Am I being stupid

Hi All, My question is probably stupid and I apologise if it has been asked a million and one times. I did look up the FAQ%26#39;s section but maybe it is in my interpretation. ';A taxi between JFK and anywhere in Manhattan - in either direction - is a fixed $45 plus $4.50 tolls and tip.'; So that means that getting back to the airport will be $45 plus toll and tips if I hail a cab from the hotel? Thank you all for your help.

Am I being stupid

lk !! You are not stupid, because I am no longer sure if there is a flat fee to get to JFK, and I live here and taxi there, and pay the meter. so maybe, I will learn something today as well. The sticky info appears to be different on the return to JFK. Someone will hopefully clarify !!!

From the Sticky !!!!

Taxis: If you have had a long flight, and you probably did if you are arriving at JFK, it is probably best to take a taxi instead of dragging your luggage around on public transportation. A taxi between JFK and anywhere in Manhattan - in either direction - is a fixed $45 plus $4.50 tolls and tip. It%26#39;s worth it! Follow the signs to the taxi queue. Wait in line and the dispatcher will get you a car. Please take only official, yellow NYC Taxis. Never accept a ride from anyone who approaches you at the luggage carousels or outside the terminal. This is illegal. They are unauthorized and most likely scams.

From other sources :

Taxis: $45 flat fare (plus tolls) to any Manhattan location. Taxis are available outside of every terminal and there is typically a taxi stand where you will be directed to a taxi. For destinations outside of Manhattan, consult the TLC Fare Guide. You may also want to familiarize yourself with the Taxi Rider%26#39;s Bill of Rights. There is no additional charge for luggage and rates are based per car, not per passenger (up to four passengers). To return to JFK from Manhattan, taxis will charge you the metered rate, plus any applicable tolls.

Am I being stupid

Many thanks for your reply. I was a bit worried as to post as I know people get fed up of repeatedly answering the same questions.

I seem to remember that when I was there 5 months ago it actually advertised the $45 fare on the side of some cabs. I caught a cab from midtown to JFK in peak hour (on the day before the 4th July holiday)which involved a lot of time simply sitting in traffic, but the cabbie honoured the fare. I chose to tip more for the bags and inconvenience, but this was my choice.

As well as the stickies you can confirm at the nyc.gov/html/鈥axicab_rate.shtml site which says:

For trips between (to and from) Manhattan and JFK International Airport, the flat fare is $45.00 plus any tolls using Rate Code 2 on the meter. Surcharges will not be added.

If passengers request multiple stops, the flat rate of $45.00 will be collected at the first stop in either Manhattan or JFK International Airport, and the meter will be activated at Rate Code 1 (standard city rate) for the remainder of the trip. The metered fare should be collected at the last stop, from the last passenger.

All trips between JFK International Airport and New York City destinations other than Manhattan will use that standard metered rate.

The site also gives examples of fares for other desinations.

Thank you. That is another item added to the itinerary. I%26#39;m getting so excited. Only another 5 weeks and I will be in NYC for the first time...

Hi there. We did pay around the $60 from JFK to our hotel which was fine. But just be careful on your return trip. We ordered a taxi from the hotel concierge for a specific time. A ';fancy'; 4 x4 arrived, not a yellow taxi, which we took but as far as I can remember it cost us over $70 or more. Now I know thats not too much more but maybe we would have been better hailing a yellow cab ourselves? Still, it was nice to have the security of having a taxi ordered by the hotel.

Urban - what were your ';other sources';? They are outdated.

millie - the reason it was not a flat $45 is because it was a car service (livery service) and not a yellow NYC cab.

You can%26#39;t phone for a NYC taxi. You only hail them from the street.

Anyone is is ';calling'; for a taxi is calling a private car service.

Lastly, if you use a BRIDGE WITHOUT A TOLL, there is NO ';4.50 toll'; charge. So, you will have no toll to pay if you use the FREE Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge or Queensborough-59th Street Bridge.

(Oh, unless Gov. Paterson gets his way and imposes tolls on those crossings! Ha!)

Sorry mollie for mistyping your name!

Here%26#39;s more from the FAQ ';sticky'; about taxis:

HOW DO I HAIL A TAXI? Taxis and rental cars:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60763-s304/New-York-鈥?/a>

YES, taxi to and from JFK and Manhattan is a fixed price of $45 plus any toll and tip.

I have literally just returned. When I left the Hotel, the bell hop said it would be $50 plus toll %26amp; tip, I said I thought it was 45. He mumbled something about it being different on the return journey. I was too tired to argue.

Anywho, the really interesting and funny Iranian cab driver had $45 on the meter when we got in. So I%26#39;m not sure what the bell hop was up to.

The toll is not $4.50. If the cab has EZ-Pass (which he should), the toll is $4.15, and the driver is required to pass the discount on to you. If the cab does not have EZ Pass (which would be odd), the toll is $5.00.

Most cabs from JFK will take the Midtown Tunnel, which has a toll. Since the cabbie keeps none of the toll, he is not taking the tunnel to make more money, but because it is the shortest route to midtown. If one is going to anything by Battery Park (e.g., the Riz Carlton), the Battery Tunnel is the fastest route, and it also has a toll. The toll-less Queesborough (or ';59th Street';) Bridge works best for the upper east side; the toll-less Brooklyn Bridge is a possibility for some downtown hotels, especially those in the area of the South Street Seaport.