long as the time it takes is predictable

[Decker]

Subway (Air Train) to JFK is ace. Highly recommended.

Excellent. Thanks Decker. Any idea how long to allow for the journey from midtown to JFK?

Originally posted by alanjones
Excellent. Thanks Decker. Any idea how long to allow for the journey from midtown to JFK?

Should be just over an hour.

The E Train takes you into the Port Authority Transit on 42nd Street.

Costs $7 ($5 for the airtrain to Sutphin Blvd and $2 from there) - you'll probably need to buy a metrocard which is $10 for $12 value.

You can also take the LIRR into Penn from the AirTrain. Only done this once so not sure of cost but it takes about the same time but is handier for the shops on 34th.

Phil FM

I did the other route on my way to JFK a couple of weeks ago as I was staying in Lower Manhattan:
Took the A train from Chambers Street to Howard Beach then the airtrain to Terminal 4. Costs the same ($7) and took 70 minutes door to door.

-Steve

Cool, cheers folks. I think we'll be doing the subway/airtrain route to the airport rather than forking out for a taxi.