Most car services send a driver from Manhattan to collect you at JFK, which means their car is fighting the same Van Wyck traffic you are. Our base is on Hillside Avenue in Queens Village, about seven miles from the airport. For early-morning departures and late-night arrivals that difference is real: a shorter dead run for us, and a car that is already in position when your flight lands early.
How a JFK pick-up works
- You book with your flight number. That is the most useful thing you can give us. Your chauffeur’s schedule follows the aircraft, not the timetable.
- We watch the flight. Early or late, the pick-up moves with it. There is no charge for a delay you did not cause.
- You get a text when you land with the chauffeur’s name, phone number and the vehicle.
- Your chauffeur meets you inside. On domestic flights that is at baggage claim; on international flights it is the arrivals hall just after you clear customs, holding a sign with your name.
- Bags go in, you go home. Parking at the terminal is already in the price.
Free waiting time starts when your plane is on the ground, not at the time you booked. You get 60 minutes on international arrivals and 30 on domestic — enough for an ordinary customs queue or a slow carousel. If immigration is unusually backed up, text your chauffeur and they will stay with you.
Typical drive times from JFK
These are realistic door-to-door ranges, from a quiet late evening to a weekday rush. Leave the high end in your plans if you have a meeting to make.
| Destination | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Midtown Manhattan | 45–75 min | Via the Midtown Tunnel or the Williamsburg Bridge, whichever is moving |
| Lower Manhattan / Financial District | 40–70 min | Often faster via the Belt Parkway and the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel |
| Downtown Brooklyn | 35–60 min | Belt Parkway, then the BQE |
| LaGuardia Airport | 25–45 min | For connecting passengers changing airports |
| Newark Airport | 60–100 min | Crosses Staten Island or Manhattan; allow plenty of time |
| Garden City / central Nassau | 25–40 min | Southern State or Cross Island Parkway |
| White Plains / Westchester | 45–70 min | Cross Island to the Whitestone or Throgs Neck Bridge |
Choosing a vehicle for JFK
The question is usually luggage, not passengers. Long-haul international travellers carry more than people expect, and a sedan that seats three will not hold three large suitcases.
- One or two people, one case each: Cadillac XTS sedan.
- Families, or anyone with golf clubs, skis or a pram: Chevrolet Suburban, which has the most space behind the third row. The Escalade seats the same six and is the more formal choice.
- Seven to fourteen people: a Mercedes Sprinter. One vehicle, one meeting point, usually cheaper than two SUVs.
- Tour groups, teams and wedding guests: a minibus or a 56-seat coach. Send us the flight list and we can stagger pick-ups across several arrivals.
A note for groups: buses and larger commercial vehicles are not allowed on New York’s parkways, so a coach from JFK runs on the expressways instead. We build that into the timing, so the schedule you get is one the bus can actually keep.
Going to JFK: when to leave
The airline’s advice is about how early to be inside the terminal. The drive is on top of that. From Midtown in the afternoon, a safe plan for an international departure is to be in the car three and a half to four hours before take-off. From eastern Queens or Nassau, two and a half to three hours is usually enough. When you book, we will suggest a pick-up time for your route and day, and we would rather you were early than sprinting.
What the price includes
One flat rate, quoted before you book, covering the chauffeur, the vehicle, fuel, bridge and tunnel tolls, terminal parking and the free waiting time above. There is no meter and no surge on a busy night. If you add a stop on the way, we agree the extra cost with you first.
Choose your vehicle
Every vehicle below is our own, driven by our own chauffeurs. Not sure which fits? Tell us the head count and the luggage and we will recommend the right one, including when a smaller vehicle will do.
Executive sedanCadillac XTSSolo travel, couples and most airport runs.3 seats
Luxury SUVCadillac EscaladeExecutives, VIP arrivals and families.6 seats
Luxury SUVChevrolet SuburbanThe most luggage room of any SUV.6 seats
Executive vanMercedes SprinterGroups, teams and wedding parties.14 seats
Party vehicleSprinter party limoLED lights, sofa seats and your music.~12 seats
Mid-size groupExecutive mini busGuest shuttles and venues coaches cannot reach.28 seats
Restroom & WiFiMotor coachBig groups and long trips, lowest cost per head.56 seats- CompareSee the full fleetSide by side, with luggage and best uses.View fleet →
JFK questions
Where exactly will my chauffeur meet me at JFK?
On domestic arrivals, at the baggage claim for your flight. On international arrivals, in the public arrivals hall just outside customs. In both cases they hold a sign with your name. If you would rather meet at the kerb, tell us and your chauffeur will text you the exact door once you have your bags.
My flight is delayed by three hours. Do I need to call?
No. We track the flight number and move your pick-up to the new landing time automatically. There is no charge for airline delays.
Can you meet a passenger who is travelling alone, such as a parent or a child?
Yes. Give us the passenger’s name and phone number and we will send their chauffeur’s details to both of you. For an unaccompanied minor, tell us when booking so we can arrange the hand-over with the airline.
Do you provide child seats for airport pick-ups?
Yes, infant, toddler and booster seats at no extra charge. Tell us the children’s ages when you book so the right seats are fitted before your chauffeur leaves for the airport.
Can I book a round trip?
Yes. Book the drop-off and the return together and we hold the same vehicle class for both legs. Give us the return flight number and we will track it in the same way.
How late at night do you pick up at JFK?
Any hour. Reservations are answered 24 hours a day and we cover every arrival, including the late-evening flights from the West Coast and the early-morning arrivals from Europe and Asia.
Other airports we serve
- LGALaGuardiaThe closest airport to Midtown, and the busiest for short business trips.
- EWRNewark LibertyFlat rates with the Hudson crossing and New Jersey tolls built in.
- TEBTeterboroPrivate aviation, with the car waiting at the FBO.
- AllEvery New York airportIncluding Westchester, Long Island MacArthur and Stewart.