Newark EWR Airport review by Patrick Neill

26 March 2008   Customer Rating :

I travel through Newark usually about twice a year on Continental Airlines flights from Europe to the US. Newark used to be an efficient port of entry into the US, but recently immigration wait times have been getting longer and longer. Until about two years ago my flight from Zurich used to arrive at Terminal C. This was very convenient as most other Continental flights also leave from Terminal C. About two years ago the flight was switched to Terminal B. This means that now additional time is needed for the transfer between terminals. The monorail is usually pretty crowded and doesn't depart very often. I find it more efficient to leave Terminal B at the far right end and take the ten minute walk over to Terminal C. Change of terminals also means that one will have to go through security again. If have had some long waits for baggage in Terminal C (eg. an hour). But nowadays immigration in Terminal B during the post-lunchtime rushhour takes so long (one hour and forty minutes on March 15) that the baggage is usually already waiting beside the conveyor belt in arrivals by the time I clear immigration. Food choices are OK though not particularly healthy. Duty free and other shopping are minimal for such a large airport. Restrooms tend to be rather small and at peak times you will have people lining up in front of the restrooms. You have to pay for WIFI (the signal from Continental's President's Club can be received in the area surrounding the lounge). Newark is one of the better US airports but in comparison to many Asian and European airports it becomes very clear that the US are now several years behind Asia and Europe in infrastructure development and investment.

Newark EWR Airport review by Peter Plante

14 March 2008   Customer Rating :

I go through Newark frequently because I fly out of Denver and when I want to go to Europe on Business it often has the most convenient flights. However I have always found Newark to be one of the worst airports to travel through. It's poorly organized, especially for international flights. None of the employees seem to know what they're doing and don't try to ask them a question - you'll get a wrong answer for sure. I also find the people working at Newark to be less friendly/helpful than average in general. The restaurants are average - airport is poorly laid out and difficult to navigate and I'm a seasoned traveler.

Newark EWR Airport review by D Silverstone

7 March 2008   Customer Rating :

Frequent user of IAH, especially for domestic Continental flights. Facilities in terminal C are fine, other terminals are limited and out of date. Would be higher rated but : AirTrain Newark is horrible - slow, small, crowded, and unreliable. I have experienced two breakdowns while trying to get to EWR. You would think they would have a good backup plan, but staff awful. No one ever seems to know what's going on, where to go, or have any concept of customer service. They say the red-jacketed attendants are there to help you, but I have yet to see them offer any actual help! Finally, delays and backups. When things are running smoothly, EWR is just fine. However, being a major airport and international gateway with only 2 runways means that if there's bad weather or other problems, delays compound and rack up very quickly. Be very wary of connecting through Newark if you need to catch the last flight out!

Newark EWR Airport review by S Vokey

7 February 2008   Customer Rating :

BUF-EWR-ARN Stockholm and back. Found the airport to be fairly easy to navigate and clean enough. Only suggestion would be the inter-terminal trains could be a little bigger. On both experiences they were very full and I was touching people on all sides of me. Food choices in the domestic terminal were poor at best, not a healthy un-fried or un-cheese covered thing to be found. Coming back we had a pleasant surprise with immigration/border desk, in and out in 15 minutes. Overall a good experience.

Newark EWR Airport review by B Wainwright

16 December 2007   Customer Rating :

We used terminal B at EWR which is awful. Upon arrival the immigration took 2hrs with only 3 staff for non USA when three planes had landed from UK with 15mins of each other - the taxi service available was poor but maybe this was because of the other flights arriving? The return wasn't much better ... after passing security the 'airside' facilities were terrible with only 2 shops & bar ! so nothing to do but sit and wait which was made worse by a 1hr delay because of ground staffing issues.

Newark EWR Airport review by G Lazaro

6 September 2007   Customer Rating :

Flew out of and arrived at Terminal A with JetBlue. We had a late flight leaving at around 9pm, so the terminal wasn't full at all during check-in. The mezzanine level where all the shops and restaurants are is nothing special. Even with the sophisticated security technology in place, passing through didn't take too long, though this was surely not a peak time of day. What was disappointing was the area around the gate, which was simply dirty and run-down and shows how much they care about the airport with food and litter all over the place. When I arrived again on a late night flight at the same gate area, it was in the same condition. Despite that, it works decently enough and provides the most acceptable option out of the 3 local airports.

