JFK

Travel tidbits to kick off another wacky week

Airports, , ,

JetBlue plans a makeover for T5 at JFK

JetBlue opened its flagship Terminal 5 (T5) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 2008 with a bevy of cool amenities and lots of hip design features. The facilities expanded in 2014 and an outdoor deck with a pet relief area for dogs (the “Wooftop”) was introduced in 2015.

The facility now serves 165 JetBlue flights and more than 35,000 customers per day.

So it’s time for a makeover.

JetBlues newly announced plans include adding more than 40 new concessions along with new amenities, including art installations, a permanent art collection and a redesigned center concourse that will take inspiration from New York’s iconic parks, with greenery, park benches and concrete chess tables. There will also be a spot for pop-ups, interactive events and live performances.

The first new concessions are expected to open throughout 2025, with the terminal improvements completed by the end of 2026.

The new offerings and brands include local and national favorites, including Eataly, The Halal Guys, Shake Shack, Jacob’s Pickles, Tiki Chick, Serafina, Benetari’s, Gotham Burger, Birch Coffee, Nom Wah, Devoción, Mister Paradise, the Blind Barber, Leon’s Bagels, DiFara Pizza, Neir’s Tavern and more.

We can’t wait!!!

Private suites coming to MIA Airport


And it looks like the promised private luxury terminal at Miami International Airport is getting closer to reality. PS already operates at LAX and ATL, and the last we heard the MIA venue was supposed to open sometime in 2025.

Rolling Stones plane in JFK Terminal 4

Fun Stuff, , , ,

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That’s not a mock-up of just any airplane there in Terminal 4 at JFK International Airport.

It’s an “experience” Jose Cuervo had Air Hollywood put together to commemorate the legendary 1972 Rolling Stones tour (dubbed the Tequila Sunrise Tour) and give travelers a mild version of the tour’s party plane experience.

The pop-up plane is in the retail lounge of Concourse A at JFK Terminal 4 through December 30 and Jose Cuervo will be offering tequila sampling Monday through Saturday, 2:30 – 8:00pm.

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Wi-Fi at JFK, EWR & LGA Airports? Sort of.

Wi-Fi, , ,

Free Wi-FI at airport

We all want unlimited free Wi-Fi at the airport and, increasingly, we’re getting it.

But not in the New York City-area at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International Airports.

Back in June 2014 the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey announced its intention to provide complimentary 30-minute Wi-Fi sessions throughout JFK, Newark and LaGuardia airports by the fall of 2014.

Some progress was made, but the deadline to complete the project got pushed back to March 2015 and today there are still major holes in the promised Wi-Fi coverage at these airports.

The official websites for JFK, LaGuardia and Newark still say Wi-Fi is provided everywhere on a pay-as-you-go basis. But the promised 30 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi is available in some terminals all the time and in others on an occasional basis.

Six terminals now have the 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi offer in place and Port Authority says it is “working with Boingo to help expedite the placement of the service in the remaining terminals.”

For the terminals where the project is not yet completed, Boingo offers 20- or 30-minute complimentary Wi-Fi sessions, but only when sponsorships are available.

So when and where are complimentary Wi-Fi sessions offered?

Terminals currently offering 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi include:

• Newark: Terminals B and C
• JFK: Terminals 4 and 8
• LaGuardia: Terminal A and B

Terminals pending conversion, but where sponsored sessions are offered 50% of the time include:

• Newark: Terminal A
• JFK: Terminals 1, 2 and 7
• LaGuardia: Terminals C and D

Elsewhere, though, JetBlue independently provides unlimited free Wi-Fi in Terminal 5 at JFK and OTG offers unlimited complimentary web browsing on more than 3,000 fixed iPads in some gate areas and restaurants in Newark, JFK and LaGuardia.

Good enough?

“The Port Authority’s announcement of free WiFi in June was a major win for passengers, and the right thing to do,” said Joe Stitt, Chairman and Founder of the advocacy group Global Gateway Alliance, “But the agency now needs to honor that commitment and bring true free WiFi to every terminal at our airports for all 112 million New York-New Jersey passengers.”

Neither Boingo nor the Port Authority responded to requests for a new target date for the completion of the project.

Free Wi-Fi at JFK, LGA & EWR? Yup. Sort of.

Wi-Fi, , , , ,

Free Wi-FI at airport

In June, 2014 the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced its intention to revise its agreement with Boingo and offer complimentary 30-minute Wi-Fi for all passengers at the JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International Airport and Stewart International Airport in Newburgh by fall.

Did that happen?

Not quite yet.

According to a joint statement from the Port Authority and Boingo, existing wireless networks are currently being upgraded at the Port Authority¹s airports and “free Wi-Fi will be available in at least one terminal at JFK, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia Airports by month¹s end, with the free service at all terminals anticipated by the end of the first quarter of 2015.”

Boing spokeswoman Katie O’Neill said that complimentary 30-minute Wi-Fi sessions are currently available in JFK Terminal 4 and Newark (EWR) Terminal C, with free service on target to be available at LaGuardia¹s Central Terminal Building by the end of December.

In the meantime, O’Neill said Boingo is getting sponsors to cover some complimentary 30-minute Wi-Fi sessions and that Amazon, Citi/AA Advantage Card, Volkswagen and American Airlines, and others are lined up to cover sessions at the airports through the end of the year.

Upgrades are also scheduled for Stewart Airport’s Wi-Fi network, sometime in the first quarter of 2015 and O’Neill said Boingo has sponsors lined for complimentary 30-minute sessions there through the end of the year.

Free Wi-Fi coming to NY-area airports

Wi-Fi, , , ,

Free Wi-FI at airport

Looks like we won’t have the NY-area airports to kick around – Wi-Fi-wise- for much longer.

The Associated Press reports that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Wednesday approved a plan that -perhaps by the fall – will offer passengers at Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi.  After that, passengers will have pay the $7.95 day fee.

While that 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi s good news, of course, 30 minutes is hardly enough time to get anything done.  So here’s hoping free unlimited  Wi-Fi is in the future for the JFK, EWR and LGA airports.

Harstfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recently changed its plan and now offers all passengers unlimited free Wi-Fi, with an option to get an upgraded service for a fee.