Getting to LaGuardia for Early Morning Flight? (transfer, construction)

[ehanson]

I have an early morning flight at 6am to travel back to see family and I'm still trying to figure out what the best way is from Sunnyside Queens to LaGuardia. It's so close by but at that time of night/ morning it's a bit hard to get around since everything is running on a reduced schedule and cabs are sparse.

Originally I planned to catch a cab on Queens Blvd around 4:30am then remembered last year when I also had an early flight and lived in Astoria, there weren't a lot of cabs at such an early morning -there were barely any cars at 31st and Broadway... Kind of eerie. Maybe the M60 bus down Astoria Blvd? But that requires taking the 7 then transferring at Queensboro Plaza to the N or Q and waiting in the cold for ? mins. I can't remember if the fast track shutdown is still going on with overnight construction after 10pm. If not the subway doesn't run that often between 12-5am so if my timings off there's the possibility of missing my flight.

Maybe just sleeping over at LaGuardia the night before is the best way to go and is the least hassle free? Any recommendations? I wish the city would build a subway extension to LaGuardia or put in a tram like JFK did.

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

Can't you just do a car service?

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by Forest_Hills_Daddy

Can't you just do a car service?

My thoughts exactly!

[Borninnycliveinnyc]

If I were you I would take the 7 to 61st street and jump on the bus to LaGuardia right outside the station. You can check the bus schedule online.

[ehanson]

Originally Posted by Chava61

My thoughts exactly!

Aren't car services expensive though? I know Dial 7 is reasonable but they might charge more for picking passengers up at early morning off peak hours.

[otown native]

Yeah, car service first option..so u can just call ahead. Otherwise I second the 7 train to 61st, and then take the Q70 which just stops at 74th St/Jackson Heights, and then straight to the airport. I took it once and it's super fast, about 15 min. It runs all night and at that time of the morning I think every 30 min..so probably catch the 4:30 if u took that route.

[Borninnycliveinnyc]

Originally Posted by otown native

Yeah, car service first option..so u can just call ahead. Otherwise I second the 7 train to 61st, and then take the Q70 which just stops at 74th St/Jackson Heights, and then straight to the airport. I took it once and it's super fast, about 15 min. It runs all night and at that time of the morning I think every 30 min..so probably catch the 4:30 if u took that route.

There's a new bus that goes from 61st street to LaGuardia, no reason to waste money on a car

[otown native]

Originally Posted by Borninnycliveinnyc

There's a new bus that goes from 61st street to LaGuardia, no reason to waste money on a car

Correct..that's the Q70 that I mentioned. Just depends on the OP's feeling towards timing. Doing a train to bus while the actual ride time is minor, the wait time for everything at that time of the morning if it's not planned exactly could take a while. So just depends what the OP wants to do..as always, pay $$ for convenience of a car, or take the time & spend less $.

[ehanson]

Originally Posted by otown native

Correct..that's the Q70 that I mentioned. Just depends on the OP's feeling towards timing. Doing a train to bus while the actual ride time is minor, the wait time for everything at that time of the morning if it's not planned exactly could take a while. So just depends what the OP wants to do..as always, pay $$ for convenience of a car, or take the time & spend less $.

The 7 train to the Q70 bus is the way to go from Sunnyside to LaGuardia, could even walk to the bus stop (probably not given the cold temps).

I think the best option for getting timing right is to leave before 1am since the Q70 runs more frequently which reduces time spent waiting. Though, that means sitting around at LaGuardia until boarding begins at 5:30am... But it also means a lot less stress with getting to the gate on time that my original plan would create; I'll already be there anyway. Plus, more time to sleep

The lesson here is to pay more for flights that don't take off at the crack of dawn and book early. Christmas I'll treat myself to a private car service to make up for having to play the waiting game at one of the most disliked airports.

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

Originally Posted by ehanson

Aren't car services expensive though? I know Dial 7 is reasonable but they might charge more for picking passengers up at early morning off peak hours.

Look at your local car service providers in S-Side first. I know in Kew Gardens the KG Taxi was around $15 to JFK.