The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
has prepared this information to inform you of accessible
services available John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
We hope this will help make your airport experience a pleasant
one. Please use the
feedback
form to send us any comments or suggestions.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
The Port Authority encourages the use of standard international
symbols in directional and informational signs at JFK. Look
for the symbols designating wheelchair accessibility, hearing
disability, and Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD/TTY)
to locate facilities and services that you may require.
If you are not accompanied by or met at the airport by a friend
or relative, it is important that you contact your airline
in advance. For airline terminal locations and phone numbers
click here.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
To find out about accessibility on board the airplane, contact
your travel agent or airline representative in advance.
Before making your reservations, here are some questions
you should ask to make your trip easier:
- How accessible is the terminal from the parking lot
or the place where I will be dropped off? Will I need
assistance to get into the terminal?
- Are there accessible elevators, restrooms available?
Where are they?
- Will I need an airline representative to assist me (when
boarding, arriving or claiming my baggage)?
- Does the airline provide assistance aboard the aircraft?
- Are there accessible elevators, restrooms at my destination
airport? Is information about these facilities available?
(see International and Domestic Airports)
- Will I be changing planes and will that require a terminal
change?
- Are there fees for any of these services?
MAKING RESERVATIONS
It will be easier if you make reservations with your airline
or travel agent well in advance of your trip, and inform
them of any assistance you may require, e.g., a wheelchair
(departing and arriving), specific seating requests, specific
kinds of foods, etc.
GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT
A number of ground transportations services
are available to transport you to and from the airport as
well as to help you connect between Kennedy, Newark Liberty
and LaGuardia Airports.
For your convenience, public transportation information
for the disabled traveler is available at the following
numbers:
IN NEW JERSEY (800) 772-3606
IN NEW YORK (718) 330-1234
To insure prompt service, reservations for accessible transportation
vehicles should be made at least 24 hours in advance for
all shared ride transportation options.
TERMINALS AT JFK
The Terminals in the central terminal area (CTA), are numbered
from 1 through 9 (Terminal 5 is temporarily closed). The
terminals and parking lots in the central terminal area
are divided into five areas, each of which is designated
by a separate color. To locate needed services, please consult
the JFK International Accessibility Chart at the top of
this page.
PARKING INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
For your convenience, the parking lots nearest to the entrances
of each terminal have a limited number of reserved spaces
for travelers with disabilities. To park in these reserved
spaces and receive the lowest parking rate, official license
plates bearing the disabled designation or other official
documents issued by a municipality or state of residence
must be prominently displayed. Parking charges for these
vehicles are equal to the lowest rate available at the airport.
Parking Rates for the disabled at JFK are shown here.
DEPARTING
Curbside unloading areas for baggage and passengers are
available at each terminal and in most cases are weather
protected and located close to each airline's entrance door.
Please make arrangements with your airline at least 24 hours
in advance to confirm assistance with baggage check-in,
ticketing and movement to the gate area and the availability
of curbside parking. Skycaps are available to assist you
in getting your luggage to the check-in-area.
ARRIVING
For most scheduled airlines, you can expect weather-protected
passage via modern jetways from the aircraft to your terminal.
Once in the terminal, elevators are available where a change
to another level is required to reach baggage claim, ground
transportation or connecting flights from JFK. If you are
traveling on American Eagle at Terminal 9, please have your
travel agent contact the airline and let them know what
time your flight is due to depart. American Eagle has two
ADA certified lifting devices that will take you from the
ground to the aircraft entrance safely and comfortably.
In the baggage claim areas, Skycaps are available to help
with your luggage.
If a friend, family member or business associate will be
driving to the airport to meet you, please understand that
they will not be permitted to wait in their car at the arrivals
level curb frontage. If you and all your baggage are not
there when your ride pulls up to the curb, the driver must
park in an airport parking lot and walk to the terminal
to wait for you. Meeter-Greeters are required to pay the
same parking fee as other airport customers.
Cars standing (not actively loading or unloading at the
arrivals or departures curbs) will be ticketed, and unattended
cars will be towed at the owners expense.
PLANEMATES
In some instances, planemates (mobile lounges) are used
to transport passengers between arriving/departing aircraft
and the gate area. For your convenience, planemates are
wheelchair accessible and have reserved spaces (designated
by the international accessibility symbol).
TRAVELERS AID SERVICES
Travelers Aid Services is located in the arrivals area of
Terminal 6. There are also other Traveler Volunteers located
in Terminals 1, 3, 7 and 8. The phone number for Travelers
Aid Services is 656-4870. You can reach them during the
hours of 10AM - 7PM Mon.-Thurs., 10AM - 6PM Fri., 11AM -
6PM Sat. and Noon - 6PM Sun.
AUTOLINK SERVICE FOR CONNECTIONS TO OTHER FLIGHTS
Autolink airline connection service is available. There
is no charge to passengers for this service. To make arrangements
for transportation between terminals via Autolink, you must
contact your airline at least 48 hours in advance.
Free AirTrain Service is available for travel between terminals
at JFK
ACCESSIBLE SERVICES IN EACH TERMINAL
Drinking Fountains - Accessible fountains are available
in all terminals.
Restrooms - Each terminal has at least one wheelchair
accessible restroom. If you need assistance locating one,
just ask at the information booth located on the Arrivals
Level in any of the terminals.
Car Rental - Hand-operated vehicles are available
from the on-airport car rental agencies Avis and Hertz.
To find out additional information, please contact Hertz
(718) 656-7600 or Avis (718) 244-5400 directly.
PRESCRIPTIONS - At JFK Airport there is no pharmacy
that can fill prescriptions. The nearest pharmacy that can
fill prescriptions is Wakefield Pharmacy, which is located
a short distance from the airport proper at 13525 Lefferts
Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11420-3601. Phone: (718) 843-3900. Non-prescription
medicine may be purchased at the pharmacy in Terminal 4
between 7 AM and 11 PM.
EMERGENCY SERVICES - For medical emergencies, trained
emergency medical technicians are available 24 hours per
day. Please call the police emergency number (718) 244-4333
for assistance. Airport phones are available at various
locations. Just dial 211 from an airport phone or have an
airline representative call 911 (NYC police only) from any
public phone for you.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE - Doctors are available, 24 hours
a day / 7 days a week, at a privately operated medical building.
This building, #198, can be accessed by calling 1-877-JFK-DOCS
(877-535-3627) for the free shuttle to the medical facility.
For more information call (718)656-5344.
TDD/TTY - At JFK there are phones that will accommodate
the hearing impaired.
INFORMATION DISPLAY on the second floor - Terminal
information and retail stores are listed here.
If you require more information, please call your travel
agent, your airline, or JFK's General Information Number.
JFK General Information: (718) 244-4444
