It’s hard to imagine anyone who enjoys the perils of TSA Security at the airport. Couple that with brutally long lines at virtually any time of day- and JFK Airport’s Terminal 4 can be a painful flying experience. Of course, if you know a workaround, you can just bypass it all. Here’s how to make the awful Terminal 4 security waits a short breeze…
Ignore All The Signs At JFK Terminal 4…
If you need to check in at the desk (versus online) or need to drop a bag, you’ll need to ignore this advice for the moment. If you’re already checked in and don’t need to drop a bag- don’t follow the signs to departures. INSTEAD, follow the signs to arrivals (on the first floor). Why? Because there’s a far less crowded TSA checkpoint there, where you can pass through security! Here’s a map! If you need to check in or check bag upstairs at departures, just use the escalator to jump down to the first floor arrivals level after you finish your departures business…
The Checkpoint Is Open 6AM to 8PM To All Passengers…
Oh yes, that’s right! Anyone (clever enough to read this site ; ) can use this checkpoint. JFK Terminal 4’s main security channel at the departures level is consistently, painfully slow and arguably one of the worst checkpoints in the country. It may be the first and only thing that The Points Guy and I will ever agree on. Using this simple bit of insider knowledge, you stand a fair chance to shave hours off your transit time. We’ll happily send you an address for all the champagne you’d like to send.
How about going to terminal 2 and using Clear to expedite passage through security and then taking the bus to T4? Is that still a thing?
Great post btw 🙂
Here’s the flyertalk thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1812568-clear-jfk-t2-t4.html
I have just tried to go through checkpoints at arrival at Jfk terminal 4 but found NO possibility to do as described in the article. Maybe something has changed in the meantime?…