Port Authority of New York and New Jersey proposes new prices rises all around… “Welcome to New York”

Nothing says welcome to a city than with more fees levied at a passenger – directly via an airfare ticket, or indirectly via other forms of costs.

And the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are planning just that, with them bumping up fees all around once you leave New York JFK, Newark or La Guardia airports.

$5 to use AirTrain JFK currently. Expect it to jump to $7.75 in November (plus a media fee too of $1). Image, Economy Class and Beyond 

Changes that the Port Authority are considering includes:

• AirTrain JFK will have an OVER 50% price hike from $5 to $7.75 (plus the $1 media fee of course)
• AirTrain Newark will also suffer an over 50% risee from $5 to $7.75
• Taxies will be subject to a $4 pick-up fee
• Ride Share/For Hire Vehicles get charged a $4 fee to pick up, as well drop off.
• Tolls to go up as well.

Full details are listed at https://www.panynj.gov/press-room/press-item.cfm?headLine_id=3159

The quote presented by the Port Authority is… well… Read for yourself.

“At a time of the Port Authority’s unprecedented investment in our region’s infrastructure to upgrade Port Authority facilities to 21st century standards, we must be prepared to provide needed funding. These recommended increases in tolls and fares are both needed and measured,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “We also sought to spread the increases across all our operations to avoid undue burdens. We are wholly committed to delivering improved facilities as we ask our customers to share in supporting the infrastructure investments the region so desperately needs and deserves.”

Welcome to New York, sucker.

Fees and taxes like this only serve one thing – to make the travel experience less than welcoming. Whilst I don’t argue that some of the Port Authority infrastructure is less than up to date, hitting visitors in the wallet won’t exactly entice them to visit New York again.

If anything a fee rise like this is going to drive people AWAY from using services like the AirTrain (in a city that would probably welcome emissions reductions). Similarly, imposing harsh charges on taxis and rideshares leaves a poor taste in the mouth for both the rider and the driver.

And yet, there are no reasonable ways around of paying these extra fees. For travellers – this is a case of “suck it up buttercup”.

Oh yes, the rises are inflation linked too, so they only way they’ll go from here is up.

Whilst we know a lot of the New York and New Jersey infrastructure is less than perfect – it seems that PANNYNJ are making a lot of soft and easy cash grabs.

And whilst I suspect more fees like this won’t put a lot of travellers off, and they’ll write it off as part of the experience, it does leave a sour taste in the mouth, when they’ll need to budget more to visit New York.

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