Does anyone know JFK airport well?

[Slowhand]

We will be flying into JFK from Orlando with American Airlines and our friends from LA will be landing on the same day [a couple of hours later] flying with Delta.
I understand that AA uses Terminal 8 and Delta use Terminal 3 and we are planning to meet up with them before we all share a van to our hotel in NY, so we are hoping to meet up with them somewhere in Terminal 3 arrivals.
JFK looks a huge airport so, how easy would it be for us to go from Terminal 8 to Terminal 3, bearing in mind that we will have oodles of luggage with us [hopefully on a couple of baggage carts]?

[Wendy]

I've never been but I've looked it up and it says that there is an AirTrain, if you look here there is a map showing the link between all the terminals. The service is free

[Slowhand]

Yep I found that out myself Wendy. It was mainly the trundling of the luggage issue that was concerning me most between the terminals and using the Air Train with carts.

[catrancher]

Yep I found that out myself Wendy. It was mainly the trundling of the luggage issue that was concerning me most between the terminals and using the Air Train with carts.

Although I've never used it myself, it looks like you're good Terry. See this.

Tom (... tell your DW not to pack so much! )

[Keith]

hmmmm would it not be possible to get the van outside terminal 8 and get it to go outside terminal 3 to wait for the guests?

I think airtran will work but gulp, with all the cases I don't know it'll be EASY :/

[Johnie]

Are you using a shared ride van? If so, just a warning that they crowd people in that van! If it's the 4 of you, it would be the equivalent amount of money to get a private car. THen I would just have the car pick you up at your terminal and then pick them up at theirs.

[Tink]

JFK is crazy busy. Busier than Newark (if you've ever been there). I honestly can't imagine having to schlep luggage that far... I don't remember if there is a luggage storage place there now, since post 9/11 but I don't think there is.

Could they possibly just come to you?

[Slowhand]

Although I've never used it myself, it looks like you're good Terry. See this.

That`s great Tom.
I scoured the net yesterday trying to find that info. without success, so many thanks.

[Slowhand]

hmmmm would it not be possible to get the van outside terminal 8 and get it to go outside terminal 3 to wait for the guests?

I think airtran will work but gulp, with all the cases I don't know it'll be EASY :/

The thing is that our friends have already sorted the van to take us from JFK to the hotel.
Normally, my DW and I would make our own way to the hotel but as our friends land at JFK shortly after we do, then it makes sense for us to meet at the airport and travel into NY all together.

[Slowhand]

Are you using a shared ride van? If so, just a warning that they crowd people in that van! If it's the 4 of you, it would be the equivalent amount of money to get a private car. THen I would just have the car pick you up at your terminal and then pick them up at theirs.

As I replied to Keith, Johnie, our friends have already organised the shared van, so we are just going with the flow.