Home / New York /John F. Kennedy International Airport / AirTrain and LIRR to Penn Station vs AirTrain and A train to Lower Manhattan

JFK → New York · head to head

AirTrain and LIRR to Penn StationorAirTrain and A train to Lower Manhattan?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The AirTrain and LIRR to Penn Station reaches Midtown Manhattan at Penn Station; the AirTrain and A train to Lower Manhattan does not. Lower Manhattan and the Financial District, not Midtown: the A reaches 34th Street-Penn Station too, but slower than the E from Jamaica.

The AirTrain and LIRR to Penn Station is quicker: 30 min against 1 h.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in USD. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersAirTrain and LIRR to Penn StationAirTrain and A train to Lower ManhattanDifference
1US$14US$11.75US$2.25
2US$28US$23.50US$4.50
3US$42US$35.25US$6.75
4US$56US$47US$9
5US$70US$58.75US$11.25
6US$84US$70.50US$13.50
7US$98US$82.25US$15.75
8US$112US$94US$18

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
AirTrainLIRR · Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (AirTrain); Long Island Rail Road (MTA)AirTrain and LIRR to Penn Station
From
The AirTrain station at your terminal, trains to Jamaica
To
Penn Station, Seventh and Eighth Avenues at 31st to 33rd Streets, in Midtown
Journey
30 min

At Jamaica, take a westbound train to Penn Station: some go to Grand Central Madison or Atlantic Terminal instead.

Buy the train ticket before you board: bought from the conductor it costs $7.75 to $8.50 more.

AirTrain and LIRR to Penn Station: price for every party size

See the MTA's JFK guide
AirTrainA · Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (AirTrain); MTA New York City TransitAirTrain and A train to Lower Manhattan
From
The AirTrain station at your terminal, trains to Howard Beach
To
Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan, by the World Trade Center; the A runs on up Eighth Avenue
Journey
60 min

At Howard Beach, take a Manhattan-bound A. A trains come every 15 to 20 minutes on this branch, every 30 late at night.

AirTrain and A train to Lower Manhattan: price for every party size

See the MTA's JFK guide

This compares two of 6 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at John F. Kennedy International Airport