Bag storage in NYC hotel or JFK airport ?

[Nizar]

Guys I am planning a US trip for me and my gf next year and whilst I could easily go away for 2-3 weeks with just a carry-on she could not.
However I don't want to be bringing checked baggage during our crazy carribean status runs. So...

The plan is to arrive in NYC and stay there for 4-5 days before beginning our two status runs, with a night in BOS in between to break things up, as well as 3 days in MIA.
All up I wanted to leave our bags for about one week before we are back in NYC and then departing to LAX through JFK.

Would the hotel we are staying at be happy to accomodate this ?
Or, better still, are there lockers you can hire at JFK the way you can in Europe, etc ?

Any feedback and ideas appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Hvr]

If you're returning to the same hotel then there shouldn't be a problem. Of course the brand of hotel will make a difference. I usually stay at Hilton brand hotels and they've looked after my bag when required.


It might cost a dollar or two per day but well worth it when doing a status run and you don't want to be hampered by luggage.

 

[Nizar]

If you're returning to the same hotel then there shouldn't be a problem. Of course the brand of hotel will make a difference. I usually stay at Hilton brand hotels and they've looked after my bag when required.


It might cost a dollar or two per day but well worth it when doing a status run and you don't want to be hampered by luggage.

Yeh looking at the itinerary again, I think I will just return to the same hotel for a night. Will make it easier as to get a good nights rest before hitting the West coast. And that way we can leave MIA a little later as well. After all it is supposed to be a holiday ! Lol

 

[Bazzi]

If the hotel won't store the luggage for you, have a look here New York Luggage Storage Lockers
They now have two locations midtown Manhattan. Haven't used them personally but seemed to be well regarded. One location is close to Penn Station if you are training it to Boston (so much easier and cheaper than flying).

 

[Danger]

If you do plan to leave it the hotel, check with them first and make sure you advise the bellman when you do leave the bags.

Four years ago I checked out of a room at the Roosevelt and went on a status run for a week or so. I left one large suitcase. After the run I went back to the hotel (but didn't stay a second time). It took them a very long time to track down my bag and they were not impressed that I'd left it with them for so long.

 

[zig]

I left luggage at Penn Station a couple of years ago as the hotel would not keep it for me. I was surprised the hotel refused to store the luggage, have never had this happen before, so don't know if it was a NYC security issue.

 

[Nizar]

Cheers for the feedback guys.
Might try the New York Storage Lockers option in that case.
That would save me a nights worth of accom and proximity to Penn station is a huge plus as I will be coming from train from BOS.

So the plan is this:

I'm taking a direct flight from MIA to BOS arriving at 10:20am.
Then the Acela express departing South station at 12:15pm to Penn. This would seem doable as the distance is just 4 miles ?

The train arrives at Penn at 3:45pm so there I will get my luggage and make my way to JFK, which is ~18 miles away it seems, for my QF108 flight departing at 6:55pm.

Has anybody did this before ? You would think that 60-90mins should be enough to cover that 18 miles yeh ?
It seems I've left enough time to get to South station even if my MIA-BOS is delayed.

Does anyone think I'm cutting it too fine ?

Thanks

 

[Bazzi]

If you are planning to go by car to the airport, personally I think you are cutting it a bit fine. It's been a while but we have done QF 108 a number of times, and as we generally stay in Chelsea we find it more convenient to travel by shuttle, always leaving no later than 3pm due to the traffic congestion in Queens. From memory, at that time of day it is a good 1.5 hour trip.

As you will already be at Penn Station, you might want to consider going by the Long Island Rail Road to Jamaica then connecting to the AirTrain. Takes 35 mins to Jamaica then 10 mins to JFK.

More info here To & From JFK - AirTrain - Ground Transportation - John F. Kennedy International Airport - Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

 

[Hvr]

Cheers for the feedback guys.
<snip>

So the plan is this:

I'm taking a direct flight from MIA to BOS arriving at 10:20am.
Then the Acela express departing South station at 12:15pm to Penn. This would seem doable as the distance is just 4 miles ?

<snip>

It seems I've left enough time to get to South station even if my MIA-BOS is delayed.

Does anyone think I'm cutting it too fine ?

Thanks

From BOS AP to South Station is easy. Silver Line 1 is the route, it is part trolley bus and part normal bus with the poles pulled down on the trip.

It takes 23 minutes from the first airport terminal to South Station which is a major stop. You then go up the stairs/escalators to the main train terminal.

Totally doable on the times shown above.

 

[Nizar]

If you are planning to go by car to the airport, personally I think you are cutting it a bit fine. It's been a while but we have done QF 108 a number of times, and as we generally stay in Chelsea we find it more convenient to travel by shuttle, always leaving no later than 3pm due to the traffic congestion in Queens. From memory, at that time of day it is a good 1.5 hour trip.

