Triangle Trip

One of the most efficient and economical ways to get to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) from below 57th street Manhattan is via MTA’s R, N or Q train. Total cost for a one way trip will be less than US$3.00, which includes a transfer from the train to the bus. If you’re in NYC for a few days, consider reading my article on how to maximize the value of the unlimited MTA Metrocard.

The R, N and Q trains run north-south along Broadway and through the center of Manhattan island to Queens. Once you get to Queens, hop on the M60 bus for about 20 minutes max and you’ll be at a LGA terminal.

Here are the step by step directions to get to LaGuardia Airport LGA from Manhattan.

1a. Get on the Q when you are at an interchange station because the Q runs express vs the N and R.

2. Get off the N or Q train when you’re at Astoria Boulevard – which is 6 stops after you have arrived to Queens (you’ll know when the train moves onto elevated tracks).

3. Exit Astoria Boulevard station and stay on your right hand side. Look for signs that read M60 bus and display an airplane.

5. The M60 bus will be coming off the bridge from Manhattan. Jump on the M60 and it will take you straight to all the LGA terminals.

You can pick up the same bus from LGA if you’re arriving into NYC. However, there are no vending machines in LGA for you to get a Metrocard. You’ll need to have US$2.25 in change, or you’re out of luck. For NYC visitors, you may want to check out my NYC Visitor’s Guide.

For your convenience, here are links on how to get from Manhattan to Newark (How to get to NYC from Newark) and JFK (How to take NYC public transportation to/from JFK).

I’ve been asked by many friends about where to skate in New York City over the holidays. I want to tell you, what I tell them, because this is the perfect time of year to go ice skating in NYC. Whether you’re a tourist visiting New York, or a longtime resident, nothing quite compares to the experience of gliding across ice underneath the tall facades and lights of Manhattan. If you are visiting NYC, I suggest you also see Captain G’s Guide to see NYC in a day or two, an excellent list of things to do in NYC.

Of all of the ice skating options in NYC, I’d recommend Wollman and The Pond. Wollman Rink and The Pond at Bryant Park have the most convenient locations, the most interesting alternative entertainment venues nearby, and acceptable lines and crowd sizes.

Below are all of the ice rinks (with a map showing approximate location) with their websites and phone numbers for your reference. As a rule, outdoor rinks are seasonal, and are converted in fields, gardens, or amusement parks once the weather begins to soften, while indoor rinks are open year round.

Battery Park City On Ice
North End Ave, between Warren and Murray Streets (888-727-5423, batteryparkcityice.com)
A brand new ice rink just opened up last November at downtown Manhattan’s Battery Park City, north of the World Trade Center along the West Side Highway. This mobile rink is supposed to be eco-friendly, sustainability minded, and one of the most energy efficient in the country. The rink is open Monday to Friday from 1pm–10pm, Saturday 10am–10pm, and Sunday 11am–9pm. Battery Park City on Ice will stay open until February 15, 2010. Giant, heated exhibition tents provide a place to rest in between skating, and a refreshments stand provides food and drink. Admission is $10, and skate rental is $3. While the rink is definitely interesting (especially it’s eco-friendly features), it’s surrounded by construction buildings. I wouldn’t recommend this spot if you’re looking for a scenic skate.

Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink
30 Rockefeller Plaza, between 49th and 50th Streets (212-332-7654, therinkatrockcenter.com)
Located at Rockefeller Center, this is the most famous (and most expensive) rink in New York City! The rink is usually packed, and we recommend you go early in the morning to avoid the one to two hour wait. Prices vary depending on what day you go (it’s usually pricier around Christmas), and admission provides access for a single session only; this is typically an hour and a half. It’s typically open from late September all the way to late March. Very scenic, and the iconic skating experience in the city, set in the backdrop of the statue of Prometheus – if it weren’t for the small-ish size of the rink, the crowds, and the wait time. Ultimately, this rink is a tourist trap, and city visitors and residents alike can find better.

The Pond at Bryant Park
Sixth Ave, between 40th and 42nd Sts (212-661-6640, thepondatbryantpark.com)
During the winter, Bryant Park converts into an amazing seasonal event spot. Besides an ice rink, the park turned exhibition tent complex includes holiday shops, an indoor pavilion and the Canadian-themed lounge Celsius, which conveniently offers a full children’s menu and plenty of hot chocolate. Admission is completely free, but skate rental is $12, which just about puts it even with the other ice rinks. This is one of my favorite ones to go to. It’s set against the backdrop of a beautiful public park, not too crowded, and has shopping within the park and nearby along 5th and 6th avenue. The rink is seasonally open between November 6 to January 24. Hours are Sunday to Thursday 8am–10pm; Friday and Saturday 8am–midnight.

