Best pair by where you're coming from
Your location determines which airport is closest and most convenient.
JFK via AirTrain and subway or LIRR from Jamaica, 60 to 75 minutes total. Newark is faster from Penn Station: NJ Transit takes around 25 minutes. Both airports have nonstop international service.
JFK is the closer airport. The drive is 30 to 50 minutes depending on Belt Parkway traffic. A train to Howard Beach, then AirTrain to the terminal. Newark adds a river crossing and at least 20 extra minutes.
JFK is in Queens. Depending on your neighborhood, the drive is 15 to 30 minutes. The easiest airport connection in the metro area.
Newark. No question. I-78, I-95, or the Garden State Parkway depending on direction. No river crossings, no city traffic.
Both airports are roughly equidistant and neither is convenient. JFK requires subway transfers. Newark means getting to Penn Station first. Budget extra time from the Bronx either way.
Newark via I-287 avoids Manhattan entirely. JFK means driving through the Bronx or taking Metro-North to Penn for the subway connection. Newark is the better call from most of Westchester.
For most New York-area travelers, JFK → HND is the default.2 airlines, 70 flights/wk.
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Best pair by where you're staying in Tokyo
Your Tokyo airport matters as much as your New York airport.
More hotel rooms than any other part of Tokyo, centered on the busiest train station in the world. Restaurants stack from basement izakayas to high-floor dining rooms. Day trips to Hakone and the Mt. Fuji area leave from Shinjuku station. From Haneda, the monorail plus Yamanote Line takes about 40 minutes. From Narita, about 80 minutes.
Shibuya Crossing is the landmark, but the backstreets running south from the station hold the restaurants worth finding. Harajuku sits two Yamanote stops north for Meiji Shrine and Takeshita Street. Same 40-minute transit from Haneda as Shinjuku. Younger and louder than the rest of central Tokyo.
Department stores, corporate offices, and the Shinkansen hub if Kyoto or Osaka comes next. The Haneda monorail reaches Hamamatsucho in about 13 minutes, one stop from Tokyo Station. The Narita Express terminates here in about 60 minutes. This is the one part of Tokyo where Narita's time penalty shrinks enough that a Newark fare could tip the decision.
Embassies, international restaurants, contemporary art museums. The Keikyu Line from Haneda reaches Daimon, then a short subway transfer puts you in Roppongi in about 25 minutes total. From Narita, the same trip runs 90 minutes or longer. Business travelers with meetings at Roppongi Hills should factor the Haneda advantage into their airport pick.
Old Tokyo. Senso-ji temple, Ameyoko market, a pace that runs slower than the west side of the city. The Keisei Skyliner from Narita reaches Ueno in about 36 minutes, making this the rare district where Narita is the faster airport. If your hotel is near Ueno, a Newark to Narita flight carries no ground transit penalty.
Haneda sits between central Tokyo and Yokohama, closer to Yokohama than to Shinjuku. The Keikyu Line runs south from the airport and reaches Yokohama station in about 20 minutes. If Yokohama is the destination, fly JFK to Haneda and skip the rest of the Tokyo transit map.
HND is the right Tokyo airport for most travelers.Check individual route pages for ground transport from HND.
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Lounge access by airport and terminal
Premium lounge access varies dramatically by terminal. This alone can determine airport choice for some travelers.
The rebuilt Terminal B has airline club lounges with seating, Wi-Fi, drinks, and light food. Access through airline loyalty programs or eligible credit cards. The new terminal makes the lounge experience better than what LaGuardia used to offer, which was close to nothing.
Club lounges in Terminal C for eligible passengers. Same access rules: airline status, credit card membership, or a same-day qualifying ticket. Quality is standard domestic lounge level.
The rebuilt terminals have better gate seating, charging outlets, and food options than the old LaGuardia. On a short domestic flight, the gate area is fine. Spend the lounge walk-in fee on dinner at the destination instead.
American Express Platinum or Centurion cardholders. Cocktail bar, sit-down dining, showers. One of the better Centurion locations. Access is card-based regardless of airline.
Large club with runway views, full bar, and hot food. Gets crowded during the evening international push. Delta One and SkyMiles status get you in; everyone else needs a same-day Delta boarding pass plus a qualifying credit card.
