New York JFK Airport

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.

A few years a go we had a disastrous experience at JFK waiting hours in lines and surly staff. This visit could not have been different. Staff in Terminal 4 were pleasant and attentive even humorous. No lines to speak off for our departure we had arrived at EWR. Signage was good and although the duty free offerings are not up to European or Middle Eastern standards there was more variety than most US airports.

I don't know by what standards they set this airport up but it seems to be extremely low. I cannot say what the experience is for US citizens flying it but as a European citizen it was dreadful. Signs towards anything are small in number to non-existent. Figuring out how to get to the AirTrain is basically almost up to luck and the attitude seems to be one of "well most people will take a cab so why bother?" But even before we get there - standing in line for an hour and a half just to clear through immigration is appalling by any standards. It is simply inhumane with officers shouting here and there and the immigration officers standing up and getting away from their booth with no explanation leaving us wondering whether they will actually come back and how long we should wait. (Sometimes they would return.) On the way out of NY and back to Europe I met another horrendously long line entering security check. This one was shorter a mere 40 minutes. What is ridiculous is that this is all paid for by taxes included in our fares and they get enough (or more than enough one would think) flights per day that you would think they would actually care. (Spoiler alert: not the case.) As with all the international citizens living in the US I spoke with I will do my best to never fly into JFK again and use one of the nearby airports simply to avoid the hassle ridiculous waiting lines and bad attitude. The airport has toilets so I guess that's a plus.

Terminal 4 was clean and welcoming and it was a breeze through immigration. The computer terminals worked well there was no queue and the agents friendly. All this was so much better than the usual interminable wait in line to clear immigration that we have experienced on all previous visits to the US. Luggage arrived swiftly and customs clearance was fast. The pick up zone however was chaotic with so many people waiting hoping to identify their driver while frustrated drives looked for their passengers and traffic cops blew their whistles incessantly moving cars on frequently without their passengers! Leaving one person with luggage while another scours the incoming lines of cars (arriving on both sides) is the only way to remain sane and find your ride.

Delta Terminal 2 on 09/11/14. Security very professional. My only complaint is that there are very few eating establishments and shops after the security checkpoint in this terminal. The terminal is very small and could use additional eating choices and shops.

Just returned from our flight from Heathrow to JFK and concur with most of the negative reviews. Had already discussed that we would avoid this airport for any future flights. My first impression was it resembled the most chaotic airport ever just mass confusion as if no one had a plan to manage various aspects of airport services gates etc. the restrooms are appalling dirty no working door closure on the stall used - basically unbelievable. The gates did not have enough seating people leaned up against the walls of a restaurant. It is difficult to even locate a gate because food services seem to share the same spot as passengers boarding a plane. When deplaning you are on your own to figure out how to proceed through immigration customs baggage etc. After leaving Heathrow and Frankfurt this airport is shameful in comparison and a very poor first impression to anyone visiting the states for the first time. It seems like no one knew what to do so they just scrambled everything together and hoped it would work - it doesn't.

You enter the immigration hall where US citizens and non-citizens are lumped together as a herd of cattle with occasional shouting US citizens this way. You then proceed to a self-serving kiosk to scan your passport. After 10 minutes trying to figure out the scanning machine you eventually get a ticket. There are masses of people all around you so you need to find a way to the nearest immigration officer. You wait another 15 or 20 minutes before you get to see an officer who takes the tickets and passports and starts "reviewing" and asking meaningless questions. The officer stamped my passport and the passports of my children. Since my wife got an X on the ticket) we were told that she had to see another officer at a different computer. She was instructed to get on line and wait. I was told to stay with children. Eventually we re-united at the Department of Agriculture line which took about 20 minutes to go through. A very obnoxious officer worked very slowly. Eventually we made through the border but this was an experience from hell. Compare this to Heathrow. We flew business went through fast exit lane were greeted by a professional and friendly immigration officer (who speaks English) who wished a nice stay in London.

I've just returned to Australia leaving from JFK for the first time and was completely horrified by the state of the women's bathrooms. The doors on some of the stalls wouldn't close. The floors were wet covered in paper and the bathroom smelt. I've travelled through many airports and have never seen anything like this anywhere.

I flew in to JFK for a connecting flight from Stockholm to Toronto (with Delta). After my experience at JFK I will avoid this airport at all costs. I was glad I had a 5 hour wait between connecting flights. I spent most of that time lining up for various security checks and trying to figure out my way around. I can appreciate the increased security control at the airport and have traveled to other major airports in the United States however the atmosphere at this airport was mass confusion. The Delta flights were fine however once you get to the airport passengers are herded through like cattle with little explanations from staff and suitcases left in great piles around the carousels. It took almost 2 hours to clear security with my suitcase and then have to go through security again for my connecting flight. It was difficult to find help to find out where to get my connecting flight (Terminal 2). Hopefully the situation will improve once the new Delta terminal is completed. Not the best impression for travelers visiting the US avoid JFK if you can!

On 9/16/14 I arrived at JFK from Germany. I am a permanent resident with a German passport so I was not able to use new do-it-yourself system. After waiting in line for 45 min. I was waived over by an officer and told through hand signals what to do. He never spoke a word. I wished him a nice day. Next was the luggage. Since the "visitors" line was even longer than mine no one was taking their luggage and it was piling up 4 deep. It was impossible to get your luggage out and not one person to help. Thanks to other passengers I was able to get my case. After leaving the arrival area I was told to move outside or I was going to be arrested. Not quite sure why. I was just waiting for my ride not bothering anyone. I just don't understand the arrogance.