Spotting at JFK Terminal One

[Speedbird1]

Spotting at JFK's Terminal One from the Restaurant Level is great until you start taking photos. You get unobstructed views of Rwy 13R/31L, Japan Air, Korean Air, Air France, Turkish, Olympic. Royal Air Maroc parked there but I'm uncertain if she comes anymore. You can stay as long as you like but if taking photos you can expect a "Terminal One" guard to challenge you, question you, etc. You will be permitted to stay, but no photos, not even of the Terminal!

[USAF Pilot 07]

Is photography in the terminal prohibited?

If not, then you should have every right to continue taking pictures. As long as nothing against photography is in writing, no one can tell you not to take pictures.

Also, is this spot past the security checkpoint?

[Fly1346]

Well, there is the terminal 3 rooftop parking lot, where you have a great view of the tarmac of terminal 4, and can also walk to the other end, and catch all the action of Terminal 1 2 and 3! You can also spot from the Jetblue Air Train area, right before you take the elevator down! I have a few pics Ive taken from there! (these are mostly unedited)
http://xs34.xs.to/pics/05254/P1010041_filtered.jpg

http://xs34.xs.to/pics/05254/P1010045_filtered.jpg


http://xs34.xs.to/pics/05254/P1010086_filtered.jpg

http://xs34.xs.to/pics/05254/P1010055.JPG

theres more.... just drop me a line if you want to see others!

[N790SW]

i got a pic of term 1 ( inside) jus how do u post pics on here

[jetBlueAtJFK]

Also, is this spot past the security checkpoint?

No, security is under it so you just go upstairs instead of going through security. Their is a metal structure blocking the space between the bottom floor because the security screening is actually a little before and their was an empty spot but, someone could drop stuff down so they blocked it.

jetBlueAtJFK

[Delta777LR]

I once had a problem at the Jetblue airtrain terminal taking pictures of some arrivals on 31R. Two PAPD officers approach me from the elevator and asked what was i doin by the window and i mention that what i was and my reason and gave them my ID and and they checkin to make sure i wasnt a threat and which i wasnt. However they asked me to leave the area and so i went to the parking garages between terminals 1 2 3 & 4 and maybe twice i was told not to take pictures by security but other than that, i havent had any problems with the PAPD

[Winglets747]

I've been told a few times on the AirTrain that photography is prohibited. I politely ask according to whom (usually TSA, sometimes FAA), to which I reply that I've been told as long as I'm not taking photos of security checkpoints photography is fine (which is what I've been told). I then get an "Oh" response followed by "Happy photography" or something like that.

Isn't the DL roof parking lot closed?

I've never had much luck finding a decent spot pre-security at T1. The only part of the upper restaurant area I know of has a limited view of the apron and usually really dirty windows.

Post-security there are some decent photo ops (though probably not A.net or JP worthy). I've only been there at night, at the mercy of terminal lighting reflection.

Post-security T1 shots:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/Winglets747/JFKAlitalia777atGate.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/Winglets747/JFKRoyalAirMaroc763NTAtGate-2.jpg
(FYI...RAM still serves JFK T1)

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/Winglets747/JFKF-GEXAatGate.jpg
Wish I had my 10.5mm fisheye then!

Will

[Iberia A340-600]

Will I was thinking that you took my photos from Terminal 1! I took very similar shots from there post-security in November when I flew Air France to MAD.

Post-security Terminal 1, Terminal 4, and Terminal 7 are great for spotting.

It's funny in Concourse A in Terminal 4 I have been told not to take photos but in Concourse B not a single sole said anything to me and I passed many TSA agents on their lunch breaks. However coming back I took at shot of the TN A340-300 at its gate which was right across from the security check-point and was told not to take pictures.

[Winglets747]

Terminal 7, really? Those slanted windows and huge ceiling lights have always made horrible shots for me, plus the UA side barely has any window space. At least it's not as bad as the old AA JFK terminal.

T4 is nice, except for that funky green tint on the windows. The security problem at T4 is not the TSA but the private security company hired by JFK IAT (which is strange, because JFK IAT's parent company manages AMS, which is very spotter friendly). You can spot the security people (no pun intended) by their red jackets. Whenever I see them, I put my camera away and wait for them to walk away.

[Iberia A340-600]

Terminal 7, really? Those slanted windows and huge ceiling lights have always made horrible shots for me, plus the UA side barely has any window space. At least it's not as bad as the old AA JFK terminal.


Eh your right it is not the best for photography but if JFK is using 13L or 31R from arrivals you see a lot of aircraft.

And your right it sure beats the old Terminal 8. I flew Iberia to MAD out of Terminal 8 in this box of a waiting area with only one window, it was horrible.

[kc2aqg]

Did I read correctly that someone made it to the T3 rooftop parking lot since 2001? I had been up there a few times before then and always wanted to go back, but since its been closed, I don't have a clue of how to get there. Can anyone tell me if you're allowed up there as a pedestrian? I also know there are elevators, but once again, I don't know from where...

[Derf]

Not allowed...here are videos that my father and I took from the rooftop many moons ago

http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... ADC-10.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/AADC-10.WMV)
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... akeoff.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFK747NorthwestOrientTakeoff.WMV)
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... anding.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFKEmpireLanding.WMV)
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... akeoff.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFKPA747SPTakeoff.WMV)
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... pters2.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFKPAAHelicopters2.WMV)

And for Tommy
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... akeoff.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFKTWAL1011Takeoff.WMV)

[T-Bird76]

Not allowed...here are videos that my father and I took from the rooftop many moons ago

http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... ADC-10.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/AADC-10.WMV)
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... akeoff.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFK747NorthwestOrientTakeoff.WMV)
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... anding.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFKEmpireLanding.WMV)
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... akeoff.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFKPA747SPTakeoff.WMV)
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... pters2.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFKPAAHelicopters2.WMV)

And for Tommy
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotti ... akeoff.WMV (http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Spotting/JFK/Video/JFKTWAL1011Takeoff.WMV)

God I love the sound of the Rolls Royce RB.211-524.

[G-BOAD]

I was stop on the parking lot once, but never on the AirTrain or Terminal. just go behind one of the pacman games and i think you could be well "hidden".
I would like to go to the Terminal 3 rooftop...
When we drove by last time There we the concrete barricades (like would you see on the highway) but i think a pedestrian can pass them. IF your stopped by a TSA agent, that's another story.