LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the primary domestic gateway to New York City, whereas most international flights into NYC are handled by New York JFK and Newark Liberty International EWR. LaGuardia is the busiest US airport without a direct flight to Europe.
It is located in the borough of Queens, next to Flushing Bay and on the banks of the East River, some 8 miles from Midtown Manhattan.
LGA was extensively renovated in 2022 with a complete makeover, new terminals, extra facilities, and improved passenger experiences. It earned a Skytrax 5-star rating in 2023 and is often cited as the best airport in the USA.
In 2024, LaGuardia served over 33.5 million passengers, ranking among the 20 busiest airports in the USA.
Major Airlines - American Airlines, Delta Air Lines
LaGuardia Airport is a hub for two major US Airlines - American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Together with their subsidiaries, American Eagle and Delta Connection, respectively, they serve the majority of domestic flights within the USA.
The low-cost airlines that operate at LaGuardia include Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.
LaGuardia has no border protection facilities, so it can only take domestic flights or flights coming from airports with pre-clearance facilities. Such is the case with Air Canada, Air Canada Express, and Porter Airlines that fly from Toronto-Pearson and Montréal-Trudeau. These are currently two of the very few international routes from LGA.
You can see a list of all airlines serving LaGuardia here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of LGA
After its renovation works in 2022, LaGuardia Airport has three terminals:
Terminal A: This was the original terminal and is also known as the Marine Air Terminal. Only Spirit Airlines now operates its flights from Terminal A.
- Terminal B: Hosts most airlines at LGA, except for Spirit and Delta. It features a central security checkpoint with two concourses:
Western Concourse (Gates 11-31) is reserved for American Airlines/American Eagle
Eastern Concourse (Gates 40-59) is where most airlines, including Air Canada, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and United, are based.
Terminal C: Dedicated only to the operations of Delta Air Lines and Delta Connection. It includes four concourses with a total of 37 gates between them.
Each terminal operates independently with its own security checkpoints, and the three are not connected airside.
You can move between the three terminals on the landside using a free shuttle bus service. It runs 24/7 with a frequency of every 8-10 minutes (15 during off-peak).
Connecting Flights and Transit
LaGuardia Airport handles only domestic flights and does not have a formal airside transfer system between terminals.
Additionally, most flights are treated as point-to-point and will require that you exit the secured area, move to your next terminal, and re-clear security.
The suggested connecting time at LaGuardia Airport is 60 minutes, although it’s possible to make a connection in under 35 minutes if the airport isn’t particularly busy.
Wi-Fi at LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport offers a free Wi-FI network called "_Free LGA WiFi" in all terminals.
Connection is very simple and does not require any additional registration or verification. It’s also unlimited in duration or bandwidth.
Dining Options at LGA
LaGuardia Airport offers a plentiful choice when it comes to places to eat or drink. There are sit-down restaurants, but also grab & go kiosks and coffee kiosks spread around all terminals, both before and after Security.
An area that stands out in the Food Court on the fourth floor of Terminal B where many eateries are concentrated. A notable fact is the 2 USD price ceiling on bottled water at the airport.
Some of the best dining options at LGA are:
Salotto: An Italian counter with Caprese sandwiches and pizza after Security in Terminal A.
Dunkin’: An American favorite for donuts and coffee. Find near Gate A1 in Terminal A, as well as on Level 4 of Terminal B.
Dos Toros Taqueria in the Food Court of Terminal B sells Mexican food.
Hunt and Fish: A steakhouse preparing seafood in Concourse A of Terminal B, near Gates 22/23.
Bubby's: A New York City brunch staple located in Terminal C near Gates 70-79, offering classic American dishes.
Chuko Ramen: An authentic Japanese food place in Terminal C near Gate 76.
For the best coffee or tea, check out Irving Farm Coffee Roasters in Terminal B or Birch Coffee/Rossi To-Go in Terminal C.
Lounges at LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport has several lounges, most of which are located in Terminal B.
Terminal A doesn’t have any lounges.
Terminal C has the Delta Sky Hub. Its entrance is located on level 3 after Security, and it’s open daily from 4:45 AM until 9:30 PM (except Saturdays when it closes at 6:30 PM). Access is available to premium members of Delta or other SkyTeam alliance members and select premium credit card holders. The Delta Sky Hub offers premium hot and cold food, a premium bar, Wi-Fi, reading materials, and other business services.
