New York JFK Airport

✅ Trip Verified | This is the worst connecting flight experience I've ever encountered. We needed to collect our bags and go through border patrol/re-check bags/security. This in itself wouldn't be a problem if the airport was sufficiently manned and the process wasn't so slow. We landed into JFK at 5.45pm, our connecting flight was at 8.05pm. When coming off the plane we followed the signs for non USA citizens and stood queuing for 45 mins for passport control. It was only when we got near the front of the queue we realised there is a 'quick connect' queue for people on connecting flights. This isn't visible or well signposted until you are at the front of the queue, there were no staff directing. You would have to walk passed the 'Non USA Citizens' queue to see it. Even once we switched to that queue (as the other had stagnated completely) it still took an additional 30 mins. There was one border officer who had to take prints and pictures of every passenger. It wasn't something that can be done quickly and I understand why, however more staff would help. Once through there our bag collection was quick and easy, so that was a positive. From there we followed signs for connecting passengers. We re-checked the bags which was quick for us. We headed for security, there is a specific security for connecting passengers. The queue was long but not overly long, the issue was again how slow it was. They had one belt open for all connecting flights. After 30 mins of queuing here, our family and others made it known to airport staff that due to the length of time queuing we were going to miss our flight. We had 30 mins until take off, others had even less. A lady who tried to be helpful took us to the front and asked security staff if we could go through as a priority as we were going to miss our flights, unfortunately she was told no. There was a belt for 'TSA' passengers that was empty, they were unwilling to let people use it despite the lady pleading with them on our behalf. I'd like to thank her, I don't know her name but she tried to help and got a hard time from others because of it. Another worker would let parties of 2 jump to the front but not us as we were a party of 4. It was so frustrating being refused help yourself to have others jump in front, making us more likely to miss our flight. After 45 mins of some passengers pleading for priority to get through and one young woman crying her eyes out because she was missing her plane, they decided opening a second belt was a good idea. After a 1 hour queue at security, we got through with 10 mins to go. We sprinted shoeless through the airport to our gate, the airport is huge so it was quite a way. We made it just in time. The icing on the cake was when we arrived at our final destination and all 4 of our bags had been left in New York. The only saving grace was that we did make our flight, despite it being an unnecessarily stressful situation. My advice is, if possible don't connect here. If you do, make sure you have 3 hours minimum to do it in case the service is as bad as it was for us. Look for the 'Quick Connect' queue at passport control if you are on a connecting flight.

✅ Trip Verified | JFK is arguably my least favorite airport, but I was pleasantly surprised with my experience this time. The check in and security process was exceptionally quick as I was able to get to my gate in less than an hour! I was also not expecting the TSA to be so accommodating considering my own past experiences at JFK dealing with their rudeness. There were a decent amount of food options, but most were charging pretty steep prices so the McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts were a godsend. Ultimately, JFK’s biggest advantage is the range of destinations you can fly to directly, it’s not an aesthetically pleasing airport with world class amenities but at least this time was far less stressful. This was also my first time flying out of Terminal 4 so I feel the experience really varies based on the terminal.

Not Verified | Worst airport I have ever been in. Terminal 8 security task employees were slow, rude and disrespectful. My husbands bag got detained and the young man checking it was arrogant and rude. I’ll never use the airport again for international travel.

Not Verified | Given the lengthy international flight times to NYC and the exciting prospect to a traveller of seeing one of the world's most exciting destinations, the arrival experience at JFK is a dreadful advert for the USA. The airport is old, poorly designed and needs knocked down. Passport control and security is almost third-world, crowds being shepherded in their hundreds (after a long walk) into one huge hall and processed at a snail's pace (two hours in my case after after a 13-hour flight). No respite if you are a child, or old or disabled. It is quite simply, a devastatingly unpleasant experience. The wi-fi is poor, signage is poor, the exits are small, there are not enough restrooms, the lack of amenities is endless. Departure is marginally better but not enough security machinery to process quickly. The shops are not great in quality and everyone just looks disappointed! This airport does not feel or look clean. What a shame that this (last-century) airport is the gateway to an amazing city. Next time it will be Newark!

✅ Trip Verified | Horrendous - the only way to describe the immigration system. Last night, T8, total chaos. No way to even join a queue initially as was insanely busy. Free for all. Not a single staff member to control crowds. Took 2 hrs 40 mins to get through in cramped stifling conditions. Not fit for purpose. Unlike other airports, no e-gates. Welcome to America? Last time I came via Dublin with Aer Lingus was brilliant where you pre-clear immigration.. The only way to do this trip in future.

Not Verified | TSA agents might want to consider that customers may be having a bad day and could try a little kindness. JFK has the rudest, meanest agents I have ever encountered. Will fly through Laguardia in the future.

Not Verified | This airport is absolutely chaotic and not up to date! Everywhere in New York City it's possible to enter the subway with a credit card. Arriving at the airport you have to buy a metro card (long queues!) for an air train, that doesn't even reach every terminal. Totally embarrassing! To reach terminal 1, you have to switch to a crowded bus, that takes 8 minutes to the terminal, which is about 50 meters away. What the heck? I cannot believe this chaos! Never ever again!

✅ Trip Verified | Arriving after a 14 hour flight at JFK from Seoul, the plane waited on the tarmac for 25 minutes, the immigration hall was full to overflowing and it took 70 minutes in a winding line to get through to the full luggage hall. But much worse to come! The SkyTrain at Terminal 1 is out of action and the buses to the Sky train at terminal 8 were insufficient to handle the crowd so it was another hour in a line waiting for the shuttle and then a dangerously full bus to terminal 8 and then more time waiting for the SkyTrain. More than 3 hours from touch down to arrival at the hotel bus stop. Totally unacceptable.

Not Verified | As a frequent traveller, this is probably the worst airport experience of my life. On June 17th at around 08.30 PM I went through security at Terminal 7 to take my flight. The person driving the queue gave confusing indications, and when people rightfully expressed their confusion, she reacted with a snobbish attitude or by yelling at them. Once arrived to the scanners, the person supposed to instruct passengers about what to take out of their bags kept yelling at everyone, saying she was angry because people did not listen - maybe she forgets that the airport is also used by people who don´t speak the language, or by people who can´t hear, or by unexperienced travellers. This made us and the other passengers around us extremely uncomfortable, and I was personally shocked by such disturbing behaviour. I am a young and healthy traveller who will probably forget this experience in a few weeks, but for elderly passengers or first-time travellers this could be unsettling or traumatising.

Not Verified | I come through here every week for work and, today I damned near cried from the agent in terminal 7. Why does everyone yell, why would you have such mean, anxiety inducing individuals work here. They mix regular and, TSA customers together and, then yell at you to take your shoes off, take your laptop out, dont question it or they will flip out on you. I felt like I had to calm the agent down.