Newark EWR Airport review by Adam Stuart

15 August 2007   Customer Rating :

Terminal C (Continental terminal) probably the best terminal in NYC area. Stores and restaurants spread throughout the gate areas, rather than in one single place, and selection of items and food to buy is excellent. Gallagher's steak house my favorite airport restaurant in US. One caution: No dining or shopping options in landside portion of terminal. Early morning flight and all three security checkpoints had long lines, but the TSA kept them moving efficiently.

Newark EWR Airport review by Wilfred de Jong

24 May 2007   Customer Rating :

Newark is certainly a very smooth airport for transit purposes. Slightly chaotic despite its relatively small size, but much easier than other US airports I have experienced so far. Just to bad you lose about an hour when coming in from Europe because of having to fly around the NY area completely. Shops are nothing special, the airport is anything but beautiful, but it works. Which is my main concern after a 9 hour flight.

Newark EWR Airport review by S Samuelson

24 July 2006   Customer Rating : n/a

Newark Airport is hassle free. Just travelled YQM-EWR-SNN and then GVA- EWR-YQM. Continental's Terminal C has everything you need. Although bad weather can lead to major congestion and delays, in normal operations, EWR is hassle free. I even had time to catch the train to Manhattan between flights. Connecting from Canada to another country is hassle- free: no line-ups at passport control or customs. You simply drop your bag off on the "connector belt" and make your way back to your gate (although you have to go through security again).

Newark EWR Airport review by Sujoy Sanyal

10 July 2006

Newark is certainly a great airport - even at its busiest peak times it still is manageable and easy to access, unlike JFK and La Guardia (forget about it), which are huge hassles. Newark simply gets right to the point and gets you to the gate quickly. All the terminals have small corridors with moving walkways that lead to the concourses quickly. There's also a monorail for traveling to other concourses. The TSA people there can be a bit pushy and personal, but otherwise there's plenty of nice shops and things to pass the time. It's not the most inviting and attractive airport to welcome passengers to America, but it is functional - and it is, after all, in Jersey.

Newark EWR Airport review by James O'Brien

27 January 2006

B McLaughlin doesn't know that terminal B is primarily an international terminal that doesn't come to life until after 3pm when all the europe bound flights star to check in. Hence that is why they sell Euro and British pounds there. I find Newark by far the best airport in the NY and NJ area. I have used it many times and always choose it over JFK and LGA. The short walks of terminals A and B are great. However terminal C is much larger and more walking is involved in terminal C. I like the new addition of TGI fridays at Newark. It is a lot easier and faster to get from EWR to downtown NYC.

Newark EWR Airport review by Mark Cueto

6 January 2006

EWR is relatively easy to get to from Manhattan. Midtown bus from Port Authority left on time and took only 25 minutes to get to the airport on Christmas eve. Terminals A and B were bright and clean, with short security lines and plenty of food vendors. I always check-in online and seldom use the check-in facilities at the airport, but the lines here seemed short on Dec. 24th. Returning was equally painless, with Manhattan-bound buses and trains (via AirTrain) running quite frequently, every 15-30min or so, even after 10pm. For travelers coming from/going to midtown and downtown Manhattan, Newark is, in so many ways, a much more convenient airport than La Guardia or even JFK.

Newark EWR Airport review by B McLaughlin

30 November 2005

Domestic wing of EWR Terminal B (Delta/Northwest) is relatively painless and quick. One long walk down a narrow corridor gets you to the terminal: moving sidewalk only runs toward gates. Few distractions (shopping or dining) landside or airside. Unusual for a domestic terminal: you can get Euros, Pounds or Swiss Francs from one of the airside ATMS, and O'Briens Pub just before the gates allows customers to smoke cigarettes or cigars (don't know about pipes). While Delta and NW provide a fairly convenient connection to international airlines (viz. LAX or some JFK setups), allow time for security. The domestic wing only has two security points; no elite bypass. You also have to go landside and reclear security to reach any other Term B gate.

Newark EWR Airport review byAllen Coulson

14 October 2005

I have been in Newark a few times from the UK and I now ask for a three hour connection time to take into account the delays in immigration and with the security for the Domestic Terminal. This time (last week) I sailed through!!! Perhaps because it was a Saturday. The airport is nice and plenty of places to sit. The shops are nice and the people always pleasant. If you want a beer it is a little crowded. It is a bad first impression of USA but a good last impression.

