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Published AUGUST 30, 2002
Stuck at the Airport: New York City (Newark)
Indulge in spa services at EWR
By Harriet Baskas
On October 1, 1928, the city of Newark opened its regional airport, built on 68 acres of former marshland. In short order, the facility became the world's busiest commercial airport. To help things along, two of the airport's earliest customers were Amelia Earhart and Howard Hughes: In 1935 Earhart flew nonstop from Mexico City to Newark in 14 hours and 19 minutes. A year later, Howard Hughes set a west-east record and then bettered his time in 1937 by landing in Newark 9 hours and 26 minutes after leaving Burbank, California.
Operated today by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark International Airport was renamed Newark Liberty International Airport (airport code:
EWR) in August 2002, in honor of the heroes of the September 11 attacks. The airport is now the 18th-busiest airport in the world.
Get oriented The airport is laid out in a large oval with three satellite terminals (A, B, and C) arranged counter-clockwise. Terminal A serves mainly American Airlines, America West, Canadian, Midway, Trans World Airlines, US Airways, and United, as well as Continental flights to Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas. Terminal B serves Alaska, Delta, Midwest Express, Northwest, and most international carriers. Terminal C serves Continental and Air France.
It's generally about a 10-minute walk between terminals, but it's much easier to take the free monorail that runs between terminals A, B, and C every 3 1/2 minutes for most of the day and every 10 minutes from midnight until 5 AM. The monorail also runs to the parking lots, and will eventually link to northeastern corridor rail lines.
To get your bearings, pick up an airport map from any of the information booths scattered around the airport, or check the airport Web site's terminal map. You can also flag down one of the airport's "Red Coats," the customer-service representatives stationed in the arrival areas, at bus stops, and on the monorail platforms. Take care of yourself
Eat: With an extensive food court, a classic diner, and several sports bars, Terminal C (especially along the concourse serving Gates 70–99) offers hungry travelers the most choices. Tops for atmosphere is the Garden State Diner (by gate 75), which serves breakfast all day and a wide variety of classic New Jersey road food. Favorites here include the gut-busting Jersey Burgers, Jersey Fries topped with cheese and gravy, and Greek salads. Or browse the food court, where you'll find Greenleaf's Grille, Sbarro, Wok & Roll, Treat Street (frozen yogurt and smoothies), and Nathan's Famous hot dogs (Nathan's is also in Terminals A and B). Head down the corridor for Gates 101–115 and you'll find a 24-hour Miami Subs & Grill and Americo's Pizza.
While construction continues throughout the airport, you'll find that your choices are more limited in Terminals A and B. However, you'll find a branch of Dick Clark's Restaurant in Terminal A by Gates 30–39, and a bustling food court with Asian Chao, McDonald's, Villa Pizza, and Charley's Steakery in Terminal B.
If you have an hour or more, visit the on-site Marriott Hotel (accessible via courtesy bus from monorail station E), which has two full-service restaurants, Allie's American Grill and Priscilla's.
Relax and refresh: Weary travelers rejoice: Newark Liberty International Airport is home to the first "d_parture spa," designed to serve "the mind-body needs of time-poor and world-weary travelers." Located in Terminal C, by Gate 92 (with plans for expansion to other terminals and other airports), this oasis offers everything from massages, manicures, and makeovers, to waxing, haircuts, perms, and pedicures. They have an additional massage booth located in the main corridor of Terminal C.
For less formal relaxation services, you can often find seating out of the airport frenzy on the ticket level of each terminal building. Look for small banks of seats overlooking the departure level or towards the entranceways, where the doorways create V-shaped nooks that are perfect for resting or reading a book. In rare hours when things aren't busy, head to the end of the concourses in Terminal C, where you'll find nice seating areas and good views of the airfield. For a truly quiet spot, stop in the Meditation Room in Terminal C, near the monorail station entrance. (Hours: 6 AM–9 PM.)
Smokers can light up inside most airport bars and outside each terminal.
Take care of business At Newark, your airline club membership card is the key to finding full business services on site. However, there are phones with data ports throughout the airport and, in Terminal C, a set of worktables with phones and data ports by Gate 101 and free Internet kiosks by Gates 73, 75, and 102. (Note: When the kiosks are working, there's often a line to use them. Be courteous and limit your time online.)
The nearby Marriott Hotel (accessible via a courtesy bus from Monorail Station E) has a business center with computers, copiers, fax machines, and a notary service. Tel. +1 (973) 623-0006.
If you're an airline club member, you'll find lounges for American, United, and Continental in Terminal A, and clubrooms for Delta, Northwest, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, SAS, and Lufthansa airlines in Terminal B. With the recent expansion of Terminal C, there are now three lounges for Continental's club members—on concourse C-1 by Gate 74, at Concourse C-3 towards gates 120–139, and at C-2, across from Gate 109.
Explore the airport
Shop: Plans are underway to upgrade the shopping concessions in all three terminals at EWR, and vendors, especially in Terminal B, are still coming and going. Terminal C, however, sports the most—and most diverse—shops and services. Look for Altitunes (CDs and listening stations), Speedo Authentic Fitness, U.S. Open Golf House, Brookstone, the Museum Company, Staples, Swatch, the Discovery Channel Store, and two bookstores, Waldenbooks and W.H. Smith Book Co. Most fun: the Liberty Science Center store, which has travel games, educational toys, and a large working ferris wheel made from K'NEX in the front window.
Over in Terminal A, just past the security checkpoint for Gates 30–39, you'll find the Explore New Jersey store, where popular souvenirs include New Jersey Devils hockey memorabilia, Statue of Liberty-emblazoned items ("She's technically in New Jersey, not New York," the salespeople here will remind you), and saltwater taffy from Atlantic City. You'll also find souvenirs, books, and travel essentials in the newsstands in all terminals, including sports memorabilia for all the New York sports teams.
Sightsee: Unfortunately, there's currently not much in the way of art or historical exhibits at EWR, except for a few cases on Concourse B3 that contain work from the Art Students League of New York.
However, the skybridges leading to the gate areas in Terminals A and B are great spots to watch activity on the airfield, and most any terminal gate area provides a good view as well. Or ride the free monorail to monitor airfield activities airportwide and, on clear days, to get views of both the Newark and New York City skylines.
Play around: Kids will love riding around (and around) the airport on the monorail and browsing at the Discovery Channel Store and the Liberty Science Center stores, both in Terminal C, on the Concourse for Gates 70–99.
Transportation Travelers heading to and from Newark Liberty International Airport can now take NJ Transit and Amtrak trains which stop at Newark's Airport Rail Link station. From there, it's a short ride on Airtrain Newark to the terminals. Service to/from New York's Penn Station, for example, takes about 20 minutes and costs $11.15 one way.
A cab ride from EWR into Newark costs about $15. The ride into Manhattan can cost anywhere from $35 to more than $50 plus tolls, and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on traffic and time of day.
Shared van services to Manhattan cost from about $11 to $20, and express buses to various destinations in the city cost approximately $11. There is no public bus service from Newark Liberty International Airport to Manhattan in New York City.
Whatever you choose, make sure you avoid getting overcharged for your trip into town by letting the Ground Transportation Information Agents (stationed at Baggage Claim areas) help match you, your destination, and your budget with the most appropriate mode of travel.
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