One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
JFK6.8
EWR7.5+1.7
LGA5.8
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
JFK7.0
EWR
Best for
JFK
International connectionsLounge varietyPublic transit accessFood options
Watch out for
JFK
Writing T7 off — Frontier, Aer Lingus, ANA, Air Canada, and Norse still use itAssuming Terminal 6 is open (first gates still a 2026 construction target)Virgin Clubhouse Priority Pass is 05:00–13:30 only
JFK · New York’s primary international gateway is still a five-terminal airport: 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8. Official 2025 traffic is 62,629,455. Terminal 7 remains open; Terminal 6 has not opened. Live Priority Pass is mostly T1 plus a morning Virgin window and an Air India T4 room — Chase Sapphire and Capital One are not PP.
EWR · Solid hub with strong United product and improving facilities but suffers from congestion and variable delays.
LGA · Rebuilt Terminals B and C finally feel modern inside, but LGA still punishes travelers with curb chaos, no AirTrain, separate non-connected terminals, and Manhattan traffic that turns a short hop into a 90-minute ordeal.
Time to city
Yellow taxi (curbside) · 25–40 min off-peak, 60–90+ min rush or rain
7.0
LGA7.4+0.4
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
JFK7.5+0.2
EWR7.3
LGA7.3
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
JFK7.8+2.8
EWR7.8+2.8
LGA5.0
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
JFK7.0+1.5
EWR6.8
LGA5.5
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
JFK7.3
EWR7.2
LGA7.4+0.2
EWR
United hub connectionsModern Terminal A experienceRail access to NYCPremium lounges for international
LGA
Domestic and Canada/Caribbean short-haul from New YorkDelta flyers using the rebuilt Terminal C hubTravelers with Amex Platinum who can hit the Centurion in BQuick turnarounds when you pad hard for road traffic
Lufthansa Priority Pass is Tuesday/Wednesday evenings only until further notice
Taxi is $70 plus listed surcharges, not $70 all-in
EWR
Terminal C security bottlenecksFrequent arrival rate capsExpensive on-airport food/waterCurbside congestion at peaks
LGA
Grand Central Parkway and East River crossings — 25 minutes off-peak becomes 70+ in rush hourWrong-terminal drop-off: A, B, and C are separate buildings with no sterile connectorPeak security crushes 0600–0900 and 1500–1900, especially multi-airline banks in BCurb and rideshare-lot meltdown after weather delays when everyone lands at once
Family
Accessibility
Arrive 3 hours early for international
Security waits average 20–30 minutes but spike in T4/T5 afternoons.
Use AirTrain — do not walk between terminals
AirTrain runs 24/7 between terminals with no fare inside the airport.
T4 has the widest landside and airside spread
Landside options in T4 and T5 beat airside crowds for a quick meal.
