Terminal 4 — Attraction in New York

I’d say Terminal 4 is the 2nd nicest Terminal at JFK (after T5) and hence, the second nicest in NYC.

It’s not up to the level of Europe’s hubs, but considering that NYC is known for its terrible airports, it does a pretty good job.

T4 recently underwent a major renovation, which improved things a lot. For starters, they moved the security upstairs to before the shopping and restaurant area, which made everything a little easier. They also added more security checkpoints, which decreased waiting time. The restaurant and shop selection is actually pretty good, with interesting places such as the MOMA shop and a Shake Shack. Delta also moved the vast majority of its operations at JFK to T4, which helped bring some added expertise and investment. I’ve actually never had a wait to check in at T4! And the TSA at T4 is actually pretty competent and efficient (GASP), probably since a number of middle eastern airlines with enhanced security requirements and procedures fly from it and so they need officers that know what they’re doing. TSA Pre-check, if you have it, works well at T4.

The negatives are that the staff can be either very polite or very rude. Check-in staff tends to be polite, but the people herding you into the security line seem to forget that you’re a human being and not a cow. It seems like every time we go there we have to ask them to stop screaming at the passengers, many of whom do not speak English as they are visitors. Being polite isn’t hard.

I guess I should talk about the arrivals area at T4 while I’m at it - a much more negative experience. If you’re not a U.S. citizen and are coming during a busy travel period, prepare to be waiting for hours. And if you’re a U.S. citizen and travel through JFK internationally more than once a year, do yourself a favour and get Global Entry. It’ll save you at least 45-80 minutes, depending on how busy...

Today 3/5/24, at about 2:30 am at terminal 4. my better half had to clear security. As always i take my phone out and record her entering the gate walk way to security check in. This Indian worker with a strong Indian accent , came up in a rude way this is a security area and you need to delete it, and move I quickly recall, there is no sign nor that i can not remember seeing and several times been there, a no recording sign, and remember years ago i did ask an nypd officer and he indicates it ok, and from my understanding in public area one can records. Anyway, I wonder, how many people comes to the gate with their love one. While i let him know that there is a guy there that sitting and doing noting in that area. He reply that is a staff. so i obey his request to move. At terminal 5 no one comes up to you and say stop recording in fact the attendances at that location either very helpful or keep to themselves. We put up a lot at this terminal, first under construction, i spent 15 minutes delay just to drop her off at the departer area, going back to parking is a long route, I spent about 15 to 20 minutes waiting to exit the airport and even thou both time delay I understand with improvement this will happen. But that area why is that one person so rude? and its not a racist thing, i am also Indian descendance. I try to deescalate the conversation yet I wonder how many people comes with love ones and family members hoping for a pleasant goodbye turns into a screw you. I guessing this is the one bad apple in the big apple.

Those who design this area, please understand people will record their love one leaving. Are you not forward thinking and you have so many cameras there, why are you...

Attention: JFK Airport Passengers!

Important pieces of information about boarding passes are the following:

When ‘Operated by’ is on your boarding pass (in the middle left portion beneath the flight number), it is the airline shown there that you will fly with even if your boarding pass may have been issued by an airline you purchased your air tickets from; The airline that your connecting flight is with may not be in the same terminal. In that case, an air train and/or a shuttle bus ride is involved as well as going through TSA security; As described in item 1 above, airlines have code shares; thus, the same flight have more than one flight number; The zone area on the boarding pass pertains to the location of your assigned seat and determines your turn to board; Your checked-in baggage tags, usually placed on the back of your boarding pass, indicates the destination of your baggage.

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Attention: JFK Terminal 4 departing passengers (a lady & a gentleman) on Sunday, 12/3/23, who asked me to mail a postcard to Barcelona, Spain

I apologize TEN times for having dropped your post card on my way home. We retraced our steps back to Terminal 4 all the way by the desk and looked for your post card everywhere, asked two Lost & Found counters, reported it to the non-profit organization that we volunteer with and handed in your $1.50 since I, regretfully lost your card.

My sincere...