American and British Airways premium cabin passengers. Quieter than T4, with showers and a dining room. BA passengers flying Club Suite have access here before JFK to Heathrow flights.
Open to Mint passengers on JetBlue. Smaller than the legacy carrier clubs but less crowded. Food and drinks included. The terminal itself has decent food options if the lounge is full.
A collection of carrier-specific lounges including Turkish, Air France, and Korean Air. Quality varies. The Turkish lounge is a standout if you have access.
United Polaris passengers and Star Alliance business class. Full sit-down restaurant with table service, shower suites, daybeds, and a cocktail bar. One of the best airline lounges in North America. If you are flying United Polaris business class, arrive early and use it.
Standard United Club with hot food, bar, and seating. Multiple locations in Terminal C. Gets crowded during the evening departure wave. United Club membership, Star Alliance Gold, or certain credit cards get you in.
The rebuilt Terminal A has fresh lounge space. Carrier-specific lounges are still filling in. The terminal itself is well-designed with better food options than the old building.
JAL first class and oneworld Emerald status. Sushi at the bar counter, a teppanyaki station, showers, and a sake selection that could anchor a restaurant. Business class passengers with Emerald status qualify.
ANA first class and Diamond status. Full dining room with Japanese and Western courses served at the table, private shower rooms, and a tone closer to a hotel club than an airport lounge. The ANA Lounge one level down serves business class and Star Alliance Gold, and is still excellent.
JAL business class and oneworld Sapphire. Large space with hot food, a noodle bar, beer on tap, and shower rooms. Can get busy before late evening departures but the square footage absorbs the crowd.
Priority Pass and credit card lounge access in the international terminal. Smaller and simpler than the airline lounges. Free drinks and a quiet seat away from the gate. Fine if you lack airline status and want somewhere to sit.
ANA business class and Star Alliance Gold. Large space with a noodle bar, curry station, beer taps, and showers. Crowds build before the evening North America departures. Arrive early. The food alone justifies getting to the airport two hours before boarding.
JAL business class and oneworld Sapphire. Hot food, showers, beer on draft. The first class section is smaller than Haneda's but still has the sushi counter and a quieter atmosphere.
United Club members and Star Alliance Gold on United-operated flights. Drinks and snacks, smaller footprint than the ANA lounge, less interesting food. A place to sit before boarding.
Terminal 2 has carrier-operated lounges that vary in quality. Priority Pass covers options in both terminals, though none approach the level of the ANA or JAL lounges in T1.
Your airline and cabin class determine which lounges you can access.Check route pages for terminal assignments.
Explore JFK → HND
Ranked by flights per week
More flights = more flexibility. Miss your flight, catch the next one. Schedule depth is insurance.
70/wk (~10/day) — 2 airlines.
7/wk (~1/day) — 1 airlines.
7/wk (~1/day) — 1 airlines.
1/wk each. Not viable for flexible travel planning.
Getting to the airport
Cost and time vary by mode. Train is more predictable than driving.
From midtown Manhattan, 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Around $30 to $40 by taxi. The Grand Central Parkway connects directly. Morning rush into the city and evening rush out are the times to avoid.
Runs from all LaGuardia terminals to the Jackson Heights subway hub in about 10 minutes. Transfer to the 7, E, F, M, or R train for Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens. The cheapest way to the airport from anywhere with a subway connection.
Runs across 125th Street in Manhattan to LaGuardia, connecting to the A, B, C, and D trains and Metro-North at Harlem-125th Street. Useful from the Upper West Side, Harlem, or the Bronx. Around 40 to 50 minutes from the West Side.
No rail link to LaGuardia. If you drive, parking runs around $40 per day in the terminal garages. Cell phone lots are free for pickup. The airport is compact enough that the walk from parking to gates stays short.
AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station in around 20 minutes. Faster and more comfortable than the subway, and you avoid dragging luggage underground. This is the best option for midtown Manhattan.
AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach, then the E or A train into Manhattan. Total time is 60 to 75 minutes. Cheap but slow, and dragging luggage through the subway at rush hour is miserable.
