Located in Queens' Jamaica neighborhood, 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan, John F. Kennedy International Airport is the largest and busiest airport serving the New York area. Spanning 5,200 acres along Jamaica Bay, this primary international gateway connects travelers to nonstop destinations across all six permanently inhabited continents via nearly 100 operating airlines.
The airport operates with five passenger terminals and four active runways to manage its extensive global route network. JFK serves as a major hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, while functioning as the primary operating base for JetBlue. Each distinct terminal handles dedicated domestic and international air carriers.
01 Terminals & concourses
Opened in 1998, Terminal 1 handles major international flights, including notable Airbus A380 routes operated by Lufthansa.
Opening in 2001 as a modern replacement for the International Arrivals Building, Terminal 4 services major international routes such as Emirates.
Opened in 2008, Terminal 5 incorporates 26 gates and connects directly to the historical TWA Flight Center head house.
Terminal 7 stands as one of the active passenger facilities currently operating within JFK's central terminal layout.
Rebuilt to serve as a major hub facility for American Airlines, Terminal 8 occupies the site of former terminals 8 and 9.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at JFK
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from JFK
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| People mover | AirTrain JFK links each terminal directly to the subway and Long Island Rail Road at Howard Beach and Jamaica. |
| Road | Vehicular access is provided via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) for cars, buses, and shuttles. |
