What is the best time to fly into JFK?

I'm looking for some locals with advice! Any of you New Yorkers or former New Yorkers can maybe help answer my question!

My group flight leaves out of EWR, but I decided to come to NYC and stay a few days with a friend before my London flight. She told me that JFK was more convenient to where she lives, so I'm going to be flying in there instead of to EWR (Since it doesn't matter anyway because I'll be staying a few days anyway).

I've found a flight with a 34 minute connection in Ohio for $79 + taxes, but it gets into JFK at about 5PM NYC time. Is that going to be a nightmare for trying to get to her house? I believe she lives somewhere in Brooklyn, but she isn't online ATM for me to ask. I'm just worried about traffic/transport and if that's a decidedly way too busy of a time (rush hour?) for me to try to get to her house or not. She does not have a car, so I'll either be getting a shuttle service of some kind or she might meet me at the airport and go back with me to her place through other public transport.

So if 5:15 a very bad time of day? If so, can anyone suggest what time of day would be better and make the transportation easier?

Thanks!

with lots of luggage in tow??

I'd suck up the expense and get a shuttle or private car to take you.

what are your other flight times?

Actually I'm not planning to have loads and loads of luggage. I'm only going to have my purse, a weekender carry on bag, and one large rolling suitcase (which I will probably have to lug on the tube when I get to London also). Even after explaining how costly it can be to ship stuff, my sister offered to ship anything extra I might need once I get to London. I plan to have her ship (probably with only a few other things) a duffle bag I have that folds very small and flat, but is durable, to me so that I have something I can bring stuff back in later.

As for other times, my friend recommended me a red-eye that Jet Blue has from Phoenix to JFK that gets in at 7:30AM, and then there are options all over the board.

3:30PM
5:39AM
7:30AM
11:47AM (but this one is miserable. It's a red-eye that comes in overnight to Charlotte NC at 6:17am and has a 3 and a half hour layover before it leaves at 9:40AM and gets in at 11:47AM to JFK. I would prefer to avoid this one if at all possible!)

Most of all the other flights are all around 5:30PM, and then there are a lot that come in late (like 11PM), but she said that she would prefer me to arrive before 8PM if possible since they have a baby.

Oh, but the Charlotte airport is lovely!!  I've had a layover or two there before going cross country.

next I'd go by cost... what's the cheapest or most expensive option.

I think anyway you do it it will be a pain, but it will be great practice for London.

The cheapest is the one that comes in at 5:15PM. It's $100 total ($79 plus fees). A lot of the others are all the same price (right around $129 total).

The only reason I'd want to avoid the Charlotte one is because it's a red-eye followed by a 3 hour wait. I am NOT a morning person, so I will be exhausted and probably will fall asleep in the airport (which is scary!).

go for 5:15 then... ah, nothing like getting to know a city at rush hour.  and who knows... your flight could be delayed... luggage collection time included... etc etc it is actually looking more like 6pm. 

Thanks for the advice! I was kinda thinking the same thing. My sister said JFK is huge, so it could be upwards of 6:30PM before I managed to actually get out of there. The biggest airport I've been to would be either Atlanta or O'Hare, so I'm curious how JFK will compare.

I'm excited though! It's my first trip ever to NYC! I'm sure I'll post later on where the "must visit" spots are!

Depending on where in Brooklyn your friend lives, the Air Train could be a great option for you. Otherwise, chances are you will sit in a fair amount of traffic in a cab.

The Air Train is great...you get a tram to the station straight from the airport, and then take the Air Train in one of two directions where you can meet up with the A, E or J/Z subway lines...The A and the J/Z run to Brooklyn. I've done this before taking the Air Train to the A to my place in Brooklyn Heights, and it took about an hour or so.

As long as you feel comfortable getting your luggage on the subway by yourself, I think this is your best bet. And for a cheap low price! (I think around $7 when I did it a year ago).

http://www.panynj.gov/airtrain/

If she is in the southern part of Brooklyn, the easiest way is to take car service along the Belt Parkway.

Note that you can not hail a cab in Brooklyn. You have to order car service.

Yes, it will be crowded due to rush hour, but that really can't be avoided.  The driver will probably know shortcuts down side streets.

but it gets into JFK at about 5PM NYC time. Is that going to be a nightmare for trying to get to her house?

Personally, I would avoid this if possible at all costs. Taking the Jet Blue flight that gets in at 7.30 AM that you mentioned would be far better. Although it's still going to be bad in terms of traffic, I find it better that time of day then at that time of night. I've flown in to NY both of those times and found the morning easier but that's me. Besides, you'll have the whole day as opposed to a few hours.

As others have said, if you can take Air Tran to Jamaica station and go to Brooklyn that way, it won't really matter what time you arrive. Either way, there are advantages and disadvantages to any or all of your choices. I know that makes it difficult but if it saves you money that's the best thing

Well I ended up talking to my friend and she said that for her, the best time would be the 5:15 flight after all. Since I have to work with her schedule, I just went ahead and bought that ticket. I really appreciate all the advice you guys gave. Thank you!!

Well I ended up talking to my friend and she said that for her, the best time would be the 5:15 flight after all. Since I have to work with her schedule, I just went ahead and bought that ticket. I really appreciate all the advice you guys gave. Thank you!!

Glad you got it sorted in the end Have a great time over there. I'm jealous. I miss NY a lot lately. Let us know how it goes.

I will! I'm super excited as I've never been there. I'll take pictures!

Thanks for the advice! I was kinda thinking the same thing. My sister said JFK is huge, so it could be upwards of 6:30PM before I managed to actually get out of there. The biggest airport I've been to would be either Atlanta or O'Hare, so I'm curious how JFK will compare.

I'm excited though! It's my first trip ever to NYC! I'm sure I'll post later on where the "must visit" spots are!

Atlanta and O'Hare are the 2 largest airports in the US I believe (i think one is the largest and one is the busiest). JFK isn't as large (of course I've been known to be wrong in the past)

Atlanta and O'Hare are the 2 largest airports in the US I believe (i think one is the largest and one is the busiest). JFK isn't as large (of course I've been known to be wrong in the past)

Atlanta and O'Hare flip flop between the #1 and #2 spots for being the busiest airports in the US (largest number of passengers)...according to my google research though the physically largest airport in the US is Denver.