Newark EWR Airport review byPadraic Rowan

24 August 2005

Passed through Newark en route DUB to ORD in July. Arrived in terminal C. Normally, passengers travelling from Ireland have US immigration pre-clearance in Ireland. However, the day which I travelled, the computers in Dublin were down, so we had to join this massive queue in Newark. This was a pain, as we had a connecting time of just 1 hour 25 minutes. After the half hour wait in immigration, we had to pick up our bags and then drop them onto another belt. I didn't really see the point in this!? We then took the AirTrain to terminal A, where we ran to the gate. As the gate agent saw us approaching her, she yelled down the airbridge to tell them to hold on. We barely made it! From what I saw of Newark, it was a pleasant airport, but very busy.

Newark EWR Airport review byGinger Pedersen

22 August 2005

Although Newark Airport overall is nice, the immigration/customs area is poorly designed and confusing, especially for foreign travelers. There is no porter help with retrieving luggage as there is in Atlanta, and the luggage carts are $3.00. Guess you are out of luck if you have not exchanged money. Once you exit the customs area, the confusion continues as there is no clear direction as to where to leave luggage when you have a connecting flight. Then you have to again go through security in Newark even though you have not exited the airport, so another long line.

Newark EWR Airport review byTom Lee

3 August 2005

The best airport in the NYC metro area. Baggage is usually slow, but things seem to have improved. After my last trip from London Gatwick to Newark on Continental, we departed the plane, made our way through passport control and retrieved our luggage in less than 20 minutes. Can't beat that.

Newark EWR Airport review byStefan Paetow

12 July 2005

While the approach and the exit is a bit confusing for a newly-arrived foreigner, the airport itself is logical, simple, straight-forward with reasonably good facilities. Using the train makes moving from one terminal to the other fairly easy but it does get cramped, especially with a lot of transit passengers moving between terminals. Service by staff is pretty good, Immigration control is efficient and courteous (almost on par with CHI), Customs just as friendly, definitely trying to welcome people to New Jersey and New York. Post-9/11, TSA staff were reasonable - although security checkpoints for domestic flights were abrupt and almost uncourteous. At-the- gate security was friendly and apologetic for having inconvenienced you.

Newark EWR Airport review bySteve Kenowen

10 July 2005

Newark is a stop on my journey nearly 95% of the time that I fly. Continental has done a great job with Terminal C which is light, bright, airy, and levly. Very reminsiant of their Terminal E in Houston. Food and shopping options are fantastic with nearly anything you could want. Check in is always a breeze for the First Class/Elite lines, and I've never noticed a problem over at Economy either. Security can be a long process in the economy line I have noticed, but the First Class line isn't that much quicker either. Transferring around the airport is a breeze with the tram service, although if the tram ran airside (as it does at Continetal's hub in Houston) it would prevent having to go through security again when connecting between terminals. The ground staff is excellent. One time, my flight out of Boston was late, only giving me 20 minutes to make my connection to Hong Kong on the other side of the terminal. Much to my amazement, deplaning the flight from Boston, a ground crew rep personally came up to me, called me by name (how they knew who I was is beyond me), and had an electronic cart usher me to the Hong Kong flight. EWR is a great place to make a connection.

Newark EWR Airport review byH Wong

29 March 2005

Had the opportunity to transit through Newark airport recently, utilizing both Terminal B (Singapore Airlines) and C (Continental). The infrastructure looks very modern and the facilities in Terminal C were befitting of a modern airport. Unfortunately, the design (and segmentation) of gates in terminal B was strange to say the least. It was not possible to walk from one set of gates to another without exiting the security checked areas (which took at least half an hour to negotiate). The facilities at the gate (I think it was 60) where I was waiting for the Singapore Airlines flight left a lot to be desired. We found that the waiting area was small and had only a small bar (which was closing at 9:15 p.m.) and a snack counter (which only had a few sandwiches and salads). If you are waiting at Terminal B, grab a meal before you go to the boarding gates.

