Picking someone up at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is simple once you know the one rule that shapes everything: the terminal curb is for active pick-ups only. You cannot park there or wait there. The plan is to wait somewhere else, then drive to the curb when your passenger is outside with their bags.
Planning the Pick-Up
Understanding Arrival Procedures
Before you leave, confirm three things with your passenger:
- The terminal. Delta flies from Terminal C. American, JetBlue, United, Southwest, Air Canada, Frontier and Porter use Terminal B. Terminal A, the Marine Air Terminal, is closed to the public and has no commercial flights.
- The flight number, so you can follow delays on the airline's app or the airport website.
- Whether they checked bags. Baggage claim adds time after landing. Do not head to the curb until they have their bags.
Choosing the Right Pick-Up Location
You have two good options.
- Curbside pick-up. Your passenger waits outside the arrivals area with their bags, and you pull up. The Port Authority's rule is clear: if your passenger is not ready, you cannot wait at the curb. Parking is not allowed on airport roadways or terminal frontages, and unattended vehicles are towed at the owner's expense.
- Meet inside. Park in the garage at your passenger's terminal and walk in. This helps with first-time flyers, children, older travelers or anyone who needs help with luggage.
Arranging Transportation
If you are not driving, you can still meet your passenger and ride back together.
- Taxi: licensed taxis wait outside each terminal. LGA trips are charged the metered fare plus a $5.00 surcharge and other fees.
- Ride-share: Uber and Lyft pick-up areas are clearly marked outside each terminal.
- Public transit: the free Q70 LaGuardia Link bus runs from Terminals B and C to the subway in Jackson Heights every 8 to 10 minutes.
Can you pick someone up from LaGuardia Airport by helicopter?
BLADE does not offer scheduled helicopter flights at LaGuardia. Its scheduled airport flights connect Manhattan with JFK and Newark in about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat. Private helicopter charters, arranged by BLADE and flown by licensed operators, are available 24/7/365 between New York area airports and heliports, including LaGuardia.
Arrival at LaGuardia Airport
Following Signs and Directions
Signs on the airport roads point you to each terminal's arrivals level, parking garages and the Cell Phone Lot. Enter the right terminal before you reach the curb, because loops around the airport take time. Watch for pedestrians crossing near terminal doors.
Parking and Waiting
The free Cell Phone Lot is where you wait. It is located off-airport on 94th Street between 23rd Avenue and Ditmars Boulevard, less than 10 minutes from all terminals. It is open seven days a week from 7
a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Enter "LGA Free Cell Phone Lot" in your GPS, or follow the signs when you enter the airport.Terminal garages are for meeting your passenger inside. The first half hour costs $5 at the Terminal B garage and $6 at the Terminal C garage, with higher rates for longer stays. If you want to reserve a space, book at least three hours ahead.
The All Terminals Shuttle connects the terminals, parking, rental cars and car pick-up areas, which helps if your passenger lands at one terminal and you parked at another.
Meeting the Passenger
Agree on a meeting point before the flight lands: a specific door number at the curb, or baggage claim if you parked. Ask your passenger to text when they land and again when they have their bags. Then leave the Cell Phone Lot. That timing gets you to the curb as they walk out.
Tips for First-Time Visitors to LaGuardia
- Check the flight status before you leave home, and again before you leave the Cell Phone Lot.
- Keep your phone charged and the volume on.
- If your passenger needs wheelchair assistance, they should contact their airline at least 24 hours before the flight. At Terminal B, a wheelchair assistance call button is on the Departures level.
Departing LaGuardia Airport
Best Time to Pick Up Passengers at LaGuardia Airport
Road traffic around the airport is heaviest at rush hour, so allow extra time for the drive in and out. Whatever time your passenger lands, the Cell Phone Lot keeps you off the curb until they are ready. Note the lot's hours: it closes at 11
p.m., so plan a late-night pick-up around that.Navigating Traffic and Roadways
Once your passenger is in the car, follow the exit signs out of the terminal area. Use a navigation app for live traffic on the highways around the airport, especially at rush hour.
Exiting Terminal Areas
If your passenger is taking a taxi or ride-share instead, tell them to follow the "Ground Transportation" signs after baggage claim. Taxi stands and ride-share pick-up areas are outside each terminal.
Departing to the Destination
If you are heading into Manhattan, plan for congestion pricing. Passenger vehicles with E-ZPass pay $9 during the peak period to enter Manhattan at or below 60th Street.
Alternative Ways to Travel Between LaGuardia and Manhattan
- The Q70 bus is free to Jackson Heights, where the subway costs $3.
- The M60-SBS bus costs $3 and runs into Manhattan along 125th Street.
- Taxis and ride-shares go door to door from outside each terminal.
- For trips through JFK or Newark, BLADE's scheduled flights connect those airports with Manhattan in about 5 minutes.
FAQs about How To Pick Someone Up From Laguardia Airport?
How to pick someone up from LaGuardia Airport?
- Confirm which terminal the person is arriving at.
- Track the flight, and wait in the free Cell Phone Lot until they call.
- Find out if they checked bags, since that affects when they will be outside.
- Drive to the arrivals curb only when they are ready with their bags.
- If you want to meet them inside, park in the Terminal B or Terminal C garage.
- Follow airport signs and any instructions from airport staff.