New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) Flights & Flight Status

Long considered New York City’s “second” airport behind its much larger sibling, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Queens’ LaGuardia Airport (LGA) now finally shines in its own right after a multi-year, $8 billion (C$10.8 billion) renovation. As someone who flies more than 320,000 kilometres per year, it's slowly but surely earned its status as one of my favourite airports.

Serving 30 million passengers with more than 400 flights per day, LaGuardia is a bustling transit hub for primarily domestic flights. Built in 1929 and named after former New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, LaGuardia is an easy-to-get-to option for travellers staying in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn or Long Island.

In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know to help you navigate the airport like an expert.

Terminal information

LaGuardia Airport is divided into three terminals: Terminal A, Terminal B and Terminal C. Terminal A, also called the Marine Air Terminal, is the oldest terminal at LaGuardia, completed in 1940.

While the Art Deco-style Terminal A has serviced numerous airlines over the years, today it is used by Spirit Airlines for domestic flights within the US. Spirit currently holds six gates within the terminal and flies to around 15 destinations from the airport, including Houston, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Dallas, Atlanta and more.

Since its overhaul, Terminal B at LGA primarily serves American Airlines. If you’re landing or departing from Terminal B, you’ll notice that the terminal is divided into four floors. When you first arrive at the airport, you’ll find yourself at the welcome centre, which includes hotel shuttles and buses. Working your way through the terminal, you’ll find baggage claim, car services, parking and passenger pick-ups on the second floor. Over on the third floor, there’s passenger drop-off, ticketing, check-in and security. If you need to connect to other parts of the terminal, you’ll find those connections via the Eastern and Western Concourses on the fourth floor. I particularly love how these two concourses have sped up the connections between gates, meaning I no longer have to worry about missing any connecting flights. Between them, they house 35 gates and serve Air Canada, Canada Express, American Airlines, American Eagle, JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and United Express.

Terminal C at LaGuardia has 37 gates that exclusively serve Delta Air Lines. This updated terminal is my favourite, as it is both beautifully designed and technologically advanced, featuring amenities like a hands-free bag drop and Digital ID screening capabilities. Curbside check-in expedites passengers to security screening, and the departures hall had plenty of options where I could check into my flight. Not to mention the 10,300-square-metre Delta Sky Club, which can host more than 600 guests, which helped me relax before boarding.

How to get to and from LaGuardia Airport

If you need to get to Manhattan from LaGuardia, you have several options, but it’s worth remembering that some hotels aren't the easiest to get to via public transportation. Most first-time visitors to the city will find a simple yellow taxi or Uber preferable to navigating buses and subways.

Rates vary depending on traffic, but I usually pay less when choosing Uber to my home in central Brooklyn. You can hail a yellow cab from any of the airport’s terminals, and pickup locations for rideshare services such as Uber are available at Terminal B.

You can also get to or from LaGuardia Airport via the city’s M60 or Q70 select bus service. These buses offer a more direct route to Manhattan with fewer stops and offer luggage racks to store your belongings. Additionally, the Q47, Q48 and Q72 buses make local stops throughout neighbourhoods in Queens.

How to get between LGA and JFK

Public transportation is a great way to get between LaGuardia and JFK airports, but I'd recommend planning your route via a mapping app beforehand. Personally, I prefer the Q70 bus directly from LaGuardia, or the MTA, which – after a quick bus ride – also offers multiple subway services between the two airports via the E or F lines.

Alternatively, you can take an airport shuttle between LGA and JFK. A private shuttle service, Go Airlink NYC, is also available, with reasonable rates per person. Another option is to take a yellow cab to JFK, but traffic can make this method both costly and time-consuming.

Things to do during a layover

While a layover at LaGuardia was once regarded as something of a punishment (and I personally used to spend as little time there as possible), the time spent between flights can now seem like a holiday within a holiday.

The food options at LGA

For starters, the food options are great. Whenever I have time, I grab a beer at Sam Adams Brewhouse in Terminal B. I also like to have brunch like a true New Yorker at Bubby’s, or pick up an authentic New York pizza slice at Crust in Terminal C.

If you are a fan of ramen, you can also visit Brooklyn hotspot Chuko’s LaGuardia outpost in Terminal C. For post-dinner cocktails, the Panorama Bar in Terminal B offers stellar views of the airfield with a menu of classic drinks.

A selection of shops for everyone

LaGuardia has plenty of shopping options for a spot of retail therapy. If you need more reading material than you can get from Hudson News, a branch of the famous bookstore McNally Jackson in Terminal B offers everything from magazines to collectable limited editions.

For those with children, the world-famous toy store FAO Schwartz will keep them occupied for hours. I'm always delighted by CIBO, a once ho-hum newsstand that now stocks toiletries and other necessities from boutique brands, including my favourite Marvis toothpaste that I always pick up before flights.

Lounges at LGA

If lounge access is all you need, LaGuardia has you covered. The airport features an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, an American Airlines Admirals Club, a United Airlines United Club, a Delta Sky Club, an American Express Centurion Lounge and a Chase Sapphire Lounge.

The Delta Sky Club

The Delta Sky Club, located in Terminal C, is the largest lounge in the airline’s network. As a Delta loyalist, this is where I spend most of my time at LGA – even if it's just to pop-in for a coffee before my flight. The lounge's biggest highlight makes me want to get to the airport extra early: a temperature-controlled sky deck overlooking the runway, open year-round, featuring a long bar and plenty of seating for working or relaxing.

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is conveniently located just past security and near the Air Canada gates at Terminal B. The lounge offers guests complimentary refreshments while waiting for their connections, as well as the use of the business centre.

The American Airlines Admirals Club

Unwind at the American Airlines Admirals Club in Terminal B, with its automatic wine dispenser. Afterward, freshen up with a shower in the spacious washrooms.

The Centurion Lounge

Located in Terminal B, the Centurion Lounge is accessible to those with an American Express Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card and Centurion Card. This lounge offers a business centre, an elegant dining area, comfortable seating and multiple TVs. The menu, curated by chef Cédric Vongerichten of NYC’s Wayan, features vegetarian and vegan dishes. I particularly enjoy the craft cocktails here.

The Chase Sapphire Lounge

Chase Sapphire Reserve card members have access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge. This space includes a work area, nursing room, family room and wellness centre offering facials, meditations and rest pods.

The United Airlines United Club

The United Airlines United Club features an open layout with views of the tarmac, an Illy coffee machine for your pre-travel caffeine fix, a food bar and plenty of seating to help you unwind.