Newark EWR Airport review byD Olorunda

13 March 2005

Definitely best airport in greater NY/NJ area. AirTrain is a brilliant idea, making midtown Manhattan a few minutes away. Newark also has a highly competitive amount of nonstop flights to international destinations. Unless you are out on LI or in outer boroughs, JFK really doesn't make sense. Newark is clean functional and efficient, you can even check-in before boarding AirTrain from NJ Transit/Amtrak Station.

Newark EWR Airport review byAdam Stuart

1 March 2005

One negative comment about Terminal C - for someone meeting arriving passengers or escorting departing passengers, there is no convenient waiting or sitting areas. All the benefits of this otherwise excellent facility are after security. Efficient security - many, many lanes. Wonderful restaurants and shopping. Very open feel to the terminal.

Newark EWR Airport review byJames Cardwell

19 February 2005

I arrived at the continental terminal at EWR extra early because of the new security procedures, of course there was a bit of a wait and you had to take your shoes and belts off but I felt that the system seemed to work well and staff where helpful. After security the departure areas where bright and airy with a modern clean feel to them, I had a bit of an extra wait but this wasn't a problem as there where more than enough shops to walk around. Well done Newark, puts my home airport Manchester (UK) to shame!

Newark EWR Airport review byT Davies

15 January 2005

My recent experience at Newark was smooth and efficient. Having heard horror stories about the enhanced immigration procedures, our family was dreading it. However, the queues were swiftly processed, about a 20 minute wait; the immigration officer was courteous to my teenage sons as they had to go through separate to myself and my husband. This was their first time to the States, and first impressions count - theirs is a positive one. Would recommend anyone flying to NY from UK, to fly into this airport as opposed to JFK.

Newark EWR Airport review byR Peters

29 December 2004

I have to comment on EWR, as I use it regularly on trips from the UK and Asia. It is better than JFK. However nowhere near as efficient as SFO is. It seems that with the new immigration procedures it always takes ages to get through immigration. Why introduce stricter procedures (no problem with that) but not have extra staff to cope. On a recent trip it took 90 minutes queue at EWR, the same at JFK, and SFO was about an hour. But at least the staff at SFO seemed remotely human compare to the TSA staff at EWR.

Newark EWR Airport review byChris Derflinger

16 December 2004

Flew with Continental, so I was in the Continental-dominated Terminal C, and was very very impressed. Usually I go into Terminal B, which is very dull and boring. Terminal C, on the other hand, is very modern, and filled with shops, restaurants, and tourist attraction shops. Great to hang out in. Almost like a mega-mall rather than an airport. Great job Continental and Newark! The terminal is very big, but the speeded walkways add for some extra speed, and is a big help. Overall very comfy terminal and I hope to use it again.

Newark EWR Airport review byG Docherty

3 December 2004

Although the security is very good at Newark and the lines do move very quickly for the volume the airport is not a pleasant experience. Dull interior, poor signage and we were ignored completely by a Continental rep while trying to ask a simple question, the airline ground staff were down right rude and the selection of shops is very poor as is the duty free. I must say that on arrival the clearance time in customs was great and both people we dealt with were welcoming but departures a different story. Over all not an airport that I would choose to use. Also take a taxi to Manhattan event though it is more expensive than the poor service!!! offered by Newark Express bus.

Newark EWR Airport review byAdam Stuart

30 November 2004

Terminal C (Continental) excellent facility. Loaded with shops located post-security throughout the terminal. Best sit-down restaurant in any US Airport terminal (Gallagher's Steak House). And importantly, three security checkpoints that even during peak times move quickly. Terminals A&B are not as good, but still better than other NY airports.

Newark EWR Airport review byStephen  Ancier

14 November 2004

Newark has the probably the best security screening of any US airport. EWR is my home airport and I fly out of it about 20 times a year. Even at the busiest times it has never taken me more than 10 minutes to clear security. The TSA people are courteous, efficient and responsive. For example, the one time I had trouble with a TSA person, she was extremely rude and disrespectful and screamed at me that "she wasn't my slave" when she had to move my bag to go into the X-Ray machine, I complained to her supervisor and when . I checked back on my return that she fired with my complaint having been a major part of it. I consider myself fortunate to have EWR as my home airport. Compare EWR with the nightmares are LAX and HNL where TSA is slow, rude, and often downright stupid.

