PICKUP OVERVIEW
Where to pick up at JFK.
Picking someone up at JFK? Find the Lefferts Wait Lot, East Cell Phone Lot, terminal matching, AirTrain connections, and active-curb pickup rules.
CURRENT JFK CONDITIONS
Airport conditions
Airport-wide FAA delay status and the latest aviation weather observation. Use ArrivalCue’s homepage tracker for a flight-specific pickup plan.
CHOOSE YOUR PICKUP
Choose your pickup
Choose the situation that matches your pickup at JFK.
A friend or family member is driving to Terminals 1 or 4
Lefferts Wait Lot plan
- Traveler
- Text only once you are outside and ready for an active curb pickup.
- Driver
- Wait at Lefferts Boulevard, then enter the terminal curb only when the traveler is ready.
A friend or family member is driving to Terminals 5, 7, or 8
East Cell Phone Lot plan
- Traveler
- Confirm the terminal and curb meetup after baggage claim.
- Driver
- Use the east Cell Phone Lot rather than the Lefferts lot, then drive in for the active pickup.
The driver and traveler chose different terminals
AirTrain transfer plan
- Traveler
- Use AirTrain to reach the agreed terminal or airport facility before the curb meetup.
- Driver
- Do not wait at a terminal curb while the traveler changes terminals; stay in the appropriate wait lot.
The driver needs more than a quick curb handoff
Wait-lot rule
- Traveler
- Coordinate the exact terminal curb before asking the driver to approach.
- Driver
- JFK’s free wait areas require you to remain with the car; use terminal parking for a longer meet-inside plan.
PICKUP AND WAITING LOCATIONS
Where to wait or park
Open the place you need before entering the terminal area.
WAIT FOR TERMINALS 1 AND 4
JFK Lefferts Boulevard Wait Lot
Free attended wait area at Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Station.
Open JFK Lefferts Boulevard Wait Lot in Google Maps ↗WAIT FOR TERMINALS 5, 7, AND 8
JFK East Cell Phone Lot
Free wait lot near the JFK Expressway and the closest wait option for Terminals 5, 7, and 8.
Open JFK East Cell Phone Lot in Google Maps ↗TERMINAL TRANSFER
JFK AirTrain
Free within-airport connection between terminals and airport facilities.
Open JFK AirTrain in Google Maps ↗JFK-SPECIFIC DETAILS
Important details
JFK has two different free waiting strategies
The Lefferts Wait Lot is closest to Terminals 1 and 4, while the east Cell Phone Lot is closest to Terminals 5, 7, and 8. Match the lot to the terminal before you enter the airport.
AirTrain is the recovery option for a wrong-terminal plan
AirTrain connects airport terminals and facilities without a terminal-to-terminal fare. It is a better recovery path than driving around while trying to coordinate a new curb meetup.
Sources
Airport guidance can change. Follow current signs and staff instructions. Review dates apply to the source facts listed in our guide data.
- JFK pickup and drop-off guidance ↗Source facts reviewed August 24, 2026
- Official JFK airport website ↗