Triangle Trip

I’m a Delta Gold Medallion member and was running late for a 4:40 flight. I tried to check in via Delta’s mobile site but the site was going through some maintenance since it was over the weekend. I got to JFK at 4:12PM, just missing the kiosk 30 minute check in window. Instead of arguing with a machine, I thought I could just talk to someone at the Medallion desk as I was in Terminal 2.

I met up with an agent at the Medallion desk to explain to her my situation, and the first thing she said to me was: “did you know that you are late.” Then the agent said Delta has given up my seat and the next flight was sold out. I then asked her for a receipt of my original flight so I can get pass security to make the 4:40PM flight as it is parked 90 feet away once I clear security. I also told her I am a Clear member which allows me to skip the security line. Terminal 2 was empty. I may have skipped two people had I used my Clear card.

The agent refused to help until I calmly asked for a supervisor. The agent finally printed me a standby ticket for the 6:50PM flight and the time was 4:25PM. It took me nearly 15 minutes to get an agent to complete a task that takes 2 minutes at most.

I was able to breeze through security and got to the gate at 4:30PM. I went to talk to the gate agent who was calling standby passengers. He quickly gave me a seat and told me to board the plane. Unfortunately it was a middle seat but it saved me a few hours at the airport and having to deal with the standby list. Had the agent at the ticketing desk, I would have had a better seat.

While I was pleading my case with the ticketing agent, I also noticed another agent was telling another passenger the same story on the next counter. That passenger was trying to get a ticket printed for a 4:50PM flight and I believe he was a Gold Medallion as well.

I don’t understand Delta’s Medallion service desk at JFK. Here we have two Gold Medallion members trying to make a flight with a paid ticket and the flight is not full (as I got on). Instead of helping your loyal customers with status board the plane, Delta agents at JFK are looking for ways for the passengers to miss the flight and go on standby for a following flight which causes more work for the gate agents.

As a frequent traveler in and out of JFK using Delta, I have also noticed Delta ticketing agents at JFK likes to argue with passengers. I have seen multiple arguments between ticketing agents and passengers – over sized baggage, confirmation fees, etc. I had a similar experience with Delta’s LAX crew and the were very accommodating – I got to LAX at 12:10PM and boarded a 12:35PM flight without any issues. Delta management needs to take a hard look at its JFK crew and reprimand the staff. I have written letters to Delta customer service about my experience but only got a standard reply. I will escalate this to senior management to ensure action is taken. I urge everyone spend some time to do the same. It is the only way to be heard. We all must keep in mind that there are still choices for air travel. If you fly 50,000 miles a year in this economy with an airline, they should take notice and respect your input.

There are many options from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to New York City. Below are the options and cost overview. I highly recommend option 6 — Newark Liberty Airport Express operated by Olympia Trails. See the options and you will know why #6 is the cheapest and most efficient.

1.  If you are true jetsetter, go with the helicopter!  You can get to Manhattan in less than 10 minutes and will earn extra airline points on Continental and Delta.

2.  Most business travelers take a cab or limo from EWR to NYC which will run you $90 or so because you’re responsible for the NJ Turnpike tolls and tunnels. You will also have to sit in traffic if your flight lands in the morning or late in the evening.

3.  Rent a car one-way from Newark and drop it off in NYC is a good option when you land late at night or very early in the morning. National Car Rental has many one-way deals from EWR to NYC as they need cars in the City – especially on the weekends. Most National facilities also has deals for you to bring the car back to NYC. These deals usually have rules demanding you return the car to either NYC or EWR by 2PM the next day. One-way rentals can go as low as $40 with tax to $70 — tolls not included.

4. Super Shuttle is an alternative if you don’t mind sitting in a minivan like wagon with 10 people. You may also have to sit through 20 stops as people are dropped off or being picked up before your destination. The cost is around $20 and you don’t have to pay for any tolls.

