Question for New Yorkers

[ChocolateKiss]

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Hey everyone,

I need to get from Brooklyn to LaGuardia airport after an interview that ends at 3pm.

What is the earliest flight you'd recommend? Am I going to hit rush hour at that time? The LGA website says 30-45 min and "longer at rush hour" for the trip...

Thanks for the help. Happy new year!

 

[rtc]

Hey everyone,

I need to get from Brooklyn to LaGuardia airport after an interview that ends at 3pm.

What is the earliest flight you'd recommend? Am I going to hit rush hour at that time? The LGA website says 30-45 min and "longer at rush hour" for the trip...

Thanks for the help. Happy new year!

It depends a little on where in Brooklyn you're coming from, but overall I'd suggest giving yourself AT LEAST one hour for the ride, and then the obligatory hour at the airport. If I were you I'd probably book the flight for 5:30 to 6 pm to be on the safer side. If you need to return a rental car before your flight I'd add on another 15 min or so too.

That being said, there's 2 tips I have for you:

1. If you book your flight late and show up to the airport significantly earlier the airline may be able to get you to fly standby on an earlier flight if they have room. They have been very helpful with this and usually it is free.

2. If by some tragedy you're stuck in REALLY bad traffic and it looks like you won't be able to make your flight, call the airline from your car/cab and let them know - they will help you make later arrangements and will charge you a smaller fee or no fee at all for the change, as opposed to showing up to the airport after missing your flight in which they may be less kind.

Good luck and have fun in NY! 😎

 

[Cerberus]

It depends a little on where in Brooklyn you're coming from, but overall I'd suggest giving yourself AT LEAST one hour for the ride, and then the obligatory hour at the airport. If I were you I'd probably book the flight for 5:30 to 6 pm to be on the safer side. If you need to return a rental car before your flight I'd add on another 15 min or so too.

That being said, there's 2 tips I have for you:

1. If you book your flight late and show up to the airport significantly earlier the airline may be able to get you to fly standby on an earlier flight if they have room. They have been very helpful with this and usually it is free.

2. If by some tragedy you're stuck in REALLY bad traffic and it looks like you won't be able to make your flight, call the airline from your car/cab and let them know - they will help you make later arrangements and will charge you a smaller fee or no fee at all for the change, as opposed to showing up to the airport after missing your flight in which they may be less kind.

Good luck and have fun in NY! 😎

My experience, as someone who has missed more flights than I can recall is that they will never charge you for a same day missed flight. I would err to the side of caution and call if you are going to miss your flight, but definitely do not pay a fee unless you've exhausted all forms of customer service.

 

[Man In White]

Also, factor in the recent air travel security incidents into your buffer. There are going to be some long lines ..

 

[rtc]

My experience, as someone who has missed more flights than I can recall is that they will never charge you for a same day missed flight. I would err to the side of caution and call if you are going to miss your flight, but definitely do not pay a fee unless you've exhausted all forms of customer service.

Seriously?? Those thieves - I want my $$ back!! 🙄

 

[ChocolateKiss]

Thanks guys, very helpful! NYC traffic scares me a bit....

 

[gutonc]

If you can get in the cab @ 3pm and your driver knows what he's doing, you should be able to miss most of rush hour and get there in 45 min or so. Agree with the others that your big problem time-wise will be the "friendly and helpful" TSA agents @ LGA.

I do not miss that airport (or JFK) in the least.

 

[Rogue Synapse]

If you book your flight late and show up to the airport significantly earlier the airline may be able to get you to fly standby on an earlier flight if they have room. They have been very helpful with this and usually it is free.

Most airlines are now charging $50 to fly standby for an earlier flight, FYI. I have flown standby for free plenty of times in the past, but this interview season every carrier I've flown (US Air, Delta, Continental) has charged $50 for the privilege of flying standby. I guess they're looking harder and harder for revenue sources these days...