Terminal B is where most other airlines fly to and from, so their lounges are located there. These include:
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
American Airlines Admirals Club
Centurion Lounge
Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club
United Club
All these lounges offer complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating areas. Entrance is either for premium passengers of the specific airline or its partners, or holders of Priority Pass, Dragon Pass, or similar membership programs.
Transportation options at LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is accessible via various public transportation options. For starters, five different bus routes operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) serve the airport:
M60: Serves North Manhattan, Bronx, and the Greater New York area. Makes fewer stops but has luggage racks and more seating.
Q70: A free bus that serves Midtown and South Manhattan, some areas of Queens, and Long Island. Also makes fewer stops but has luggage racks and more seating. Does not stop at Terminal A.
Q47: Serves nearby neighborhoods in Queens. Stops only at Terminal A.
Q48: Serves nearby neighborhoods in Queens.
Q72: Serves nearby neighborhoods in Queens. Does not stop at Terminal A.
All buses accept contactless payments with a one-way ticket costing 2.90 USD, except for Q70, which is free. You can connect to the NY subway (all buses stop near at least 1 subway station) for free as long as you use the same payment method.
Should you want to avoid public transport, the following options remain:
Taxis: Metered taxis are available at all terminals. As an approximation, the fare to Times Square is around 35 USD, excluding tolls.
Ridesharing: App-based ride services like Uber, Revel, and Lyft operate at LGA, with designated pick-up and drop-off areas. Prices depend on so many conditions, it’s hard to say if it’s cheaper to take a regular taxi or an app based one.
Shuttle Services: GO Airlink NYC offers shared ride shuttle services starting at approximately $35 per person.
Rental Car: There are free shuttles between LaGuardia and the rental car facility where you can find offices of some of the largest car rental companies in the world.
Transport from LaGuardia to New York JFK
LaGuardia is not too far from John F. Kennedy International Airport with the road distance between them being only about 11 miles.
A taxi ride from LGA to JFK costs around 30-40 USD before tipping. The trip takes around 30 minutes.
There are also several shuttle services linking the two airports. Travel time on a shuttle is 45-60 minutes with prices between 17 and 25 USD.
Transport from LaGuardia to Newark Liberty International Airport
The road distance from LaGuardia to Newark is around 24 miles, which is deceptively short as the airports are on two different sides of Manhattan. Thus, driving time by taxi can be as little as 45 minutes or as much as 90 minutes.
A taxi ride from LGA to EWR costs around 100 USD before the tip.
There are also several direct shuttles, which, although slightly slower than a taxi, can save you a lot of money if traveling by yourself.
Check out these private transfer options from LaGuardia Airport.
Parking at LaGuardia
LaGuardia Airport offers four different parking lots - one at each terminal, plus one Economy Parking near Terminal A.
Terminal A Parking: Costs 5 USD per 30 minutes until the 3rd hour mark, then it costs 10 USD per 30 minutes. Capped at 75 USD per day. The pre-booked rate is 50 USD per day.
Terminal B Parking: Costs 5 USD per 30 minutes until the 3rd hour mark, then it costs 10 USD per 30 minutes. Capped at 80 USD per day. The pre-booked rate is 55 USD per day.
Terminal C Parking: Costs 6 USD per 30 minutes until the 3rd hour mark, then it costs 12 USD per 30 minutes. Capped at 89 USD per day. The pre-booked rate is 60 USD per day.
Economy Parking: Located near Terminal A and only available if pre-booked. The first 24 hours cost 40 USD, with each 12 hours thereafter charged 20 USD.
Electric vehicle charging stations are available on the 3rd floor of Terminal B Parking and on the 2nd floor of Terminal C Parking. Electricity is free of charge.
Hotels near LGA Airport
While none are within any of the terminals, there are a few hotels you can stay at if you need to be very close to LaGuardia Airport.
Near Terminal A, Avion Inn presents a good budget-friendly option. It’s a cozy 2-star hotel with comfortable beds and noise insulation. You can watch the planes flying above before hopping on the complimentary shuttle to any of the terminals.
Near Terminal B, one of the best hotels is Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport, which also offers a complimentary shuttle. With spacious rooms, great meals at the in-house restaurant, and attentive service, it is an awesome value for money airport hotel.
Lastly, near Terminal C, you can stay at the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott just across the road from the terminal. It offers a complimentary shuttle that runs every 15 minutes, as well as everything you could expect from a 3-star hotel in the Marriott brand.
There are a few other noteworthy hotels near LaGuardia Airport. Click here to check them out.
New York, NY, USA