5.  If you are super cheap and economical, you can take the EWR Airtrain. The Airtrain is cheap (~$12) but super inefficient. You will need to take the EWR Airtrain to Newark station and change to either the NJ-Transit train or Amtrak. For the NJ-Transit option, you will need to get off the EWR Airtrain at Newark station, take NJ-Transit to Journal Square and switch to another train to take you to either 33rd Street Midtown or World Trade Center downtown. For the Amtrak option, you can pick up the train at Newark train station and take it to PENN station in Midtown West or to Grand Central Station on Midtown East. Either way, I do not recommend this approach for anyone. The cost saving vs time/effort is not worth it.

6.  The Newark Liberty Airport Express is by far the best and most efficient way to go to/from EWR to NYC. For $13, you are pretty much guaranteed to go from Midtown Manhattan to EWR in 45 minutes. The bus is large like a greyhound and comfortable — they are rarely full. Buses run every 30 minutes north/south along 42nd Street. Buses make stops at Grand Central, Bryant Park (by the Grace building) and Port Authority Terminal. The last bus leaves NYC and EWR at 1:00AM every morning and begins as early as 4AM. Staff on the bus are friendly and they accept cash or credit cards. The Airport Express is kind of hard to find in Newark as they did a horrible job with advertising and signage. There are bus and shuttle parking alongside all Newark terminals (A, B and C).

Hope everyone finds this post helpful. We look forward to your comments.

A follow up to my post highlighting issues with public transportation from JFK to NYC, here are step by step instructions to get you to the City from JFK for $7 instead of paying the $45 flat fee + tips on a dirty taxi with a rude taxi driver.

Just follow these instructions and you won’t be lost or intimidated with the process.

If you’re going to Uptown Manhattan:

1. From any JFK airline terminal, get on the Airtrain that takes you to Sutphin Boulevard. The train will not make any announcements so you’ll need to pay attention. Get off the Airtrain at Sutphin Blvd which is after the Federal Circle stop. Sutphin is also the last stop before the train goes back to JFK.
2. After you get off the train, walk towards the exit. Right before the turnstiles, you will see a row of Metrocard vending machines. Go to the Metrocard machines and buy a Airtrain + Subway card which costs you $7. There are options to deposit more money in the Metrocard which can be used on NYC buses as well. The $7 card will pay for the $5 Airtrain and leave you $2 for the E train which you will take to get to Uptown/Midtown Manhattan.
3. Insert your $7 Metrocard into the gate which will open – remember to take your card with you. Walk straight towards the end of the hall and make a left. You’ll see a sign that reads LIRR and Subway (E, J, Z trains).
4. Walk pass the LIRR boarding area/tracks until you see an elevator at the end of the hall. Take that elevator to level B – the basement.
5. Get out of the elevator and the NYC subway entrance is to your left. Insert your Metrocard which should still have $2 in value and take the E train towards Manhattan.
6. Lexington Avenue/53rd Street is the first stop in Manhattan for the E train. You can find your way around the City from there. Here’s a link to the MTA map.
7. Keep in mind that you can transfer to any train within the MTA system as long as you do not exit the subway station.

If you’re going to Downtown Manhattan:

1. From any JFK airline terminal, get on the Airtrain that takes you to Howard Beach. The train will not make any announcements so you’ll need to pay attention. Get off the Airtrain at Howard Beach which is two stops after the Federal Circle.
2. After you get off the train, walk towards the exit where you will see a row of Metrocard vending machines. Go to the Metrocard machines and buy a Airtrain + Subway card which costs you $7 — $5 pays for the Airtrain and the remaining $2 will pay for the A train.
3. Insert your $7 Metrocard into the gate which will open – remember to take your card with you. Walk straight towards the end of the hall take the elevator or escalator down to the Subway station. You’ll see signs that reads “To A Train.”
4. After you have reached the ground floor, you will see NYC subway entrance. Insert your Metrocard which should still have $2 in value and take the A train towards Brooklyn/Manhattan.
5. Broadway-Nassau Street is the first stop in Lower Manhattan for the A train. It is near Wall Street and NYC City Hall. You can find your way around the City from there. Here’s a link to the MTA map.
6. Keep in mind that you can transfer to any train within the MTA system as long as you do not exit the subway station.

Hope you find these instructions helpful. Have a great time in NYC!