# Any reason not to use LaGuardia (LGA) airport to visit NYC in January?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 10, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366 "2023-10-10T19:01:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/1 "2023-10-10T19:01:07Z")
I know none of the NYC airports are perfect for reaching Manhattan easily, but the fares and schedules to fly to LGA are the best I’ve seen between LGA, JFK and EWR.
My hotel is at 189 Bowery
NY 10002 New York.
Haven’t been to NYC in a long time but very familiar with using public transport everywhere.
---
### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/2 "2023-10-10T19:43:34Z")
LaGuardia is the closest to Manhattan.
---
### Author:  [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/3 "2023-10-10T19:54:29Z")
The only reason I can think of that there’s no subway service to it but there is a free bus to the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave Subway Station. If you’re taking a cab into the city, LGA is fine.
---
### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/4 "2023-10-10T19:59:36Z")
I was thinking of using that bus to the subway
---
### Author:  [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/5 "2023-10-10T20:01:07Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#):
>
> If you’re taking a cab into the city, LGA is fine.
If you’re planning on taking a cab, IMO LGA the best option, as it’s the closest to Manhattan. If you’re taking public transportation it’s probably the worst, just because it requires taking a bus like you said, while the others have train service (Airtrain to LIRR from JFK, and NJ Transit from EWR).
---
### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/6 "2023-10-10T20:31:28Z")
I don’t like any of those airports, but when i lived in NYC i always tried to fly via la Guardia. It’s the closest to Manhattan, and your get the best views in takeoff and landing.
I lived at 120th street and the bus was fairly convenient, too.
---
### Author:  [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/7 "2023-10-10T20:47:30Z")
I believe LGA finished their big renovation last year so it’s probably a lot different from what you remember. I would be curious how it is flying in through there.
---
### Author:  [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/8 "2023-10-10T20:49:22Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#):
>
> The only reason I can think of that there’s no subway service to it but there is a free bus to the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave Subway Station. If you’re taking a cab into the city, LGA is fine.
Unless something’s changed in the past few years, you can also catch a bus to the Astoria Blvd train station, which is a shorter bus ride and a quicker trip to Manhattan.
---
### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/9 "2023-10-10T20:54:03Z")
If you’re not familiar with the subway, then I’d probably recommend a cab when you get there. The subway isn’t necessarily that complicated, but there there will be a few transfers between the airport and your hotel. The trains and platforms can be a bit confusing until you get the hang of it. I’d recommend a cab so you don’t have to worry about all that right as you get there. But once you’re good with the subways, then using them to get to the airport works out pretty well.
A cab driver told me that JFK is more reliable for flights over LGA since JFK has more runways so will be less affected by weather and congestion issues. But I like the LGA airport a lot more than JFK, so I try to fly into LGA if possible. It seems like you have to walk for forever in JFK to get to your flight and to the train.
---
### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/10 "2023-10-10T20:55:23Z")
Cheap room rates at that joint, but not nearly as inexpensive as nearby doorways.\*
\*which might be a bit uncomfortable in January but offer a more genuine NYC experience.
---
### Author:  [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/11 "2023-10-10T21:37:42Z")
Yeah, LaGuardia finished a major reconstruction project just a year or two ago. Now it looks much much better than before, according to all reports.
---
### Author:  [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)
#### Post date: [October 11, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-use-laguardia-lga-airport-to-visit-nyc-in-january/991366/12 "2023-10-11T15:13:59Z")
> It seems like you have to walk for forever in JFK to get to your flight and to the train.
Moreso now than ever, as JKF is undergoing a renovation right now.
IIRC, Terminal 4 is especially hard to get to quickly, which is Delta’s terminal, and you’ll need to take an AirTrain or inter-terminal bus.
Also, if you take a cab, NEVER engage with anyone hanging around baggage claim soliciting you for a taxi ride. They are not official cabbies and will overcharge you a LOT. Go outside to the official taxi stand. This applies to all three NYC metropolitan-area airports.
I’m in these airports about 2-3 times per month, and I use rideshare services to get into Manhattan. Works well for me.