Layover guide
Staying connected in New York
Free unlimited wifi at all Port Authority airports, no time limit.
All of New York
JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Stewart all have free, unlimited high-speed wifi from the Port Authority — no time limit. At JFK the network is '_Free JFK WiFi'.
- Port Authority of NY & NJ (press release) · checked 2026-08-18
- JFK Airport (Port Authority) · checked 2026-08-18
The rest of New York
The whole guideGetting out of the airportYellow cabs run to Manhattan on a published flat rate from official stands at every terminal, and the AirTrain links the terminals to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road.Ride-hailingUber and Lyft operate at JFK, but the pickup point is not always the kerb: Terminals 5 and 7 send you out to Howard Beach on the AirTrain.Local laws that catch crew outTwo legal systems apply at once, and cannabis is the trap: legal to buy in New York State, illegal to take out of the state or the country.WeatherFour real seasons: 30C summers, snowy sub-zero winters, rain possible any month; hurricane season peaks Sep.Eating near the crew hotelsFood halls are the crew move — one roof, many vendors, long hours; Chelsea Market runs 7am-10pm daily.What to buyClothing and shoes under $110 per item are completely tax-free in NYC; most everything else adds 8.875% at the register.TippingTip 18-20% at restaurants (not included in the bill), $1+/drink at bars, 15-20% in taxis — it is wages, not extra.