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The final piece of the transformed LaGuardia Terminal B is now open

Jan. 27, 2022
5 min read
LGA New Terminal B Headhouse Zach Griff - 41
The final piece of the transformed LaGuardia Terminal B is now open
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Believe it or not, New York’s LaGuardia airport is well on its way to being one of the nicest in the country.

The final piece of the construction puzzle for Terminal B officially opened on Thursday: a passenger bridge connecting the main departures and arrivals hall with the Western Concourse.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)

This pedestrian bridge marks the end of disruptions to the passenger journey in Terminal B. Now, all flyers, regardless of which airline they’re flying, will exclusively pass through newly built infrastructure.

Before the bridge opened, travelers flying with American Airlines checked in and cleared security at the new headhouse, but then took a step back in time by walking to the gate through a portion of the old central terminal.

Now, the bridge soars high above the leaky ceilings, narrow hallways and long bathroom lines of yesteryear.

To celebrate the occasion, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul attended a grand opening ceremony, along with officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the airport, and executives from LaGuardia Gateway Partners, which developed and built the new Terminal B.

"Today we complete the $4 billion Terminal B, and with the $4 billion Terminal C coming this spring, the total LaGuardia project is on time and on budget... here's to the whole new LGA, here's to the completed Terminal B, and we've gone from worst to first," said Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority, at the ribbon-cutting event.

(Screenshot courtesy of the Port Authority)

Though passengers will no longer be inconvenienced by the construction at Terminal B, there are still a handful of improvements coming later this year.

This includes an expansion to the new American Airlines Admirals Club, a portion of which is still under construction. Once completed this summer, the lounge will span more than 20,000 square feet, with room for over 350 passengers.

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Additionally, portions of the old central terminal still need to be demolished. Once complete, new taxiways and ramp areas will be paved, and the final jetbridges on the Western Concourse will be installed.

(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)

Finally, a new Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club is slated to open sometime soon in Terminal B as well.

That said, the new Terminal B is essentially complete from a passenger-facing perspective — and that’s news most travelers will be happy with. Of course, some frequent flyers will miss the convenience of the old concourse: I routinely managed to get from the curb to the gate in less than ten minutes.

The first portion of the new LaGuardia Terminal B opened back in 2018 with a handful of gates in the new Eastern Concourse. The next phase saw the opening of the departures and arrivals hall in June 2020, at the height of the pandemic.

At the time, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised that the remaining terminal construction would be accelerated due to the slowdown in passenger traffic due to the pandemic.

Since then, the entirety of the Western Concourse has opened, along with the connecting pedestrian bridge and a new taxiway under the Eastern Concourse.

Now that Terminal B is essentially complete, all the attention turns to Terminals C and D, home to Delta’s LaGuardia hub. There, the airline is in the midst of a $3.9 billion project that will include a new headhouse connecting the two gate areas.

It’s set to officially open in spring 2022, and when it does, LaGuardia may actually start winning some awards.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

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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)

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  • 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.