2018 trip reports still mention NYC Airporter from LaGuardia
NYC Airporter Bus used to run coach service from LGA to Grand Central, Port Authority, and similar Midtown stops, copying the old JFK coach model. Reddit posts from around 2016 mention paying a premium over the MTA for what turned into a slow ride stuck on the Grand Central Parkway and in Midtown traffic. The key update: this specific branded coach service is now discontinued, so anything describing it as an active option is dated.
Reviews from travelers who used it out of Terminal B at LaGuardia talk about long waits at curbside stops and sluggish point-to-point times compared with the Q70 plus subway. One Redditor said their LGA–Grand Central run felt “slow and not worth the money” versus today’s $2.90 Q70 SBS to Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue or Woodside–61 St, then an E, F, M, R, or 7 train into Midtown. Old prices for NYC Airporter were several times a MetroCard swipe, with no real time savings.
What regulars actually recommend now
NYC locals on r/AskNYC now steer people away from any mention of “NYC Airporter” and toward the Q70-SBS LaGuardia Link, which stops at Terminals B and C and runs 24/7. From there, most people connect to the 7 train at 74 St–Broadway for Times Square or Hudson Yards, or to the E train for Penn Station and downtown. Figure 35–60 minutes total to Midtown from LGA with the bus + subway combo, depending on time of day.
How to avoid getting burned by outdated guides
If an online guide says to “buy NYC Airporter tickets” at LGA, check the article date; anything pre-2018 is suspect. Older blogs sometimes still list exact pickup points at Terminal B and reference printed coach timetables every 20–30 minutes to Grand Central. Those signs, desks, and buses are gone, so don’t waste time in the arrivals hall looking for them.
- Step 1: At Terminals B or C, follow signs for “Buses / Q70 SBS.” Ignore any mention of NYC Airporter on old screenshots or blog photos.
- Step 2: Tap a contactless card or OMNY at the Q70 stop; the $2.90 fare covers the bus plus a free subway transfer within 2 hours.
- Step 3: Ride Q70 to 74 St–Jackson Heights or Woodside–61 St, then transfer to the 7, E, F, M, or R depending on your hotel or station.
Practical tip: If you see someone at LGA asking about NYC Airporter near baggage claim in Terminal B, that’s your signal their info is a decade old; point them to the Q70 sign and save them 20 minutes of confusion.