{"id":259569,"date":"2026-08-25T21:30:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T21:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/25\/we-raced-from-jfk-to-the-empire-state-building-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T21:30:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T21:30:35","slug":"we-raced-from-jfk-to-the-empire-state-building-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/25\/we-raced-from-jfk-to-the-empire-state-building-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"We raced from JFK to the Empire State Building &#8211; The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>There are many ways to get from New York&#8217;s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Manhattan, but have you ever done a head-to-head test to determine the best option?<\/p>\n<p>Here at TPG, we decided to do just that.<\/p>\n<p>Staffers Liam Spencer, Medha Imam and Bella Boccasino recently headed to the Big Apple to put three modes of transportation to the test:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Train (JFK&#8217;s AirTrain to the Long Island Rail Road)<\/li>\n<li>Ride-hailing service<\/li>\n<li>Blade helicopter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You probably already have an educated guess as to which came out on top \u2014 but second place may surprise you.<\/p>\n<p>Check out the full video here \u2014 and keep reading for other considerations for your own trip from (or to) JFK.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Can You Beat a Helicopter Out of JFK?\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-TFtjPdtygM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Other benefits to help with JFK transfers<\/h2>\n<p>In the video, Liam, Medha and Bella all paid &#8220;retail&#8221; price for their assigned mode of transportation. However, there are several ways they could&#8217;ve maximized their purchases.<\/p>\n<h3>AirTrain and Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station<\/h3>\n<p>Liam&#8217;s surprisingly strong showing on the train was the lowest-priced option, but there are a couple of possible avenues to make the most of these transit purchases.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, train travel typically triggers the <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/chase-sapphire-reserve-annual-travel-credit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$300 annual travel credit<\/a><\/span> available on both the <span data-article-product-link=\"\" class=\"jsx-eb69f9b09a3de1d0 jsx-eea0d1f218f5e80b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/oc\/221211836?name=Chase Sapphire Reserve PID&amp;pid=221211836?tid=post\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"jsx-eb69f9b09a3de1d0 jsx-eea0d1f218f5e80b applyLink inherit\">Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae<\/a><\/span> (see <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/tc\/221211836?pid=221211836&amp;name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Reserve%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rates and fees<\/a><\/span>) and the <span data-article-product-link=\"\" class=\"jsx-eb69f9b09a3de1d0 jsx-eea0d1f218f5e80b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/oc\/10965?name=Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business\u2120 PID&amp;pid=10965?tid=post\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"jsx-eb69f9b09a3de1d0 jsx-eea0d1f218f5e80b applyLink inherit\">Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business\u2120<\/a><\/span> (see <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/tc\/10965?pid=10965&amp;name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Reserve%20for%20Business%E2%84%A0%20PID&amp;data-testid=ratesFees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rates and fees<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n<div class=\"EmailSignUp_container__YVxAW tw-border tw-border-gray-2\"><picture class=\"EmailSignUp_graphic__pcgxg tw-relative tw-overflow-hidden tw-opacity-0\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-mob.svg\"\/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"EmailSignUp_form__xvcP4\">\n<p>Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n<form class=\"jsx-606422965 newsletter-form\">\n<div class=\"jsx-606422965 EmailCapture_confirmation__AJ4nI EmailCapture_noCheckbox__2BHzb   &#10;          \">\n<div class=\"tw-space-y-4\">\n<p class=\"tw-text-xs-regular !tw-text-gray-5 hover:!tw-text-gray-5 tw-max-w-lg\">By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our<!-- --> <a class=\"!tw-text-gray-5 hover:!tw-text-gray-5\" href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/terms-of-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Terms of Use<\/a> <!-- -->and acknowledge the data practices in our<!-- --> <a class=\"!tw-text-gray-5 hover:!tw-text-gray-5\" href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You may unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Alternatively, there are a handful of cards that offer <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/best-cards-for-travel-purchases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bonus points on general travel purchases<\/a><\/span> \u2014 including the Sapphire Reserve and the <span data-article-product-link=\"\" class=\"jsx-eb69f9b09a3de1d0 jsx-eea0d1f218f5e80b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/oc\/10652?name=Citi Strata Premier\u00ae Card&amp;pid=10652?tid=post\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"jsx-eb69f9b09a3de1d0 jsx-eea0d1f218f5e80b applyLink inherit\">Citi Strata Premier\u00ae Card<\/a><\/span> (see <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/tc\/10652?pid=10652&amp;name=Citi%20Strata%20Premier%C2%AE%20Card&amp;data-testid=ratesFees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rates and fees<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\n<h3>Blade