As you will already be at Penn Station, you might want to consider going by the Long Island Rail Road to Jamaica then connecting to the AirTrain. Takes 35 mins to Jamaica then 10 mins to JFK.

More info here To & From JFK - AirTrain - Ground Transportation - John F. Kennedy International Airport - Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

Hadn't decided on mode of transport yet but rail sounds good.
Thanks.

 

[Nizar]

If you are planning to go by car to the airport, personally I think you are cutting it a bit fine. It's been a while but we have done QF 108 a number of times, and as we generally stay in Chelsea we find it more convenient to travel by shuttle, always leaving no later than 3pm due to the traffic congestion in Queens. From memory, at that time of day it is a good 1.5 hour trip.

As you will already be at Penn Station, you might want to consider going by the Long Island Rail Road to Jamaica then connecting to the AirTrain. Takes 35 mins to Jamaica then 10 mins to JFK.

More info here To & From JFK - AirTrain - Ground Transportation - John F. Kennedy International Airport - Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

Hadn't decided on mode of transport yet but rail sounds good.
Thanks.

 

[Skyring]

The train arrives at Penn at 3:45pm so there I will get my luggage and make my way to JFK, which is ~18 miles away it seems, for my QF108 flight departing at 6:55pm.

Has anybody did this before ? You would think that 60-90mins should be enough to cover that 18 miles yeh ?
It seems I've left enough time to get to South station even if my MIA-BOS is delayed.

Does anyone think I'm cutting it too fine ?

Thanks

This is almost exactly what I did. The location near Penn Station is up one floor, but there's a lift. The young lady behind the counter was fairly well stoned, but I got my luggage back intact and it wasn't expensive, so I wasn't complaining. There's a hotel two doors east and they have a couple of limos waiting outside.

Or you can walk three doors west, stick your hand in the air and get a cab.

That time of day it took me about half an hour to get to JFK. I had time to check in, do a little shopping, grab a shower, have some grog and internet and then hop on QF108 all the way home.

That was a Monday arvo - other days might be different.

 

[Nizar]

This is almost exactly what I did. The location near Penn Station is up one floor, but there's a lift. The young lady behind the counter was fairly well stoned, but I got my luggage back intact and it wasn't expensive, so I wasn't complaining. There's a hotel two doors east and they have a couple of limos waiting outside.

Or you can walk three doors west, stick your hand in the air and get a cab.

That time of day it took me about half an hour to get to JFK. I had time to check in, do a little shopping, grab a shower, have some grog and internet and then hop on QF108 all the way home.

That was a Monday arvo - other days might be different.

How recent did you go ?
And not sure about east/west but I know they love those sort of terms in America lol maybe I need to bring a compass with me

If you are planning to go by car to the airport, personally I think you are cutting it a bit fine. It's been a while but we have done QF 108 a number of times, and as we generally stay in Chelsea we find it more convenient to travel by shuttle, always leaving no later than 3pm due to the traffic congestion in Queens. From memory, at that time of day it is a good 1.5 hour trip.

Maybe they have built a new freeway since when you went and when Bazzi was there lol ?

I guess to make it safe I could get on the 11:15am Acela from South station but my plane from MIA only arrives at 10:20am so not sure I can do this.
Might just make a decision closer to the time and leave it open for now. Does anyone know if you can buy these tickets at the station or must you def pre-book ?

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[Bazzi]

Will this be your first trip to NYC? The route to/from the airport goes through the burbs before crossing the river to Manhattan.

I think you have to book for the Acela but not the LIRR or Airtrain. The LIRR to Jamaica is $9.50pp peak hour and the Airtrain is $5pp. Perhaps while you are in Manhattan, pop in to Penn Station and pre purchase your ticket to Jamaica and for the Airtrain - will certainly save you time on the day. Worst case scenario you can jump on the train and pay then but you will pay a premium of up to 75% on top of the $9.50.

If you are travelling J, you probably have a bit more time up your sleeve to check in than if you are travelling Y.

Some sage advice here -
Because traffic conditions in NYC, especially routes involving bridges or tunnels, can be unpredictable, it is best to allow yourself extra time to reach JFK and your flight. From Manhattan it takes a minimum of 30 minutes to reach JFK by car, but if there is heavy traffic, it could take two hours. Consider the many public transportation options.

 

[Nizar]

Will this be your first trip to NYC? The route to/from the airport goes through the burbs before crossing the river to Manhattan.

I think you have to book for the Acela but not the LIRR or Airtrain. The LIRR to Jamaica is $9.50pp peak hour and the Airtrain is $5pp. Perhaps while you are in Manhattan, pop in to Penn Station and pre purchase your ticket to Jamaica and for the Airtrain - will certainly save you time on the day. Worst case scenario you can jump on the train and pay then but you will pay a premium of up to 75% on top of the $9.50.

