12:20 flight from La Guardia from Cape Liberty

[4minimark]

We are sailing on Oasis in June out of Bayonne.  Is a 12:20 return flight out of LGA safe?  I haven’t flown out of that port before.  Thanks for any info,

[Biker19]

Just now, 4minimark said:

 Is a 12:20 return flight out of LGA safe?

Maybe, if you line a car service and walk off with your own luggage.

[mjkacmom]

What day of the week?

[4minimark]

Sunday June 14th.  If 12:20 is risky what would be a safe time?  We have 6 in our party and don’t want to sit at the airport all day, but also would hate to miss the flight.  I’ve been spoiled with FLL where noon is easy.

[Biker19]

18 minutes ago, 4minimark said:

 If 12:20 is risky what would be a safe time?

@138east can maybe weigh in on this but that time is doable if you line up the transportation and walk off with luggage.

[maggieq]

Can you fly out of EWR instead?

[4minimark]

Pricing out of LGA saves a lot when you factor in 6 people.  We typically self assist off, but I don’t want to be stressed about it.  Thanks for all the input

[1025cruise]

I really would look to fly out of EWR. I know Southwest only goes to LGA, but its really more headache than its worth.

[4minimark]

We will save about $1200 in airfare from LGA so unfortunately we are going to have to deal with the hassle, but thank you sincerely for your input.  We can push back to 3:15 assuming that is safer.

[stevea36]

6 minutes ago, 4minimark said:

We will save about $1200 in airfare from LGA so unfortunately we are going to have to deal with the hassle, but thank you sincerely for your input.  We can push back to 3:15 assuming that is safer.

You need to make sure that you go around manhattan as the Puerto Rican Day parade is that day.  Also there is lots (spell that LOTS) of construction going on at LGA.   Depending on your airline (basically everything but Delta and JetBlue), it can be a hassle to get to their counters and/or gates.   I think you can make a 12:20 flight but the slightest glitch can kill that.

Edited February 19, 2020 by stevea36

[cured]

13 hours ago, 4minimark said:

Pricing out of LGA saves a lot when you factor in 6 people.  We typically self assist off, but I don’t want to be stressed about it.  Thanks for all the input

We are right with you, a family of 6 flying into LGA.  We are using points on Southwest so we will also deal with the hassle.  We have Carmel booked for our transportation to our hotel in NJ which was only $218, which is less than one ticket into EWR.

 

Following along as I was also wondering what a safe time is to book for the return trip.  Royal Caribbean's excursion to NYC and LGA is for any flight after 4:30, so assuming 4:30 is very safe.

Edited February 19, 2020 by cured

[mking8288]

LGA's long-term redevelopment construction is a massive multi-year project, scheduled from 2016 & completion seemed on track in 2021.  The worst day to travel is Friday - "early" Sunday morning, if you can get on the road by 8:30 or 9 am out of Cape Liberty - "should" be fine in getting there in about 1 hour, even if the driver need to take the longer route, up the NJ Turnpike - over the GW Bridge into upper Manhattan & south to the RFK Bridge to LGA ... multiple tolls involved, around $30 on top of base fare + tips.  But, I would use at least 90 minutes to be "safer" and 2 hours if you are the nervous kind, as it can be unpredictable ... Carmel drivers use Waze/Google Navigation for real-time traffic guide.  

 

Given the big $$$ savings & difference, the 12:20 pm flight is a little risky but doable.  The 3 pm flight should be very safe - LGA's terminals are basically completed and very nice, both landside and airside, with your typical food courts, restaurants & dining options at airport pricing - free WiFi and spacious seating ... once you get there.  Terminal B/old "Central Terminal" is where SouthWest counters/gates are, and it can be a hassle when busy to get curbside dropoff (no shuttle rides from a remote parking lot, unlike arrivals)  If there is a backup getting to the terminal, driver might use "arrival" on lower level to drop you off, quicker & saving you a few minutes - just do it, haul your bags up the escalators/elevators to the counter, etc. 

