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

JFK → New York · head to head

AirTrain and E train 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 E train 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 E train to Penn Station is quicker: 50 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 E train to Penn StationAirTrain and A train to Lower ManhattanDifference
1US$11.75US$11.75same
2US$23.50US$23.50same
3US$35.25US$35.25same
4US$47US$47same
5US$58.75US$58.75same
6US$70.50US$70.50same
7US$82.25US$82.25same
8US$94US$94same

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
AirTrainE · Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (AirTrain); MTA New York City TransitAirTrain and E train to Penn Station
From
The AirTrain station at your terminal, trains to Jamaica
To
34th Street-Penn Station on Eighth Avenue, in Midtown; the E runs on to the World Trade Center
Journey
50 min

At Jamaica, leave the AirTrain and go down to Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport for a Manhattan-bound E.

Late at night the E runs local and takes about 10 minutes longer.

Subway cars have no luggage racks and can be crowded at rush hour.

AirTrain and E train 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