to Manhattan<\/h3>\n<p>Bella&#8217;s helicopter was pricey, especially with the added car transfer from Blade&#8217;s 30th Street helipad to the Empire State Building \u2014 though surprisingly not all that much more than Medha&#8217;s Uber. Nevertheless, there&#8217;s one program that could&#8217;ve helped defray the cost: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/loyalty-programs\/bilt-rewards-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>As of Aug. 13, you can now <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/bilt-cash-blade-flights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">redeem Bilt Cash for Blade flights<\/a><\/span> up to twice per calendar year (up to $350 for each seat). Additionally, Bilt Platinum members receive one free Blade flight per year between Manhattan and either JFK or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). And all Bilt elite members can get 10% off Blade bookings through the Bilt app.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/bilt-cash-earn-and-redeem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What is Bilt Cash? How to earn and redeem this new reward currency<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Uber to the Empire State Building<\/h3>\n<p>Medha came in last in our race, as traffic into Manhattan significantly delayed her arrival. Nevertheless, there are many avenues to save on ride-hailing purchases.<\/p>\n<p>With Uber, you can add select <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/american-express\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Express cards<\/a><\/span> to your account to <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/loyalty-programs\/amex-platinum-uber-cash-credit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">unlock monthly Uber Cash<\/a><\/span> for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders:<\/p>\n<p><em>*Note: Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum or Amex Gold, respectively, as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, those with either the Sapphire Reserve or the Sapphire Reserve for Business will earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides, plus up to $10 monthly in-app credits (up to $120 annually) through Sept. 30, 2027.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, be sure to link your Uber and Lyft accounts with select loyalty programs to enjoy even more rewards on your rides:<\/p>\n<div class=\"tw-my-8 tw-overflow-x-auto sm:tw-overflow-visible\">\n<table class=\"tw-w-full tw-min-w-[640px] sm:tw-min-w-0 tw-table-auto\" style=\"-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"tw-bg-gray-6 tw-p-4 tw-text-md-medium tw-font-semibold tw-text-white tw-text-left first:tw-rounded-tl-lg last:tw-rounded-tr-lg tw-pl-3\" scope=\"col\"><strong>Service<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"tw-bg-gray-6 tw-p-4 tw-text-md-medium tw-font-semibold tw-text-white tw-text-left first:tw-rounded-tl-lg last:tw-rounded-tr-lg\" scope=\"col\"><strong>Loyalty partners<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"tw-relative even:tw-bg-gray-1\">\n<td class=\"tw-text-md-regular tw-p-4 tw-pb-3 tw-align-top tw-h-auto\"\/>\n<td class=\"tw-text-md-regular tw-p-4 tw-pb-3 tw-align-top tw-h-auto\">\n<div class=\"tw-break-words\"><span class=\"tw-break-words\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Earn up to 3 Delta SkyMiles per dollar spent on Uber rides.<\/li>\n<li>Earn up to 3 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on Uber rides.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"tw-relative even:tw-bg-gray-1\">\n<td class=\"tw-text-md-regular tw-p-4 tw-pb-3 tw-align-top tw-h-auto\"\/>\n<td class=\"tw-text-md-regular tw-p-4 tw-pb-3 tw-align-top tw-h-auto\">\n<div class=\"tw-break-words\"><span class=\"tw-break-words\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Earn 2 Bilt Points per dollar spent on Lyft rides.<\/li>\n<li>Earn up to 3 Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points per dollar spent on Lyft rides.<\/li>\n<li>Earn 3 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on Lyft rides.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Just note that you must designate a specific earning partner in each app \u2014 you can&#8217;t earn rewards in multiple programs on the same ride.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/loyalty-programs\/points-and-miles-double-dipping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to earn more points and maximize elite status benefits by double-dipping<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>Three TPG staffers raced from JFK to the Empire State Building, and, not surprisingly, Blade came out on top. However, the AirTrain to the Long Island Rail Road was surprisingly close \u2014 while also being the cheapest. And, unfortunately, the ride-hailing option was last by a wide margin due to the horrendous rush-hour traffic at the time.<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s your favorite way to get to Manhattan from New York City&#8217;s airports? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/travel\/new-york-jfk-empire-state-building-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are many ways to get from New York&#8217;s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Manhattan, but have you ever done a head-to-head test to determine the best option? Here at TPG, we decided to do just that. Staffers Liam Spencer, Medha Imam and Bella Boccasino recently headed to the Big Apple to put [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":259571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-259569","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259569"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259569\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/259571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}