New Details Emerge in JFK's $13 Billion Renovation, BA Moving to Terminal 8 and More
Last October New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $13 billion dollar overhaul to New York's JFK Airport, and today major airlines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey revealed details of how some of those renovations will look once they're completed over the next seven years.
For the last 50 years, British Airways has called New York's JFK's Terminal 7 its home base in the Big Apple. Over the last decade its invested more and more cash into the terminal and recently announced a $65 million injection in the dated building to update its lounges among other upgrades to the general terminal.
Today it's announced that it will be moving to Terminal 8, American Airlines' busiest terminal in the New York area and home to many long-haul and transcontinental flights. British Airways and American Airlines are Oneworld partners but also operate a joint-venture for transatlantic flights, along with Iberia and Finnair.
American and British Airways will invest $344 million to expand Terminal 8 by 70,000 square feet and refurbish an existing 57,500 square feet of the terminal, which currently measures in at 1.58 million square feet according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. That includes five more gates that can handle wide-body aircraft. Renderings released don't show much of an actual footprint expansion, but show long jet bridges to accommodate new aircraft at Terminal 8. A remote stand and transformed regional jet gate will serve as two of the new widebody gates.
"Changes to the terminal will include additional stands, enhanced state-of the-art baggage systems, new lounges, premium check-in areas and upgraded concessions," British Airways said in a release.
The overhaul of JFK includes the creation of two new more centralized mega-terminals and the demolition of others. British Airways will continue to operate out of Terminal 7 until 2022 when the space will then be demolished to allow for JetBlue's Terminal 5 to expand.
JetBlue's new terminal, which will cover the areas of the current Terminal 5, Terminal 6 (which was demolished in 2011) and Terminal 7, will include widebody gates to accommodate its partners, like Emirates — meaning some gates would have to be large enough to accommodate Emirates A380s.
To minimize walking times, the terminal will utilize both the T5 and and T7 AirTrain stations and there will be two check-in and security areas, with the goal being to limit the walking distance to under 1500 feet, reports NYCAviation. The expansion will break ground in 2020, and it will then partially open in 2023 with a target for a full open in 2025.
Terminal 1, home to international carriers like Lufthansa, Korean and Air France will be demolished and a new mega-terminal will take its place. This terminal will be located in the place of Terminal 1, Terminal 2 (Delta's smaller, mostly domestic terminal) and Terminal 3 (demolished in 2013 which essentially now serves as a parking lot for Delta jets). It will more than double the amount of widebody gates to up to 22, twelve more than the gates currently serving Terminal 1.
JFK's AirTrain will be relocated to drop passengers off inside the new terminal, similar to how Terminal 4 is currently designed — officials said they also want to limit walking distances in T1, but to under 2500 feet, noting the lengthy journey it travelers in Terminal 4 concourse B have to complete to get to some gates. Terminal 1 currently measures in at approximately 800,000 square feet and the new mega terminal will be a whopping 2.9 million square feet.
$12 billion of the funds for JFK's renovation come from the airlines and private investment while the final $1 billion is funded by the Port Authority, which runs JFK.
American's and BA's joint venture provides up to 70 flights per day between the US and London, and once the two airlines are under the same roof at JFK, customers will be able to make more seamless connections between partner airlines.
Terminal 8 is home to other Oneworld airlines like Cathay and LATAM, and those departing in premium cabins on these partner airlines will have more lounge options, including new lounges that British Airways plans to build there.
Additional reporting provided by Wallace Cotton.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.