I've suffered through various permutations of transportation to and from JFK and LaGuardia (LGA). I've learned, first of all, to book at LGA instead of JFK whenever possible (and it is not always possible). It is much closer and the taxi cost, as well as nerve-factor due to the shorter ride, is less with LGA.
Following is a quite prejudicial but as -comprehensive- as- I -can- think- of rundown of airport transport options (oh by the way--NEVER accept an offer from a solicitor. Some may be legit but honestly it is not worth finding out):
Super Shuttle. Serves LaGuardia and JFK:
$23 from JFK- $15 from Laguardia (plus an appropriate tip for the driver of a few bucks).
Book online or call 800-258-3826. Pros-the cost. Cons-(to the airport at least-from is probably MUCH better) they tell you when they will pick you up based on the time your flight leaves--and it is much earlier than if you were to take a cab, because they have to drive around and pick up other passengers. Woe to you if you are the first pickup. It can take a half hour or more to pick up other passengers, and drivers WILL wait if someone is late, I once waited about 15 minutes for a woman to come down. Well, at least it felt like 15 minutes. That was the last time I took the SuperShuttle. However if you are really counting pennies and the extra 20 or so dollars you will save as opposed to a taxi and tip count, then this is a safe bet. Never took it FROM the airports but I assume you meet somewhere down by the baggage area.
Taxi: LaGuardia and JFK: $ca. 30 plus 20% tip from LGA (they will tack on an extra $4 for the bridge fare they paid--they are not ripping you off). $45 set fare from JFK plus %20 tip.
Again never accept a solicitor's offer of finding a taxi for you. Go to the official stand. You will know it is official by the long line ;). No, it is not always that long. But often is. Anyway it moves fairly fast. Go to the official stand, wait in line and the dispatcher will point out the taxi to you when you move to the front. I think from JFK it is now a standard $45 trip...no meter is in use, they charge $45 to anywhere in Manhattan (I think).
Limo/ Car Service: $33 and $48, plus tip. The famous/ ubiquitous Carmel Limo (212-666-6666) and Family Taxi (212-777-7777) are the 2 car services I have used. The pros: a set fee to JFK ($48) and LGA ($33). More knowledgeable drivers in terms of shortcuts and traffic patterns. More comfortable cars with AC. a guaranteed pickup. The cons: None, really.Except the cars have that weird per-fumy smell that I think comes from those tree-shaped air fresheners, which I personally think should be banned by the EPA.
AirTrain from JFK. $7 (5 for train and $2 for subway). This takes about an hour and 15 min. to and from Manhattan. I hate to mention this as I dislike the AirTrain, because it doesn't arrive at any reasonable location. It leaves you off at the A train station in Howard Beach. Gah! II don't even know if that is in Queens or Brooklyn. Then you have to take the A train home. Vice versa for getting to JFK...take the A subway to Airtrain and then JFK. Its one advantage, other than price, (which yes, is a significant advantage) is you can avoid traffic. This is a big plus if you arrive or leave during rush hour. For the upper west side I usually take the 1 to 59th and then the A. Or take the A from 72nd Street, etc. I have taken this and it was pretty painless (coming home and going to Denver at daytime hours). Then I have taken this around 12AM and never forgotten the interminable ride home.
M60: This bus goes to and from LGA and stops at 121st and Amsterdam. For the 2.25 bus ride fare you can get to and from LGA if you are willing to drag your luggage on the bus. wedge it somewhere, and endure the ride. Actually I have been pretty fine with this in the past but sometimes it can take a loong time and it is crowded and noisy. Only if you really do not want to pay the $35 taxi fare. But it does work.