 

For 6 + luggage, fitting it all into an XLT SUV might not be enough, consider booking 2 sedans & split into 3 and 3, or 1 sedan and a minivan if you have lots of luggage to be checked - which will bump up your ground transfer costs, but still much less than a full size van.  Our last 3 trips on Carmel has been uneventful & nice, safe & comfortable - friendly drivers - within 3 months; and, they all priced lower than using Lyft (Uber) ... plus, got UA mileage posted.  

 

Happy planning & cruising !   (P.S.  that's the new LGA main terminal "B") - work in progress, riding Carmel - flying past on the Grand Central Parkway. 

Edited February 19, 2020 by mking8288

[cured]

21 hours ago, mking8288 said:

LGA's long-term redevelopment construction is a massive multi-year project, scheduled from 2016 & completion seemed on track in 2021.  The worst day to travel is Friday - "early" Sunday morning, if you can get on the road by 8:30 or 9 am out of Cape Liberty - "should" be fine in getting there in about 1 hour, even if the driver need to take the longer route, up the NJ Turnpike - over the GW Bridge into upper Manhattan & south to the RFK Bridge to LGA ... multiple tolls involved, around $30 on top of base fare + tips.  But, I would use at least 90 minutes to be "safer" and 2 hours if you are the nervous kind, as it can be unpredictable ... Carmel drivers use Waze/Google Navigation for real-time traffic guide.  

 

Given the big $$$ savings & difference, the 12:20 pm flight is a little risky but doable.  The 3 pm flight should be very safe - LGA's terminals are basically completed and very nice, both landside and airside, with your typical food courts, restaurants & dining options at airport pricing - free WiFi and spacious seating ... once you get there.  Terminal B/old "Central Terminal" is where SouthWest counters/gates are, and it can be a hassle when busy to get curbside dropoff (no shuttle rides from a remote parking lot, unlike arrivals)  If there is a backup getting to the terminal, driver might use "arrival" on lower level to drop you off, quicker & saving you a few minutes - just do it, haul your bags up the escalators/elevators to the counter, etc. 

 

For 6 + luggage, fitting it all into an XLT SUV might not be enough, consider booking 2 sedans & split into 3 and 3, or 1 sedan and a minivan if you have lots of luggage to be checked - which will bump up your ground transfer costs, but still much less than a full size van.  Our last 3 trips on Carmel has been uneventful & nice, safe & comfortable - friendly drivers - within 3 months; and, they all priced lower than using Lyft (Uber) ... plus, got UA mileage posted.  

 

Happy planning & cruising !   (P.S.  that's the new LGA main terminal "B") - work in progress, riding Carmel - flying past on the Grand Central Parkway. 

Thank you! I am not the OP but in the same situation. Thank you for a sensible review of LGA with pros and cons rather than the doom and gloom and the immediate response of "Fly into EWR."  Sometimes that is not an option.

 

I figure if we made it through flying internationally through LAX last summer, we can handle LGA  🙂

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, cured said:

... I figure if we made it through flying internationally through LAX last summer, we can handle LGA  🙂

 

Cool, please do a post-flying update on your experience using LGA or EWR for that matter, as there is construction over there as well - also on the charts for being among the worst for ATC delays & FAA ground stops.  

 

You fly thru LAX only, we crossed our fingers, arms & legs each and every time flying out of LAX doing transcon non-stops, getting thru TSA is a trip itself ... curbside at 2.5 hours minimum, after rental car dropoff on Century Blvd. 

 

Anyway, 138east/Carol started this LGA 411 thread 5 years ago (2016) and still going, not until the airport work is completed (and, more ahead if/when the LGA AirTrain go past the tabletop blueprint & environmental review stages) - visuals for those flying in/out of LGA for the first time (or not lately) ... driven past the LGA last Friday evening and saw another "traffic alert" but saw nothing since, so it's good.  Baseball games & US Tennis Open at stadiums nearby can be a factor but usually not for a morning flight. 

 

[138east]

For folks sailing on Oasis and Empress this spring/summer the problem with giving advice about LGA flight times is that there is no experience yet with these ships to base suggestions on.  Normally Cape Liberty offers super fast departures, but we won’t know If that’s true until the ships sail from CL.  I’m sailing in mid May on Empress and have no idea what to expect.