JFK to EWR - just 4 hours stopover

Replies: 18 - Last Post: Dec 6, 2012 11:11 AM Last Post By: SoloHobo

← Back to topic list

Dec 5, 2012 4:28 AM
Posts: 5

JFK to EWR - just 4 hours stopover

Hey there,
I will be going from Germany to Panama and have to change airports in NY - from JFK to EWR. I got just 4 hours from landing to departing. Whilst United Airlines says the transfer will just take me about an hour "the internet" says that 4 hours ist way too short to change the airports. I am not sure what to do know.
Could anybody tell me the quickest way from JFK to EWR (it is on a saturday) and does anybody know, if, referring to all the transit stuff which has to be done, this seems realistic?!
I never missed a flight before though. What happens, if I DO miss the connecting flight to Panama? Will I have to pay the next flight by myself then?
Thx in advance!

bzookaj

Dec 5, 2012 6:15 AM
Posts: 5,343

Could anybody tell me the quickest way from JFK to EWR

The "quickest" way would be to change your flight so you arrive at EWR rather than JFK.

Here is the issue:
When you arrive at JFK, you will need to enter the country. All passengers must enter at their first point of entry, +regardless of final destination.
This means you will need to pass through immigration, pick up any checked bag, then pass through customs. This can take an hour or two, or more in itself.
Then you need to transfer to EWR, through xNYC. I'd figure 90 minutes.
Once you arrive at EWR, you need to check into your next flight, check your bags, pass through security, and get to your gate. This can take quite some time as well.

Summary: it's possible you'll make it, but it's also very possible you miss it.

What happens, if I DO miss the connecting flight to Panama?

If you bought it as one ticket through the airline, they'll put you on the next plane with available seats.
If not, you're hosed. You may get on that next available flight, but you may or may not have to pay for it.

Hondu119

Dec 5, 2012 6:28 AM
Posts: 5

Thank you for your respond :)

That really sounds like I should try to change flights. Strange though that the airline sells flight-connections that won't really work...
At least they seem to have to pay if I miss the flight because I booked the whole flight via United A.

Anyway: If they won't let me change the flight without letting me pay for that - which kind of transport/shuttle would you recommend? I just found an opportunity to go by a train/shuttle but I have to change trains 4 times. That does not sound like being in Newark on time... Is there any faster way to get there?

Edited by: Hondu119

Edited by: Hondu119

bzookaj

Dec 5, 2012 6:33 AM
Posts: 5,343

I would take one of the shuttles.

Is there any faster way to get there?

Helicopter?

kenko

Dec 5, 2012 8:56 AM
Posts: 1,481

Keep your flight. If United booked you on both flights simultaneously, they have an obligation to
get you to Panama. They will usually hold up the Panama flight as they are expecting you to be on it.
If you miss the flight due to some delay, United will have to put you on the next flight to Panama. If
you have travel insurance with travel delay coverage- no worries whatsoever. Cheers!

kenko

Dec 5, 2012 9:11 AM
Posts: 1,481

United has several morning flights from EWR to Panama- the last one being before 10 a.m. The good
news is there is a 5 p.m. non-stop direct flight to Panama City taking less than 6 hours.

bzookaj

Dec 5, 2012 10:11 AM
Posts: 5,343

On second thought, I would email the airline and ask them what they would do if you missed this flight. The change in airports makes this different from usual.

kenko

Dec 5, 2012 11:19 AM
Posts: 1,481

Good advice Bzookaj. United's recent bankruptcy declaration is probably why they hooked Hondu up with
such a flight plan.

gardyloo2

Dec 5, 2012 11:57 AM
Posts: 143

Good advice Bzookaj. United's recent bankruptcy declaration is probably why they hooked Hondu up with
such a flight plan.

What bankruptcy declaration is that? United came out of bankruptcy years ago.

The reason is that United merged with Continental, and Newark was Continental's principal hub, so itineraries that require schlepping from JFK to EWR are now very common. However, I'm not aware of any United flights from Germany that fly to JFK, so I'm guessing the OP is actually flying on Lufthansa from Germany to JFK, probably with a United "codeshare" flight number. then having to connect through EWR to be on United metal to Panama..

In which case I'd contact whoever sold the OP the ticket and ask to be put on one of United's or Lufthansa's several daily flights between Frankfurt, Munich or Dusseldorf and Newark, and save the time (and considerable expense) of connecting from JFK.

bleen68

Dec 5, 2012 11:58 AM
Posts: 441

It probably had the lowest fare which they used to get listed first on the comparative websites but which they hope no one chooses. Recently on flights to Madrid over Christmas US Air had a connection which took 52 hours and got you there AFTER Cristmas Day.......but the fare was great.

laketraveller

Dec 5, 2012 12:05 PM
Posts: 5,467

Just a thought - When booking a single itinerary with one airlines they will sometimes provide transportation between airports.

bzookaj may have been tongue-in-cheek with the comment in #3, but a few years ago I flew into one NYC airport, connected to another and the airline provided me with helicopter transportation between the two at no cost. They probably don't do that any longer, but they might provide a free shuttle.

Good luck.

gardyloo2

Dec 5, 2012 12:12 PM
Posts: 143

Just a thought - When booking a single itinerary with one airlines they will sometimes provide transportation between airports.

None that I know of in the US.

laketraveller

Dec 5, 2012 12:19 PM
Posts: 5,467

And that may be the case. I actually worded my statement wrong. The airlines won't provide the transportation, a third party provider does that, but they might include the cost of the transportation as part of the cost of the flight.

Again, they may not. It's worth asking though.

LongIslandBob

Dec 5, 2012 12:39 PM
Posts: 1,163

If traffic cooperates it's a little more tan 30 mins from one to the other. In a traffic nightmare 90 minutes.

Even with time for customs, baggage claim check-in etc. etc. 4 hours should be sufficient.

jedgerandclyde