Laguardia Airport: Smoking Sections And Their Availability

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City is a smoke-free airport inside, including the use of electronic cigarettes. However, designated smoking areas are located outside of the terminals. For connecting flights, passengers must enter the United States and smoke outside the terminal before going through security again for their flight. The airport has undergone significant renovations, and now offers modern terminals with expanded dining, shopping, and lounge options across Terminals A, B, and C. There are a total of 6 lounges at LaGuardia Airport, with some located inside the secure area and some outside.

LaGuardia Airport is smoke-free inside

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City is smoke-free inside. This includes the use of electronic cigarettes. However, there are designated smoking areas located outside of the terminals. If you need to catch a connecting flight and want to smoke, you must go outside the terminal, and then go through security again for your next flight.

LaGuardia Airport has undergone significant renovations, and now offers modern terminals with expanded dining, shopping, and lounge options across Terminals A, B, and C. There are six lounges at LaGuardia Airport, with some located inside the secure area and some outside. Three of the lounges can be accessed with a day pass, and the others are exclusively for premium cabin passengers, elite status frequent flyers, or eligible credit cardholders.

The airport operates courtesy shuttle buses to transport passengers between terminals, to and from the parking lots, and to and from the car rental transfer points. These buses run 24 hours a day, every 8 to 15 minutes, depending on whether it is peak or off-peak time. The location of the buses can be tracked using the airport's tracker, which provides live bus arrival times.

LaGuardia Airport does not have a subway station, but passengers can ride the M60 bus to 125th Street Station to access various subway lines. A single journey on the bus or subway costs $2.75.

Smoking is allowed outside the terminals

Smoking is not permitted inside LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City, including the use of electronic cigarettes. However, designated smoking areas are located outside of the airport's terminals. If you are connecting through LaGuardia on an international flight, you must exit the terminal and pass through security again for your next flight.

LaGuardia Airport has undergone significant renovations to offer modern terminals with expanded dining, shopping, and lounge options across Terminals A, B, and C. There are six lounges at LaGuardia Airport, with some located inside the secure area and some outside. Three of the lounges can be accessed with a day pass, while the others are exclusively for premium cabin passengers, elite status frequent flyers, or eligible credit cardholders.

The airport provides courtesy shuttle buses to transport passengers between terminals and to and from the parking lots and car rental transfer points. Buses run 24 hours a day, with varying frequencies depending on peak and off-peak times. Each terminal has a different layout and number of security checkpoints, and passengers can check ahead for estimated security wait times on the airport website.

While LaGuardia Airport does not permit smoking inside the terminals, other airports have different policies. For example, Auckland Airport in New Zealand, one of the first countries to introduce a ban on smoking in public places, has built a smoking area outside where passengers can step out for a cigarette even after passing through security. Similarly, Tampa Airport in Florida has a designated smoking area near a bar inside the secure area.

For connecting flights, you must leave the terminal to smoke

If you are travelling through LaGuardia Airport and have a connecting flight, you must leave the terminal building to smoke. This means that you will need to enter the United States and smoke outside the terminal before going through Security again for your next flight.

LaGuardia Airport does not have a designated smoking area inside the terminal. Therefore, if you are a smoker with a layover, you will need to plan accordingly and factor in enough time to go through Security again after your smoking break. Keep in mind that you will have to go through the standard Security checks, which may include additional COVID-19 screening procedures, before you can board your connecting flight.

It is important to be mindful of the time it takes to get to and from the smoking area, as well as the potential wait time at Security. You don't want to risk missing your connecting flight due to unexpected delays. It is always a good idea to check the airport's website or app for real-time updates on Security wait times and to allow for plenty of time when navigating your layover.

Additionally, be aware of the designated smoking areas outside the terminal. Smoking is generally permitted in designated spots outside airport terminals, often a certain distance from the entrances. These areas are typically clearly marked, and it is important to only smoke in these designated spots to avoid any fines or penalties for smoking in non-designated areas.

There are no designated indoor smoking lounges

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City is a smoke-free airport indoors, including the use of electronic cigarettes. However, there are designated smoking areas located outside of the terminals. For connecting flights, passengers must exit the terminal and go through security again after smoking.

While LaGuardia Airport does not have indoor smoking lounges, there are outdoor smoking areas available near the terminals. It is important to note that smoking is only permitted in these designated outdoor areas, and smoking inside the airport, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited.

The airport's smoking policy aims to accommodate smokers while maintaining a comfortable and healthy environment for all passengers and staff. By providing designated outdoor smoking areas, the airport allows smokers to indulge during their travel while also ensuring that non-smokers are not exposed to second-hand smoke within the terminal buildings.

It is worth mentioning that smoking is not permitted on airplanes, and smokers should be mindful of local laws and regulations regarding smoking in public spaces. LaGuardia Airport's smoking policy is in line with the broader trend of creating smoke-free environments in public places, prioritizing the health and comfort of all individuals.

LaGuardia Airport's outdoor smoking areas provide a compromise between accommodating smokers and maintaining a smoke-free indoor environment. Smokers can access these designated areas conveniently located near the terminals, while non-smokers can enjoy a smoke-free airport experience. This balance aims to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of the traveling public.

LaGuardia is New York's busiest airport

LaGuardia Airport, located on the northern edge of Queens, was once North America's first major commercial airport. Today, it is part of the largest airport system in the US and one of the largest in the world. However, it is the least busy of New York City's airport triplex, which also includes John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). LaGuardia serves some 15 million passengers per year, in contrast to JFK, which sees more than 62 million.

LaGuardia Airport was dedicated on October 15, 1939, as the New York Municipal Airport, and opened for business on December 2 of the same year. The airport was developed to fulfil one of New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia's goals—to ensure that New York City had its own commercial airport, rather than relying on Newark Airport in the neighbouring state of New Jersey. LaGuardia had long been an aviation advocate, and when he arrived at Newark Airport on a TWA flight, he demanded to be taken to New York, ordering the plane to be flown to Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field.

LaGuardia Airport was once criticised for its outdated facilities, poor customer service, and inefficient air operations. In 2015, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced a multibillion-dollar reconstruction of the airport's passenger infrastructure, which was completed in January 2025. Today, LaGuardia boasts new terminals that have won awards for their design, as well as popular New York restaurants.

Despite being the least busy of New York's three airports, LaGuardia is still an important aviation hub. It is a hub for both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, and its commercial service is governed by unique regulations, including a curfew, a slot system, and a "perimeter rule" prohibiting most non-stop flights to or from destinations greater than 1,500 miles (2,400 km).

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