[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by mkiv808

I fly a lot for business, and I arrive at JFK/LGA/Bradley 1 hour before departure and I'm ok every time and usually have a little time to spare to get something to eat. That's for domestic.

Even flying JFK --> LAX --> SYD a few years ago, I arrived an hour an 10 minutes before my flight and was fine (not recommended, though).

[mikelizard860]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I didn't just "get lucky". I planned my flights around traffic times (early AM). It never takes an hour to cross the Whitestone unless you're in the dead of rush hour, and even then you're likely looking at 40 minutes MAX. The Van Wyck can be a pain but, as I said, plan your arrival time at the airport accordingly. Be smart about it.

FWIW, I have also done this trip many, many times. Perhaps you need better planning.

I said an hour for the bridge AND the van wyck. Traffic is pervasive at all times there, not just at rush hour. Traffic is less on the van wyck in the middle of the night, at dawn, and sometimes around 10-11 am. Other than that, it's basically almost always a traffic jam on the van wyck. It's almost never clear. It's not like CT roads that mostly back up just around rush hour.(8-9, and 4 to 6). Traffic in nyc is horrific. I know people say L.A. is worse, but I don't buy it. Nothing is worse than traffic in lower manhattan. It once took me an hour to go 3 blocks because of all the double parked trucks. You literally can't get around by car in Manhattan. There is no where in LA like that.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by mikelizard860

I said an hour for the bridge AND the van wyck. Traffic is pervasive at all times there, not just at rush hour. Traffic is less on the van wyck in the middle of the night, at dawn, and sometimes around 10-11 am. Other than that, it's basically almost always a traffic jam on the van wyck. It's almost never clear. It's not like CT roads that mostly back up just around rush hour.(8-9, and 4 to 6). Traffic in nyc is horrific. I know people say L.A. is worse, but I don't buy it. Nothing is worse than traffic in lower manhattan. It once took me an hour to go 3 blocks because of all the double parked trucks. You literally can't get around by car in Manhattan. There is no where in LA like that.

Like I said, if you plan your flight around traffic, you'll be fine. A few weeks ago we flew out at 7 AM on a Friday. We left Branford at 4, arrived at 5:15ish, passed right through security and were at our gate by 5:45.

You do not have to go through Manhattan to get to JFK or LGA, so I'm not sure why we're bringing up traffic through that borough.

And yes, NYC metro traffic is much worse than LA traffic. I agree with you there.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Like I said, if you plan your flight around traffic, you'll be fine. A few weeks ago we flew out at 7 AM on a Friday. We left Branford at 4, arrived at 5:15ish, passed right through security and were at our gate by 5:45.

You do not have to go through Manhattan to get to JFK or LGA, so I'm not sure why we're bringing up traffic through that borough.

And yes, NYC metro traffic is much worse than LA traffic. I agree with you there.

Agree with the above.

If you use Google Maps for live traffic (or any nav system with live traffic), you can usually avoid most congestion. Again, I've done this trip many, many times and can tell you there's usually an OK route outside of rush hour. A lot of times it involves being creative about the route, skipping parts of 95, utilizing Mamaroneck Ave, going Hutch vs. 95 or other way around, Throg's vs. Whitestone - but there's usually a clear route outside of rush hour except for rare occasions.