New York JFK Airport

JFK as a primary point of entry to the US is an embarrassment to the entire country. Services are very poor (food offerings no better than a typical US highway plaza and do not expect shops of any quality) orientation to the city virtually non-existent currency exchange and ATMs limited. The airport is extremely difficult to navigate with multiple international arrival and departure terminals with no central information point or monitors (recently I had to go to 3 separate terminals to locate an arriving international flight). Amazingly for an airport there are few seating areas and what do exist are cold uncomfortable with no electrical service. The entire airport is aesthetically dreary and ugly. Be prepared to ask strangers for help (there are few airport staff available) and beware of hucksters at every turn. Avoid this airport if arriving from Europe at all costs choose another entry point to the USA (Boston Logan Baltimore BWI even Dulles are much better).

Most 3rd World airports will show more organization than this shambles. Two hours to clear customs and officials plain rude - a very poor advert for the USA. I will avoid this airport for this reason if no other. An absolute disgrace and does to appear to be any accountability.

Fly to JFK (Terminal 7) a few times each year and have seen some long lines at immigration but flew LHR- JFK on December 26 and was in uptown Manhattan in less than an hour after landing. Immigration desks were well staffed and even had a civilised conversation with the officer. Speedy baggage claim and smooth taxi ride even on a very wet cold and windy evening. Return journey ex JFK was easy with hardly any queuing times at security even though Terminal 7 was very busy with people returning after New Year. Can't complain this time.

JFK AirTrain provides transportation between the terminals and short-term parking garages as well as to Long-Term Parking at Lefferts Blvd the (A) Train at Howard Beach and LIRR at Jamaica Station. Drivers can navigate the airport with relative ease. Terminal check-in staff are friendly and efficient. TSA staff not so much. Any personnel related to homeland security and border protection are generally not the friendliest people in the world. Long lines are to be expected at the security checkpoints whether you're departing arriving or in transit. Be sure to read up on TSA regulations and Customs/Immigration guidelines (for international travel) before your flight to save time at security. Gates are well-designed duty free goods are decent and the staff in the gates area are friendly.

I live in Philadelphia and use JFK when it is absolutely necessary for hard to reach international destinations. Over the many years I have used JFK it has improved in ease of access from midtown Manhattan. The Airtran link to the LIRR is a God send. JFK is hardly an elegant airport but it is functional. I have never had a problem with long waits for check in or security lines. On arrival I made it though passport control for US citizens with ease and quickly collected my bags.

This airport is an embarrassment. The flight from BWI was delayed because of backups at JFK. Terminal 2 is dark and dirty with very expensive food options. The bathroom had 4 out of 5 toilets backed up and out of order. No free WiFi. I can't believe that when many people fly into New York this is their first experience.

Terminal 2. Our first flight to the USA (NYC). After the flight we had to go in a disgusting dirty narrow hall for our passes to be checked. After an 8+ hours flight we had to stand there for 1.5hrs with only 4 people checking the 300 arriving passengers. Security officers seemed bored and took their time with no hurry at all. What an introduction to the United States! At Departures I didn't know it could get worse. The Main-Hall Roof was leaking water from the ceiling. Birds were inside the terminal. No Wi-Fi not many choices of food outlets. All announcements were far too loud. It is really a shame that such a mayor city as NYC has this old airport Terminal. Coming from Frankfurt you are excepting at least the same standards for New York Airport Terminals. I can only suggest for all visitors who would like to go to NYC that they try out LaGuardia.

Arrived Terminal 7 on October 20 from LHR. Got off plane only to find queue was already backed up onto the air bridge. Took nearly 2 hours to get to the immigration desk to be greeted by a surly uninterested employee. There were 2 large fans in the cramped claustrophobic corridors from the plane. This airport is a disgrace. How you can have a full complement of officials for US citizens and next to none for the rest of the world is staggering.

Arrived off 7 hour flight from Ireland and then had to queue for another 2 hours at immigration. Absolutely not acceptable.

I arrived at Terminal 7 from Iceland on October 20. The queue for visitors was almost to the plane door itself. I queued for 2 hours and didn't get anywhere. The woman and older man guiding people to booths were out of control with no clue as to what they were doing. Guess how many TSA staff on the visitor line for about 1500 people waiting? 1 then none. There was a bit of confusion when the GC line seemed to have been opened up to visitors (it hadn't been) and I managed to queue jump. In the end I made it through in another hour. Everytime I go through JFK it gets worse and worse. Inhumane treatment and no excuse for it. There is no reason whatsoever to have fully manned booths on a non-existent American line and let others pass out from waiting.