NYC airport taxis?

[moira123io]

We're sending DD's for a trip in October, ages 24, 20, 18. They're set to arrive around 5:30pm at JFK. All will have 2 cases each but no US phone to call for an Uber. It's been a while since I was in NYC, anyone know if there's larger cabs outside the airport to fit them all in together, or the subways a better option? They're staying in Times Square. Not silly girls but this will be their first 'big' trip without a parent.

www.rome2rio.com/s/New-York-JFK-Airport-JFK/Times-Square

The subway is cheapest, it'll be exciting... Don't book a taxi.

As always, taxis from departures are cheaper than taxi's from arrivals. they are sharks though airport taxis..............

Subway is about $20 each from JFK to Times Square
Yellow cab ought to be about 60- perhaps 70 with toll ..

Can you get an international calling plan? Won’t they need it? I regularly get Uber from JFK/La Guardia/Newark into Manhattan, it is sooooo much cheaper and easier.

Definitely be a large cab capable of taking them all with their cases outside JFK too

True ! Uber or Lyftt ought to be about $40
And I'd agree with getting a calling plan for them
Miles easier to stay in contact then

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Have contacted travel agent we booked with to be told 'we can't advise', not helpful.

Will the subway not be too crowded around 7pm/rush hour? That's what I'm worried about.

@Candyflip They are on EE, store said it would be expensive when I inquired last August. They advised to use public wifi for facebook calls etc.

There will be large cabs outside the airport, but the queues can be quite long though, but there are people there ensuring that those who need a large cab get it. I am not sure about a subway, it is a massive ball ache into Manhattan, it is not like the underground.

If they’re on pay monthly with EE they can get a bolt on that allows them use their regular minutes/texts/data allowance in the US. We did when we first moved here before we got our phones sorted and it wasn’t expensive I think £10 for the month... they’d save that alone on the cost of an Uber versus a taxi.

You need to stop worrying about rush hour............ they will be fine. it's now or never. American metros are friendly, people actually talk, it's not like london. At some point they will get on the metro during their trip. Your eldest is 24. She can do this.

Otherwise taxi rank is fine, they will queue but it moves quick and it’s definitely preferable to the subway. That will probably be about $70ish.

It’s a flat rate from JFK to Manhattan and there are larger cabs. It’s very easy.

The subway from JFK is not a great option with heavy suitcases (they would also need to change trains) and the older underground stations only have stairs.

They need what is called a "taxi van"; the dispatcher will get them one of those at the taxi rank. It is indeed a flat rate from there into Manhattan.

The NYC metro is not as modern or even as well equipped in terms of trains and signalling. It is really the victim of long term financial neglect and ineptitude on the part of management.

I agree with another comment about them getting a taxi van. It's about $70 from memory. It'll be easier than dragging heavy cases about.

I arrived in NY at the weekend. Yellow cab is a flat rate $52 plus tolls and tip, so as others have said $70 in total, no need to pre book. I have an O2 phone and it's now only £4.99 per day for a travel 'bolt on package'.

You can change their EE plans to max plans that include roaming in the USA

There’s WiFi in the airports so they can get an Uber using that!