This Tech Upgrade Just Made It Easier — and Faster — to Get to NYC From JFK
Getting to New York City via public transit is now just a "tap" away!
Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure
A new update to the public transit system taking passengers from JFK Airport into New York City just got the "New York minute" treatment.
Starting Tuesday, passengers arriving into New York City no longer have to wait on a long line for a 1-time-use MetroCard when taking the AirTrain from JFK Airport. Instead those with a smart phone, smart watch or contactless payment card can pay for their train fare with a "tap" and go on their way.
Utilizing, the the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)’s OMNY “Tap and Go” payment feature, a simple scan of a digital wallet or chip credit card will charge a passenger the $8.25 fare required for the train transfer to the nearby subway stations in Queens (Jamaica and Howard Beach).
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Previously travelers had to buy a special MetroCard that can be used on the AirTrain, as the MetroCard used for the subway was not accepted by the station readers, nor was the unlimited MTA metro ticket.
“We are making it easier than ever for travelers to take the train to JFK, and for visitors to our great city to use one of its most essential services – the MTA,” New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release about the announcement.
In a Facebook post celebrating the technology from New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher, local residents shared comments of excitement and enthusiasm for the upgrade, with one calling the update, a "game changer."
The MTA, which manages New York’s subways and public transit options, revealed that there were 2 million OMNY taps in a single day in September 2023, as a representation of how quickly the tap and pay technology has been adopted.
New York’s JFK Airport ranked second in the "Top 50 Global Airport Megahubs" from travel analytics firm OAG. The airport has been undergoing several updates and renovations including the upcoming opening of a new Terminal 8 that will service American Airlines and British Airways and recently celebrated the opening of a new 14,000 sq. foot Delta Sky Club.
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