Flat rate of around $110 from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan, plus tolls and tip. Predictable pricing but travel time depends entirely on traffic. The Van Wyck Expressway can turn a 40-minute ride into 90 minutes during rush hour.
Pre-booked car services run around $70 to $100 depending on vehicle type. No flat-rate guarantee like yellow cabs, but you get a driver waiting at arrivals. Worth it if you are landing late or have a lot of luggage.
Train from New York Penn Station to Newark Airport station in around 25 minutes, then AirTrain to your terminal. Frequent service, cheap, and immune to tunnel traffic. The most reliable way to get to Newark from Manhattan.
No flat rate from Manhattan to Newark. Expect around $60 to $90 depending on traffic and tolls. The Lincoln Tunnel and NJ Turnpike can double your travel time during rush hour. Fine on weekends or off-peak.
Bus service from midtown Manhattan (Port Authority, Bryant Park, Grand Central) to all terminals. Takes 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Around $19 one way. A budget option if you are not in a rush.
If you live in northern New Jersey, the drive is straightforward. I-78, I-95, or the Garden State Parkway depending on your direction. Parking is expensive long-term. Cell phone lots exist for pickup.
Weigh transit time against schedule flexibility.A faster airport with fewer flights may not save you time overall.
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Red-eye vs daytime departures
Departure timing affects jet lag, hotel costs, and how you spend your first day.
JFK departures leave late morning or early afternoon and land at Haneda the next afternoon. Not a red-eye in the usual sense, but the cabin dims mid-flight for a five to six hour sleep window. Your body thinks it is 2 AM in New York while Tokyo heads into the afternoon. Sleep when the lights go down, even if you feel awake. Landing at Haneda in the afternoon means trains at full frequency and daylight to navigate.
Leave Tokyo in the evening, ride the jet stream for 12 to 13 hours, land at JFK the same calendar day you left. The shorter eastbound flight and the time zone gain give you a full last day in Tokyo before heading to the airport. Board tired, sleep across the Pacific, wake up to morning light over the East Coast. The jet lag catches up around 3 PM.
You lose a calendar day going west and get it back coming east. A Monday departure from JFK lands Tuesday afternoon at Haneda. On a seven-night booking, that means six full usable days. Treat the arrival day as a settling-in day: check in, walk the neighborhood, eat dinner, sleep early. The rest of the trip runs sharper for it.
JFK → HND has the most departure options.Check the route page for schedule details.
Explore JFK → HND
Premium cabin options
Business and first class products on this route, ranked by value and quality.
The widest business class seat in commercial aviation, fully enclosed on the 777-300ER from JFK to Haneda. Wide enough to sleep on your side without touching the walls. Multi-course Japanese and Western meal service across 14 hours. Nothing else on this route matches the physical space.
Lie-flat with a sliding door and direct aisle access on the JFK to Haneda nonstop. The door blocks cabin light and movement, which matters when half the flight is sleeping. JAL's food presentation runs sharper than the competition, and the Sakura Lounge at Haneda has counter service that would hold up outside an airport.
Lie-flat with direct aisle access from JFK to Haneda. The Flagship Lounge at JFK has sit-down dining before departure. The seat hardware competes with the Japanese carriers on paper. The food and service do not. Positions well for AAdvantage award redemptions to the better Tokyo airport.
Check route pages for cabin details per airline.Business class products vary significantly between carriers.
Explore JFK → HND
Connecting through New York from a domestic flight
Nonstop service covers both New York airports and both Tokyo airports across multiple carriers. Connecting through a third city turns a 14-hour flight into 20 hours or more. If you are starting from a smaller city, route through JFK or Newark and board a nonstop from there.
LGA has no Tokyo nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.
Book JFK → HND. Same airport, no ground transport needed.
2 airlines, 70/wk.
Book EWR → NRT. Same airport, no ground transport needed.
1 airlines, 7/wk.
Avoid cross-airport transfers. No direct transit links between most metro airports. Budget 4+ hours minimum if you must.
Check which New York airport your domestic flight arrives at, then book Tokyo from that same airport.JFK arrivals → JFK–HND · JFK arrivals → JFK–NRT
JFK → HND
