LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

LaGuardia Airport in New York is located in the borough of Queens and is the smallest of New York’s three airports. This New York airport offers domestic flights and some international destinations, such as Canada and the Caribbean.

The airport is more commonly known as LaGuardia or LGA. The New York airport is located about 8 miles (13 km) from Manhattan.

Arriving at LaGuardia Airport

Landing at LaGuardia Airport is only possible if you have a domestic flight or are coming from Canada or the Caribbean. As there is no US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the airport, you won’t have to go through customs. If you arrive at LaGuardia Airport from the Caribbean or Canada, you will already have gone through US Customs at your point of departure.

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Eric’s Tip: “I really like arriving at LaGuardia as it has the most beautiful flight path from all New York airports. Especially if you sit on the left side of the plane, you have a great view of Manhattan during the last part of the flight. I also like the airport itself, as it’s very new and modern with lots of amenities, while the crowds are smaller than in the other airports in the city.”

Transfer from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan

There are several options for travelling from LaGuardia Airport to Manhattan. For example, you can take an iconic yellow cab, book a private transfer in advance or go by public transportation. From LaGuardia, there is no AirTrain or train service. You can discover all the transfer options in the New York Transfer Planner.

LaGuardia Airport Transportation

Because LaGuardia is relatively close to Manhattan, connecting to public transportation may seem easy. You can use the MetroCard for this purpose. However,you will need to change from bus to subway at least once before reaching your destination. Especially with luggage, this is not easy.

Therefore, taking a taxi is a more convenient option. There is no fixed fare for this, and the total cost depends on where you need to go in Manhattan.

Departures from LaGuardia Airport

If you are flying back to the UK, you will be leaving from either JFK Airport or Newark Airport. But if you are travelling within the United States, your flight will most likely depart from LaGuardia Airport.

American Airlines and United Airlines, for example, fly from Terminal B, whereas Delta Airlines departs from Terminal C. Always check in advance which terminal you need to be at.

Once you have checked in your luggage and passed the security check, you can visit the shops and grab a drink or a bite at one of the food outlets.

LaGuardia Terminals

LaGuardia Airport has three terminals:

• Terminal A: Located on the west side of the airport and occupied by Frontier and Spirit.
• Terminal B: The central area of the airport, with lots of shops and restaurants, and the terminal for United Airlines and JetBlue, among others.
• Terminal C: The designated terminal for all Delta departures and arrivals.

The three terminals are not connected, but if you need to travel between terminals you can take the free airport shuttle bus.

The airport underwent a complete renovation in 2022, which included the addition of numerous works of art visible throughout the airport. There are also a lot of dining, shopping and lounge options across the different terminals.

Hotels near LaGuardia Airport

There are several hotels near LaGuardia Airport. You might want to stay in the area if you have a long layover between flights, arrive in New York late at night, or fly to your next destination early in the morning.

Sleep at the DoubleTree by Hilton New York-LaGuardia or the Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport, for example. The Avion Inn Near LGA Airport is another option that includes breakfast. All hotels offer a free shuttle to and from the airport.