8 hour stopover at JFK

fiendishly

I wonder if anyone knows if I will be able to leave the airport as my stopover is so long, and if so, what's inexpensive that I could possibly do or see in that time?

nelly_2

Its 45 mins to manhatten, call it an hour to be on the safe side. You could do the Empire state, times square and get a meal in too (in times square) if you have to bottle that is

We flew into JFK knowing we only had 4 hours to get through passport control (which is bad in the USA) get a taxi and book into the cruise for our honeymoon!!!!!

But we went for it and made it.

fiendishly

Would I do passport control at JFK, or at my destination, Phoenix? I've never had to change before and googling hasn't helped, so I would be very grateful if anyone knows!

blindman

fiendishly wrote: »

Would I do passport control at JFK, or at my destination, Phoenix? I've never had to change before and googling hasn't helped, so I would be very grateful if anyone knows!

You do the Immigration checks at your first port of entry, in your case JFK.

With 8 hours layover you have time to go into Manhattan.

As nelly says factor about 1 hour each way and say be at the airport 1 hour before departure.
You will have a through ticket so will not have luggage and will have a boarding card already so no need to re check in (just get through security...)

Should give you about 5 hours in Manhattan.

Enjoy.

M4RKM

Immigration then customs, then drop off bags, = 1 hour, then get into manhattan, take the airtrain for $5, and the subway for $2...

as you are connecting, you'll only have to be at the gate 15 minutes before departure, but i'd make sure you're there 1 hour before...

the queues are always less to go up to the Top Of The Rock, than the Empire State, and personally I think the views are better

http://gallery.mac.com/mark.m#100031

martindow

You will have the time as long as the connecting flight will let you check in your bags eight hours in advance. Not sure if this will be possible as the desk may only open two or three hours before your flight departs. You don't want to be lugging cases in and out of NY!

M4RKM

martindow, when flying from the UK, the bags are always checked to final destination, however you'll still collect them to go through customs, and then recheck at the connections desk... then you are free to do what you want..

there should not be an issue at all, as the bags are already checked to final destination regardless...

M

fiendishly

You're very helpful, thank you.
I do remember last time it took me over 3 hours to get through immigration, with the massive queues and the fingerprints and eye scanning, but you never know, I might get into Manhattan!