Flying to LaGuardia (LGA): All you need to know

LaGuardia’s newly renovated Terminal B

Overview:

LaGuardia Airport is located in Queens, New York and is about 8 miles (13 km) from Manhattan. It covers an area of 680 acres (280 ha). The airport is operated by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It has been criticized for various facilities, lack of cleanliness, and many other problems. The airport is under a $4B reconstruction project and is scheduled to be completed by 2022, which will make dramatic improvements for the traveling public.

Airport Stats & Facts

  • LaGuardia Airport is the third busiest airport in New York City, and the 20th busiest in the US.
  • In 2019, LGA had passenger traffic of around 30 million passengers.
  • A perimeter rule prohibits all flights exceeding 1,500 miles, so most transcontinental and international flights use either JFK or Newark Liberty airports.

Airport Traveling Tips

  • LGA airport is the busiest on Sunday evening from 5 pm to 6 pm.
  • As the Airport is under construction, it is highly recommended that passengers arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled flight departure to account for TSA security wait times and any possible delays.
  • Take a few minutes to look at the LaGuardia Airport maps before heading to the airport for a flight.

Terminals:

This airport has four terminals which are called A,B,C, and D.

Terminal A, also called the Marine Air Terminal, was originally designed to serve fleets of Pan American Airways flying boats, called clippers. The clippers ended their service in 1947, and then, Pan Am’s shuttle ran service out of Terminal A. Delta Air Lines took over service in 1991. Currently, JetBlue and Spirit are the terminal’s only tenants. JetBlue is only flights to Boston, and Spirit only flights to Florida.

There is a Mamava Nursing Pod and charging stations at the departure gates. Shared rides or app-based car services are available, the pickup area of which is located outside the terminal and exactly opposite the lane from Terminal A.

Terminal B, or the Central Terminal Building, serves most of LGA’s airlines. The Terminal B is served by Air Canada, American Airlines, American Shuttle, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. This terminal has Bank of America ATMs at the Baggage Claim, Center Food Court, Departure Level, Gates 40-59, and Pier B,C and D. There is a pet relief area outside Terminal B gates, charging stations at all departure gates, and Mamava Nursing Pods at Pier D and Gate D6.

Guest service desk is positioned at Gates 40-59 and Gates B while the general visitor information centre can be found near Air Canada & United/AA and Baggage Claim. Another information desk can be found at American Airline’s Baggage Claim and Southwest Baggage Claim.

Shared rides or app-based car services are available, the pickup areas of which can be found on Level 2 or Terminal B parking garage. You can follow the signage reading ‘Car Services’ to reach the pickup location.

Terminal C is served by Delta Airlines, Delta Connection (Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.), Frontier Airlines, Spirit, and WestJet. This terminal has Travelex ATMs at multiple locations, and Mamava Nursing Pods between Gates C28 – C29 and Gate C14.

Shared rides or app-based car services are available, the pickup areas of which can be found between terminal C and terminal D on the ground level or the arrivals level. You can follow the signage reading ‘Car Services’ to reach the pickup location.

Terminal D is almost exclusively used by Delta, though Canadian carrier WestJet uses some gates.

 This terminal has only one main facility available: a Mamava Nursing Pod near the TSA Checkpoint.

Shared rides or app-based car services are available, the pickup areas of which can be found between terminal C and terminal D on the ground level or the arrivals level. You can follow the signage reading ‘Car Services’ to reach the pickup location.

Airport Maps:

Terminal A

Terminal B

Terminal C

Terminal D

Lounges and Dining

LGA features several shopping, dining, beauty and spa options for travelers. Find a full list of all leisure amenities here.
Jabbrbox automated workspaces are located in Terminal B.
An American Airlines Admirals Club is located in Terminal B, between Gates D1-D10. There is a Centurion Lounge on the 3rd Floor of Terminal B.
Delta Sky Clubs are located in Terminal C near Gate C26, and by the connector between Terminals C and D.
The United Club is located in Terminal B near departures between Piers C and D on the third floor.

TSA Security Wait Times Information

LGA TSA Wait Times

How early do I need to get to LaGuardia Airport to catch my flight? You’ve come to the right place to get the answer! According to a recent Upgraded Points article, the average LGA security wait time is 17 minutes. The best LGA airport security wait times occur on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday from 10pm-11pm. The worst LGA security lines are at Sunday 5-6pm, where you could wait up to 32 minutes.

Get CLEAR at LGA. Use at the airport. And at Citi Field. And Yankee Stadium. And MSG. And at JFK, EWR, and HPN (Westchester) Airports!

LGA features CLEAR expedited security screening which, if you participate, can help to reduce the time you spend in LGA LaGuardia Airport security lines. CLEAR counters are located at Terminal C and D – see hours below.  At Yankee Stadium, you can use CLEAR at the Suite Entrance at Gate 4, and Babe Ruth Plaza between Gates 4 and 6. At Citi Field, at the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. At Madison Square Garden, CLEAR lanes are located at the 7th Ave. South Entrance. 

In partnership with iFly, CLEAR is offering a 2 month free promotion – it only takes a minute to sign up. See hours below for CLEAR enrollment locations and hours at LGA.

***LIMITED TIME PROMOTION***

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Transportation and Parking

Airport Parking

Short-term and Long-term Parking:

Parking at LGA Airport is available at all the terminals. From hourly and daily parking to long-term parking, there are several parking options at LaGuardia Airport. All parking lot fees are collected while exiting the lot.

Off-site Parking:

Many parking lots offer affordable off-site parking near LGA Airport. Most of the off-site parking lots allow 24/7 access.

Ground Transportation

After arriving at the airport, passengers have several options for ground transport to their next destination. Some of the transportation options include airport shuttles, car rentals, and buses. In addition, many passengers also utilize ride services like Uber, Lyft, and taxis.

Airport Car Rental

Car Rentals are a breeze at LGA. There are multiple car rental agencies onsite at the airport. Hertz, Enterprise, National, and other well-known car rental providers offer airport travelers a large variety of vehicles to choose from.

Airport Shuttles

Airport Shuttle Services are a great way to travel from LaGuardia Airport. With the availability of various shuttle services, you can get a ride to almost any nearby location.

Buses & Trains:

Public transportation is available from the airport to all major areas nearby. The buses are wheelchair accessible.

History

  • LaGuardia Airport is named after Fiorello La Guardia, who was the mayor of New York City when the airport was built.
  • LGA opened with 4 runways at 45 degrees angle to each other, the longest being 6,000 ft.
  • In 2010, full demolition and rebuilding of LGA’s central terminal was announced by the Port Authority director, Christopher Ward.
  • In 2015, a $4 billion plan was announced to rebuild the terminals as one contiguous building with terminal bridges connecting buildings.
  • In 2016, the construction of the project’s first phase started and scheduled to be completed by 2021.
  • Also, in 2016, comprehensive plans for the redevelopment were approved unanimously and the construction costs were estimated to range from $4 billion – $5.3 billion.
  • In 2018, 11 gates at Terminal’s B new Eastern Concourse were opened and 5 additional gates in June 2019.
  • The new airport is to be eco-friendly and the entire airport will move 600 ft closer to the Grand Central Parkway.

Airlines

By Zack Rosenfeld

Zack is a political commentator and podcast host who advocates for democracy and higher taxes on the richest americans.

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