Lasker Skating Rink
110th Street and Lenox Avenue (917-492-3857, wollmanskatingrink.com/main_lasker.htm)
This rink is in the upper part of Manhattan, right at the northern edge of Central Park. Although it has two huge ice rinks, I haven’t gone to this rink because of its location and hours. The rink hosts local hockey games, and so hours are very specific, depending on which day you want to go. Generally, it’s open Monday to Thursday from 10 AM to 3:35 PM, Friday 10 AM – 11 PM, Saturday from 1 – 11PM, Sunday 12:30 – 4:30 PM; on Tuesdays, it’s also open during the evening 8 – 10 PM, and on Friday, it’s open 7 – 11 PM.  Ultimately, I’d suggest avoiding it, since it’s out of the way, and the schedule is a little confusing.

Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers
Chelsea Piers, Pier 61, 23rd Street & the Hudson River (212-336-6100, chelseapiers.com/sr01.htm)
Sky Rink is unique among the ice rink offerings in that it’s indoors, and open year round. It’s located on the western edge of Manhattan, past the West Side Highway. This is another rink that’s slight out of the way, and not scenic at all, but it’s worth the trip if you’re either determined to skate out of season or at a rink that isn’t crowded. Most of the times I’ve been here, there were very few people on the ice. Hours are Monday and Thursday 1:30 – 5:20 PM, Tuesday and Thursday 3:00 – 5:20 PM, Saturday and Sunday 1:00 – 3:50 PM. Adult admission is $13, youth is $10.50, and skate rental is $7.50; considering the location, and the lack of scenery, I’d suggest avoiding this one unless you want to skate in the middle of summer or practice your skating in a less crowded rink.

Wollman Rink
59th Street and Sixth Avenue (212-439-6900, wollmanskatingrink.com/main_wollman.htm)
This rink is another favorite of mine. Located at the southern end of Central Park, Wollman is located near several subway stations; is set in the backdrop of Central Park; and isn’t too crowded during the non holiday winter season. I personally prefer going during the late morning and afternoon, though; since the park doesn’t have much lighting, Wollman Rink switches on stadium lamps once it gets too dark. Admission prices vary, depending on age and day of the week you go (admission is higher for adults and when going Saturday or Sunday). Skate rental is $6.25. Hours are Monday and Tuesday 10:00am – 2:30pm; Wednesday and Thursday 10:00am – 10:00pm; Friday and Saturday 10:00am – 11:00pm; and Sunday 10:00am – 9:00pm.

There are four airlines (American, Delta, United, Virgin) that operate nonstop flights between New York JFK and Los Angeles LAX. Each airline has six round trip flights per day out of each airport. This means there are 24 flights per day from JFK to LAX. Assuming each flight can carry around 200 passengers which means there are 4,800 available seats from JFK to LAX. Do we really need that many flights each day between the two cities?

The number gets bigger if you include the Greater NYC and Los Angeles areas. Continental which flies out of Newark has about eight nonstops to LAX, Burbank and Long Beach. Jetblue has four nonstops from JFK to Long Beach and Burbank. This means there are 36 flights a day with 7,200 available seats everyday from the Greater NYC to Los Angeles area.

The among of flights between the two metro areas are way too excessive. This is one of many excess and waste we have in America which is part of the reason we are in a recession. Just like having too many Starbucks on one street, too many Citibanks in a two block radius, we have too many airlines flying half empty planes coast to coast. I can see the demand for the flights during peak travel season and peak travel days such as Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. I highly doubt the Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday flights are full.

For the record, the same airlines have similar among of flights between the Greater New York area and the Bay area (San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose). Also keep in mine that my statistics are only for NON-STOP flights. There are 200 more options if you decide to connect or use multiple carriers. Below is a simple search result from Kayak with a three week advance purchase search:

Kayak Search Result (JFK-LAX)

As a frequent coast to coast traveler, I have been on many half empty plane for the past month flying out on Monday mornings and Thursday evenings (which are peak travel times). Perhaps this is why my round trip tickets has not been more than $400 when I bought it 24 hours before the flight. This week’s round trip JFK/LAX ticket was $210 which was purchased 5 days in advanced. Competition driving prices down is capitalism at its best. I have benefited as a consumer. However we all should know that these airlines aren’t money on these flights. Here’s a link to a WSJ article (March 12, 2009) about fuel-hedging loses are impacting Cathay, Delta, etc. Eventually the airlines will go to the government to ask for money.

Government needs to step in to manage the airline industry or we will see another bail out request situation – which already happened once if you recalled post September 11. The previous bail out also drove every single major airline to bankruptcy. I may sound like a socialist but I rather be a socialist than paying for it like we are funding Wall Street and Detroit. I don’t want President Obama the US to appoint me as the Airline Czar to manage the bailout funds when he decides to distribute funds for airline failures. The airline industry needs government intervention now.