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No. The $70 flat fare is for Manhattan only. A yellow taxi trip between JFK and Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island is charged on the meter, plus the normal surcharges, the airport access fee on a JFK pickup, tolls and tip. TLC Rule 58-26(b)(3) says it in one line: "All trips between Kennedy Airport and a borough other than Manhattan are governed by the metered rate of fare."
This page explains the fare rule. It is not legal advice.
Manhattan only, in both directions
Rule 58-26(b)(1) sets the flat rate "for a trip between Kennedy Airport and Manhattan". So JFK to any Manhattan address, and any Manhattan address to JFK, is $70 plus add-ons. Everything else in the five boroughs uses the meter. TLC's fare page says the same: trips between JFK "and other New York City destinations are charged the standard metered fare."
The $2.00 access fee is for taxi pickups at JFK and LaGuardia only. A taxi dropping off at JFK from Brooklyn has no access fee.
What the meter usually comes to
The Port Authority publishes estimated taxi fares from JFK on its taxi page. They are not TLC numbers. On October 12, 2026 the page listed, for example: Ozone Park $30, East New York $40, Corona and Forest Hills $40, Flushing $60, Coney Island $70, Long Island City and Astoria $70, Williamsburg $80, Downtown Brooklyn $90, South Bronx $80, Riverdale $110, St. George $100. The same page's FAQ gives different ranges for some of these places, so treat all of them as rough guides. Your meter is the fare.
Notice that some outer-borough trips can cost more than $70. That is normal. Riverdale and Staten Island are much farther than Midtown.
Mistakes that cause overcharge summonses
- Using Rate #2 for a non-Manhattan trip. Rate #2 is for JFK–Manhattan only. Set Rate #1 for a Brooklyn or Queens trip.
- Adding the $5 flat-fare rush surcharge to a metered trip. On the meter, the weekday rush surcharge is $2.50.
- Asking the destination before the passenger sits down to avoid a short trip. That is a refusal under 80-20(a)(4), with mandatory penalties. If the stand has short-haul tickets, follow them (80-19(e)(3)).
- Negotiating a price. Inside the city you can't. A negotiated flat rate is only for trips beyond the city other than Westchester, Nassau and Newark Airport (58-26(c)(1)).
Why a passenger may expect $70
Even the Port Authority's own JFK taxi page leads with "a flat rate of $70" before it lists metered estimates for the other boroughs. A passenger going to Brooklyn or Queens may expect that price. Show them the rule or TLC's fare page. Be polite and keep the meter running.
What to do next
- Learn the full Manhattan add-on list: the JFK flat fare, line by line.
- How the taxi line at JFK works: JFK taxi line and holding lot.
- Green cabs have their own rule: do green cabs charge the JFK flat fare?
- Where airport trips start and end in the data: where airport trips start and JFK flat fare trip statistics.
More: JFK Airport for drivers, can yellow taxis pick up in the outer boroughs? and the airports topic.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a flat fare from JFK to Brooklyn?
No. TLC Rule 58-26(b)(3) says all trips between Kennedy Airport and a borough other than Manhattan use the metered fare.
What is added to a metered taxi trip from JFK to Queens?
The meter plus the 50-cent MTA tax, the $1.00 improvement surcharge, the $2.50 weekday rush or $1.00 overnight surcharge when it applies, the $2.00 airport access fee for a JFK pickup, tolls and tip (TLC fare page, checked Oct 12, 2026).
Does the $5 rush surcharge apply on a JFK to Brooklyn trip?
No. The $5.00 rush surcharge is part of the JFK–Manhattan flat fare. A metered trip uses the regular $2.50 weekday rush surcharge (4–8 p.m., not holidays).
Can I agree on a flat price with the passenger instead?
Not inside the city. Negotiated flat fares are for trips beyond the city other than Westchester, Nassau and Newark Airport (58-26(c)(1)). Charging above the approved fare is an overcharge.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules Chapter 58: Medallion Taxicabs, §58-26 (PDF dated Feb 27, 2026) nyc.gov
- NYC TLC: Taxi Fare (checked Oct 12, 2026) nyc.gov
- JFK Airport (Port Authority): Taxi service and estimated fares jfkairport.com
- TLC Rules Chapter 80: Drivers (80-17 overcharges, 80-02(e) penalties) nyc.gov
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.
TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.