New York JFK Airport

Arrived from FCO with connecting flight to FLL. Despite long winding lines at Passport Control the process moved at a pretty good pace the passport scanners were all operating and there were staff to help when needed. My suitcase was waiting by the carousel when I cleared Passport Control cleared Customs with a wave. Given good directions I managed to find the place to leave my luggage and was told where to go to meet my connecting flight (Terminal 2 Gate 68) and how to get there. (Nice clean tram clearly spoken stop information). Made it to my gate with a little time to spare. I still prefer MIA but JFK got it right.

I have to transit in the USA at least 4 times a year and I have always preferred JFK over LAX or MIA but in the last two times the queuing at immigration at the new JetBlue terminal and at the terminal 7 was the worst I have experienced anywhere in the world. At the JetBlue arrivals there were just two officers for passengers from three planes. To make matters more annoying passengers must walk outside and upstairs to the skytrain and it is quite a distance. On returning to JFK at Terminal 7 at about midnight the situation was almost as bad but the skytrain was not working and there were no signs telling passengers to take a shuttle bus instead. No passengers walked to the elevators in the car park in the freezing cold and saw all was blocked off and then had to return to the terminal and try to find someone who knew about the buses - what a lot of fighting at the next terminal as the bus was full when it got there on the way to Federal Circle.

Horrible experience. I was not able to make my connection even though I had 2 hours for changing flight at the same terminal (8). Hundreds of people stuck in various queues that the personnel reorganised several times making the situation even worse. US citizens were cleared in less than half an hour the visitors got stuck for hours. No help whatsoever from the personnel. I travel a lot. Nowhere in the world have I come across this inefficiency and arrogance. Avoid JFK at any cost unless you are going to NY. (I have had better queuing experiences in JFK earlier has it become worse?).

Concorde Room at JFK: The room was nice: quite fairly clean and relaxing but the experience was marred by the food: steak was tough; apple crumble was burnt and tough; waiter service was nothing special. I wanted a shower: that means a very long walk to the other end of the terminal so abandoned that idea. The BA First Check-in is round the corner when you arrive -not the most obvious but at least a BA person walked you through the large queue at Security so you got straight through. I love the Concorde room at LHR and this JFK Room would have been ok except for the food and no easy-access showers. re: JFK itself: using the AirTrain was so easy and efficient. No walking at all.

As a New Yorker I know how awful JFK can be. However after Delta moved majority of its flight to T4 the terminal has completely improved. Sky Priority check-in was exclusive and private separate entrance line and expanded security was great. Agents were much friendlier and efficient. The terminal has become extremely airy and open with tons of shops and dining options. Gate area were much cozier and comfortable. Also arrived at JFK at T4 on a fully loaded Emirates A380 along with three other international flights. There were at least a thousand people on line for immigration but they recently opened up more desks and the agents were very friendly and as usual humorous and polite. Overall Terminal 4 has drastically improved and I am glad to say that it has been a pleasant experience.

LHR-JFK American Airlines Business class. I was expecting hour-long queues. Nope: I think having only hand luggage and being in Business helped as we were first off and there was no queue at all. The officers were efficient and pleasant and from leaving aircraft to leaving the airport was less than 30 minutes. Very impressed.

Awful airport for an International traveller to arrive at firstly signage is almost non existent. I had a tight connection to make - luckily immigration was good and got through in 10 mins. I landed in Terminal 4 and my next flight departed Terminal 2 after clearing immigration and picking up baggage clearing customs and rechecking baggage in you then have to go through security again. Got the train to Terminal 2 unfortunately the train station is a distance from the terminal so you have to cross a road to get there luckily the weather was ok as it would be a nightmare in heavy rain or snow. When I got into Terminal 2 I had to take a bus to gates B/C I was lucky to make my flight with minutes to spare - will not travel to JFK airport again.

Travelled through JFK into NYC on 15th Nov 2014 then outbound on 20th Nov. Signage pretty poor not good in typical befuddled traveller state! But worst part of the airport was security. I've no idea what that head movement from the TSA operative meant somewhere between a nod/shake but apparently meant I was next of course I interpreted it slightly differently. (Hint: a simple "next please" would be fine). Then mum and I were herded into pre-checked lane (we weren't). I have absolutely no problem with taking shoes coats and belts off we had time to queue it's not a problem at all for me. Though it is a problem when there's no plastic trays to store your stuff in you're expected to throw loose items like your passport onto the conveyor and being the security conscious airport we all hope it is I thought it gave anyone the opportunity to just wander off with your belongings). Being UK citizens we're used to showing liquids exceeding 100ml in clear bags all of which had to be scooped up on exiting the conveyor. Throw into this mix the guy asking me in the quietest mumble ever to step through the scanner again after my belt set it off (I'd forgotten to remove it next to the sign reading "do not remove belts coats or shoes"). As I did this I was told I wasn't listening. Apparently I had to wait as another traveller from a different queue stepped through in front of me. I would honestly rather be shouted at than left to second guess what the security operatives want me to do. Ask me clearly and concisely and I'll do it. Never struggled to understand anyone in any airport like I have in JFK. Feel very sorry for hard of hearing passengers. I think a few lessons in communication are needed at JFK! That said every other member of staff we encountered were more than helpful managing to treat conversations with humour and politeness.

I am not a sophisticated traveler. First trip to NYC. Route to baggage claim is a maze and lacks signage. Trying to find a way to get to Federal Circle where all taxis and hotel shuttles are located. There are no signs. Member of staff making announcements and you can understand most of what she repeatedly announces. Those going to another terminal for transfers get on the Airline Terminal Bus. Those wanting to go to Federal Circle get the #2 Group Bus - why don't they just call it the Federal Circle bus? Federal Circle takes you to the Air Train which is now running to car rentals to hotel shuttles she explains. Mobs of people on the sidewalk with lots of luggage. Many are smoking. Bus arrives and is already stuffed to the doors from previous terminal stops. A few people of the 200 waiting crowd on. No provisions for luggage you have to haul it up with you. Two more #2 buses appear both mostly full. The driver orders me to leave suitcase at entry where it will block subsequent passengers - already luggage in the aisles and absolutely nowhere to move back. Please tell me this isn't typical.

Terminal 4. As a US passport holder - in the last 2 years I have found the customs agents to be professional humorous and even inviting keeping in mind that they are asking specific questions for security reasons. I include in the positive those individuals who check passengers prior to boarding. I recently traveled with a delicate gift which I requested to be hand checked. The supervisor came to me and said that it had to go through the x-ray machine but he would stay right by it to make sure it got through without being knocked around. He stuck to his word and helped me take it off the track making sure I got all my other items. Being welcomed back into your own country is a real plus. I know that it has not been everyone's experience here but I have noticed a marked turn in the last two years and I have entered terminal 4 at 8 times from abroad during this time. A smile and a short conversation with immigration plus an extremely helpful security supervisor has really changed my view.