JFK car service: terminal-by-terminal pickup guide

The two ways to be picked up at JFK

Every JFK reservation is either a curbside pickup or a meet-and-greet. Curbside is included in your quoted rate: you clear the terminal, walk to the arrivals level, and your chauffeur pulls up to the door as you reach it. We call or text your mobile with the vehicle description before you land.

Meet-and-greet is a $25 option. Your chauffeur parks, walks in, and waits at the arrivals exit with a personalised name board, then handles your luggage to the vehicle. It is the right choice for international arrivals, first-time visitors, families with children and anyone travelling with more than two bags.

Terminal by terminal

• Terminal 1 — international carriers. Long customs queues are normal here; meet-and-greet is worth it. Curbside pickups happen on the arrivals roadway once you text that you are through customs.
• Terminal 4 — Delta and many international airlines, and JFK's busiest arrivals hall. There are two arrivals exits; your chauffeur confirms which one before you land.
• Terminal 5 — JetBlue. Domestic arrivals here are quick, so curbside usually works well.
• Terminal 7 — mixed international traffic. Roadway space is tight, so we hold in the lot and pull forward when you text.
• Terminal 8 — American Airlines and partners, including long-haul arrivals. Bag claim can add 20–30 minutes; the complimentary wait time covers it.

How wait time actually works

Airport arrivals include 60 minutes of complimentary wait time from the moment the aircraft lands. Because we track the flight, an airline delay simply moves your pickup — you are never charged for a late flight.

Past the complimentary hour, waiting is billed in 15-minute increments at the vehicle's hourly rate, and we always call or text before any wait charge starts. If you are held up in customs, one text keeps the car in place.

What to have ready

• Your airline and flight number, so tracking works from the start
• The mobile number you will actually answer on landing
• Bag count and any car seat needs, so the right vehicle is assigned
• Whether you want curbside or meet-and-greet

Departures from JFK

For departures we recommend pickup three hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic one, adding 30 minutes for weekday rush hour out of Manhattan or Long Island. Your quoted rate includes tolls, so the Manhattan or Bronx crossing charge and any cross-state toll are already accounted for.