Well, I am heading to NYC next Sunday. We are a party of four and will stay there for one week. I was checking our transportation options from JFK to our Midtown hotel and have to choose between a shared van, or a taxi.

The van is 17$ per person (the van holds up to 7 people to any destination in Midtown), or 75$ if we book a private van (probably the 7 extra bucks will be worth). But I have read that there is a flat rate for a taxi to Manhattan and it is 45$.

My question is: will a taxi accomodate four adults plus their luggage, or will we be forced to catch two ones?

Thanks in advance.

I don't know about cabs, but you might also consider taking the train depending on which airport you are arriving at. I had a whole day layover at Kennedy on a trip to Madrid last year and took the AirTran from the airport into NYC. Very convenient, you catch it at the airport and it connects to the Metro/Subway system, for about $5. Here is a link for more information:
AIRTRAN

It is fairly new and when I took it a year ago, very uncrowded until you actually hit the subway system. But then again, I got in at 700am, so I was in prime commute time. No train from Laguardia though, but all these options: Laguardia Transportation

Thanks for your input.

I had already considered AirTrain and, if it were only me, it would be my first choice for sure, because I like trains and I would like to try this new one that didn't run when I was last there in Sep'02. Besides, it is cheaper (5$ AirTrain + 1,5$ Subway).

My two concerns are:
- one of my companions is not too keen of travelling by subway with luggage (but, maybe, can be convinced)
- we should take AirTrain to Jamaica, then line E up to Lexington Av/53rd, then transfer to the green line (6, I think) until 33rd street, and then walk three blocks until 31st at Lexington, our final destination. Anyone knows if the E/6 transfer is easy carrying luggage (i.e., escalators available, short corridors,...)?

cabs do hold 4 persons but no more.
But one person may have to sit upfront. Problem is luggage, Will it all fit in the trunk???

I wouldn't take the subway with four people plus you will have to transfer. I usually take the air tran but I usually travel alone. There are shuttles that charge a lot less from JFK and drop you off at a major transportation hub like Grand Central Station or Penn Station. They charge anywhere from $12-$19 a person.

With four people take a taxi and make your life easier with door to door service.
You can also call A car service call Carmel. I think the number is 800.666.6666. (easy ehh)
They charge like $45-

Thank you very much for your help. We'll see how big are our luggages (knowing two of them, I hope not to need a movers' truck ) and then decide if a taxi or a shuttle.

Last Decemeber we were a party of 5 and the taxi didn't let us in on the taxi. Maximum 4. So 3 of us had to go in one cab and the other 2 in another cab.