Newark EWR Airport review byJoe Emling

1 September 2004

I actually find EWR to be the model for a big-city hub airport. The hub portion (Continental's C terminal) functions very well. It is very bright and well lit, with lots of sunshine. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and diversions to pass the time. For those with access, the two President's Club locations are both spacious and comfortable. The gate announcements can be heard well, and it's easy to get around and find your way. The non-hub terminals (A and B) have been nicely updated and work really well as departure/arrival stations - not places where you'd want to connect, but good for coming and going. The international arrivals halls - one in the B terminal and one for Continental's flights in the C terminal - both flow pretty well and don't seem to have excessive lines. EWR's location makes it really convenient to all of New Jersey, southern NY state, and Manhattan and the Bronx. The connection from the airport tram to the Amtrack/NJ Transit trains make it even better. The absolutely easiest way to get to NYC is via EWR followed by a train to Penn Station.

Newark EWR Airport review byJoshua Brett

9 July 2004

Newark Airport (or at least Terminals 1 & 2) were a dump for many years. But the airport has improved dramatically since the mid '90s and I definitely recommend it over LaGuardia and JFK. The new (opened in 2000, I think) international arrivals center in Terminal B is huge and seldom has a wait for immigration and customs processing, even with multiple flights arriving at once. As part of the renovation of its hub in Terminal C, Continental added its own international arrivals center to further speed things up. The shopping and other attractions are very good in Terminal C, but not so good outside of there. All the major US airlines and most of the largest foreign airlines are now flying out of Newark (the only ones that don't are Aeroflot, Iberia, and a few airlines from smaller countries). You can even fly nonstop to Singapore and Hong Kong from Newark now, thanks to Singapore Airlines and Continental, respectively. So unless you live in Queens or Long Island, there is very little reason to deal with JFK anymore, even for international flights. The only significant downsides to Newark are the dearth of long-term parking spaces and the slow baggage claim system. There are numerous private lots just outside the airport (such as Avistar, on McClelland Ave.) and they provide free transport to and from the terminals, but you're going to pay for it.

Newark EWR Airport review byHugh Bracey

23 April 2004

I fly to and from the states regularly ( 5/6 times per year) and whenever possible I use Newark in preference to JFK. It is much easier and cheaper access to and from Manhattan ( $1.10 bus fare to Newark Penn Station and $1.50 Path train to 34th St) or the fast train direct to New York Penn from Newark Airport Stn) By car it is generally much quicker to Newark than to JFK. The only advantage JFK has over Newark from a smokers point of view is the Smoking lounge in the JFK departure area.

Newark EWR Airport review byJ Engels

25 January 2004

Just returned from my flight to New-York and I would definitely recommend Newark airport above JFK. Newark is clean, has a number of nice shops and café's. Still you would not be very impressed by those if you compare it with some better European airports ( think Amsterdam Schiphol or London Gatwick). Check-in is efficient and Aerotrain between the terminals is excellent connecting you with NJ trains going to NYC and other places.

Newark EWR Airport review byMike Howard

22 December 2003

I flew into Newark, NJ in mid October, 2003. I was totally disgusted when I found out that passengers now have to shell out $2 for a baggage trolley. There are dubious characters hanging around the trolley dispensers offering to help out (it turns out they are employees of the airport). I wrote to the Port Authority of NY & NJ (which runs the airport) and they wrote back saying that they reinstated the fee because of how expensive it is to have a free trolley program and the increase in security costs since September 11th, 2001! It's funny how other international airports around the world can afford to have free trolleys and have much better security than Newark's!

Newark EWR Airport review byNestor Rohowsky

30 October 2003

I periodically travel to the northern NJ - NYC area and use Newark Airport at every opportunity. Once my flight arrives I find the convenience of getting where I have to go is unsurpassed, especially with the AirTrain connection to NJ Transit and Amtrak. I've rarely had any kind of problem at Newark (unlike the 2 NYC airports, and, thank goodness, Newark is NOT in NYC!) I've also had a chance to use the airport for trans-Atlantic travel and on return have found the customs and immigration facility superior to most others I've experienced, in particular JFK. All-in-all in that part of the country I consider EWR to be a much better and user-friendly facility than either LGA or JFK.

Newark EWR Airport review byBonnie Comar

27 October 2003

Newark is great for its service. I can catch a good bite to eat while waiting at the gate to board a plane, and navigating around is so easy. However, coming back from Germany this spring, I found at least one employee at the immigration line who made me feel like part of a cattle herd.

