LaGuardia Airport Visitor Guide 2024: Everything you need to know

New York City is served by many airports. LaGuardia, located in the Queens district of New York, is the third busiest of New York’s airports, and the twentieth busiest in the entire United States. With over 30 million passengers traveling to the airport each year, LaGuardia is an intensely busy place.

LaGuardia has no border controls, so it only accepts flights from within the United States. It also has a perimeter rule which prohibits nonstop flights to or from anywhere more than 1500 miles away. However, this rule is not set in stone. An exception is made for flights to Denver and flights on Saturdays.

LaGuardia airport may not receive international travelers, but it receives plenty of people from across the Northeast and beyond. Traveling from and to this busy New York airport is easier when you don’t carry more than you need to. Drop off your unneeded bags at a luggage storage near LaGuardia Airport to make exploring New York more pleasant.

LaGuardia Airport bag policy

LaGuardia Airport’s lack of international customs doesn’t mean security is lax here. Far from it. After all, this is New York. You’ll find that the usual baggage rules enforced by the TSA apply here. That means no liquids more than 3.4 ounces in volume can be taken through security onto a plane. It also means that you don’t want to leave your bags unattended, since they may be seen as a security threat if you do. There is no luggage storage facility at LaGuardia Airport itself, but you’ll find plenty close to the airport.

LaGuardia Airport food policy

If you’re rushing to make a flight, LaGuardia Airport has plenty of grab-and-go food outlets where you can pick up something quickly to eat on the plane. Artichoke, Dunkin Donuts, and Cibo Express can all provide you with something quick and easy to eat on the run. If, however, you have time to kill, the airport also offers a range of more sophisticated eateries. Queens’ Italian-American heritage is on display at restaurants such as Cotto, Rossi Pizzeria, and Salotto.

LaGuardia Airport camera policy

The rules around photography at LaGuardia Airport are similar to those you will find in other major airports around the world. Photos are allowed, but professional equipment such as large lighting rigs and tripods are frowned on it also, in the security-conscious airport, make sure you don’t take photos of security personnel or secure areas of the airport. This can arouse suspicion and may lead to some awkward questions. If you want to make things easier on yourself, drop off your expensive photography equipment at a suitcase storage near LaGuardia Airport. That way, your belongings will be safe while you travel.

LaGuardia Airport rules

• Pets must remain in carriers at all times inside the airport. The only exception to this rule is certified service animals. Note that there are no pet relief areas inside the secure areas of terminals A and B.
• Smoking is not permitted inside any terminals, and that includes E-cigarettes. To smoke, you’ll need to go to one of the designated outdoor smoking areas. Once you pass security, you won’t be able to smoke at all.
• The Arrivals level of each terminal has a Welcome Center where you can get help from a customer service representative.
• New York MTA buses provide regular service to LaGuardia Airport and connect it with the New York subway system. It’s also easy to reach the airport from the city by taxi.

LaGuardia Airport lockers

LaGuardia Airport hasn’t always enjoyed the best reputation. Then again, the same could be said for New York as a whole. The truth is, both the airport and the city have improved a lot over the past few decades and are much more welcoming places than they used to be. While no one travels to LaGuardia Airport for its own sake, it does make a convenient way to reach New York City, which explains why it gets so many millions of passengers every year. 

Make your trip to New York easier by tracking down a luggage locker near LaGuardia Airport. Dropping off your belongings and traveling light will make it far easier to travel to and from the airport and explore the city that never sleeps.