If you are travelling J, you probably have a bit more time up your sleeve to check in than if you are travelling Y.

Some sage advice here -
Because traffic conditions in NYC, especially routes involving bridges or tunnels, can be unpredictable, it is best to allow yourself extra time to reach JFK and your flight. From Manhattan it takes a minimum of 30 minutes to reach JFK by car, but if there is heavy traffic, it could take two hours. Consider the many public transportation options.

Yeh it is - that's why I'm so clueless. Unfortunately flying in Y this time. With checked in luggage also.
Hmmmm. Yeh train might be a goer but will it be okay to bring luggage was us ? We would have more than just check-ins....

 

[Bazzi]

Yeh it is - that's why I'm so clueless. Unfortunately flying in Y this time. With checked in luggage also.
Hmmmm. Yeh train might be a goer but will it be okay to bring luggage was us ? We would have more than just check-ins....

You can take as much as you can carry on the LIRR. If you need assistance at Penn, look for a Redcap (porter) at the entrance to the station - this is a free service but obviously a tip is expected (and probably well earnt). If you are taking carry on for the flights to Miami, you should be ok on the Acela - they are pretty strict with luggage - see here - Amtrak - No Checked Baggage Service

You can book your Acela tickets online at amtrak - I think they have finally moved into the 21st century and e-tickets, otherwise you can book and then collect at Boston Station. I'd book as soon as you've done your flights - my experience has been that the fares go up, rather than down, closer to the departure date.

There is an Airporter bus that leaves outside Penn Station for JFK every 20-30 mins - $16pp - they quote the travelling time as being 1.5 hours. If you've got a lot of luggage, then Skyring's advice to jump a taxi or limo might be easier.

Are you flying out of JFK or BOS to MIA?

 

[Nizar]

There is an Airporter bus that leaves outside Penn Station for JFK every 20-30 mins - $16pp - they quote the travelling time as being 1.5 hours. If you've got a lot of luggage, then Skyring's advice to jump a taxi or limo might be easier.

Are you flying out of JFK or BOS to MIA?

Bus would probably be the slowest form of transport ? I am keen for the rail but if not then will probably go with a cab.
I will be flying out of BOS to MIA.

So the plan is to train it to BOS initially stay a night there then the next morning an early flight to the carribean via MIA. Then back to BOS another night to break up the journey then going back to the carribean (this time BGI, first one is SJU) but will stay in MIA for a few days on the way back before returning to BOS. Oh the things we do for SCs lol. At least I will be staying a couple of nights on each island to make the journey worthwhile.

 

[Skyring]

How recent did you go ?
And not sure about east/west but I know they love those sort of terms in America lol maybe I need to bring a compass with me

April. Manhattan pretty much works on a grid system of Avenues running Uptown (North) / Downtown (South) and Streets running East/West. Broadway cuts diagonally across the grid and Central Park is a lovely big slab out of the middle with only a few road crossings.

YMMV on traffic, but I've always been happy with cabs and limos. Then again, they have an excellent rail system too.

I've always had a fabulous time in NYC. Impossible to take it all in at once, just grab a guidebook and start ticking boxes.

 

[Bazzi]

Bus would probably be the slowest form of transport ? I am keen for the rail but if not then will probably go with a cab.
I will be flying out of BOS to MIA.

So the plan is to train it to BOS initially stay a night there then the next morning an early flight to the carribean via MIA. Then back to BOS another night to break up the journey then going back to the carribean (this time BGI, first one is SJU) but will stay in MIA for a few days on the way back before returning to BOS. Oh the things we do for SCs lol. At least I will be staying a couple of nights on each island to make the journey worthwhile.

I admire the efforts you and others go to for the SCs! My partner is not a great flyer - our final itinerary is determined by the number of sectors (the limit is 10) we have to fly as my partner can do 7-8 hours max in the air due to airsickness/sinus - we now bunny hop everywhere i.e. SYD SIN DXB PAR with overnights in between. The days of doing QF 107/108 are long gone - oxygen required on the last trip!

NYC is a great city - you'll be wishing you stayed longer than 4-5 days.

 

[Nizar]

I admire the efforts you and others go to for the SCs! My partner is not a great flyer - our final itinerary is determined by the number of sectors (the limit is 10) we have to fly as my partner can do 7-8 hours max in the air due to airsickness/sinus - we now bunny hop everywhere i.e. SYD SIN DXB PAR with overnights in between. The days of doing QF 107/108 are long gone - oxygen required on the last trip!

NYC is a great city - you'll be wishing you stayed longer than 4-5 days.

Hmmm okay yeh I am feeling the same might have to max it out to a week !