Newark EWR Airport review byFrederick McIntyre

27 September 2003

Newark Liberty Airport is the best for international arrivals you will find in the US. It is fast, clean, open and service-oriented. Even with a lot of international flights arriving at one time, there are hardly any lines at immigration. The baggage trolleys could uses some work, but they're free. And the monorail is one of the best ideas around.

Newark EWR Airport review byJane B. Seamans

26 August 2003

Two of us took an unaccompanied minor to Newark Airport! The security was very bad! Only one of us was supposed to be able to accompany the child to the gate. Two of us went right through security without checking! We could have been anyone! Very sloppy security.

Newark EWR Airport review byAdam Rappaport

20 July 2003

Terminal C (the Continental Terminal) is by far the best terminal to fly in and out of in NY. Lots of light and very clear signage. Check-in is easy because domestic and international departures on separate levels. Numerous security lanes means very short lines. CO has flights to everywhere; full of shops and restaurants (including authentic diner); steak house expected to open soon.

Newark EWR Airport review byM Devor

19 July 2003

Newark is the best airport in New York - also the best, in my opinion, customs processing facility into the United States. The immigration/customs facility at EWR is gigantic - no time in line, and the officers are friendly. Compare that to JFK's Terminal 8 (American) customs hall which is a hell hole. The terminals are well laid out and the skytrain is marvelous. I wish that all airports with multiple terminals had a similar Skytrain. EWR also has several good airport hotels, unlike JFK, most notably the Hilton with wonderful staff. However, shuttles only pick you up at the last train station at the airport, which is a pain - I would like to see that changed.

Newark EWR Airport review byWill Bell

6 July 2003

My comment is about the AirTrain to/from Manhattan. Boy, can this ever be crowded. I was lucky to even get a seat into Manhattan, with all the folks going in to NYC for a baseball game. On the way out during rush hour, it was also a competition (and HOT). I think they need more dedicated services. In this respect, I think they need to look overseas for good examples (one example of many: Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express etc).

Newark EWR Airport review byBarbara Miller

3 July 2003

Finally a place to buy New Jersey stuff. Every time I visited Newark airport all I could find was items from New York. On my last visit I found a new store named JERSEY in terminal A. It carried a wide variety of items from New Jersey including the typical items but also some unique items such as a Soprano section and a diner section. On your next trip to Newark stop in. The staff was also very friendly and helpful.

Newark EWR Airport review byDenise McCorkle

19 May 2003

What a treat from the chaotic hassles and dingy airport terminals of Kennedy & LaGuardia! Newark is bright and airy and easy to maneuver. I took the AirTrain into Manhattan and it was easy and a lot quicker than a cab. Coming back, checking in was a breeze and the security  was quick to get through. I will continue to use EWR as my NYC airport of choice!

Newark EWR Airport review byN Lana

2 May 2003

Not good. Confused, uninformed staff and no place to take a rest and have a decent bite to eat. Still, passenger traffic moves and arrivals are very good. It's when you get outside that the real problem starts.

Newark EWR Airport review bySimon Cheung

25 February 2003

It's fairly basic, functional and has only one duty free shop - not very attractive but it certainly far less chaotic than Kennedy. I took a taxi from Midtown Manhattan although the rail link from Penn Station takes only 30 minutes and is a lot cheaper than the $50 taxi. Flying Swiss Airlines' business Class meant that I had access to the Delta Crown Room located just before the gate. I don't know why but Business class lounges operated by American carriers within the US are always so charmless. Swiss' First Class passengers and those of other airlines had use of the Vigin Atlantic Clubhouse which I was dying to have a peek at. There was a very odd episode when I left the Delta room to smoke outside the airport terminal and security at the gate area would not let me back in. Apparently their logic was that a passenger could not be re-admitted once s/he had exited the area. The Delta staff in the lounge had never heard of this and I suppose it is another of the many airline v. security confusions that have sprung up post 9/11. But apart from that minor mishap boarding was quick and painless. Newark is a good alternative to JFK and offers a wide range of European and even Asian destinations including Mumbai, Singapore and Taipei. Recommended if you want to spend minimum time at the airport, but stick to Kennedy if you like all the buzz, shops, lounges and so on.