GETTING TO JFK
Everyone who lives in the tri-state area knows that getting to Kennedy Airport is a nightmare. You never know how traffic or security is going to be, so you always leave extra-early. Without traffic (I'm speaking hypothetically), it takes 30 minutes from Manhattan. It costs $55 by taxi, or a lower-end car service like Carmel (212-666-6666) or Tel Aviv (212-777-7777). A much more reliable high-end car service costs much more. A connecting subway/train service called AirTrain costs only $7.50, but it's confusing for first timers and not easy for anyone with a lot of bags. (Speaking of taxis, I'm glad to see the city is finally cracking down on cabbies who take visitors for a "ride." Read this article.)

US HELICOPTER SERVICE
The solution: American Airlines has partnered with US Helicopter to introduce a new service to JFK. I checked in for my 7 p.m. flight to Los Angeles (LAX) at 5:40 -- at the downtown Manhattan helipad. The US Helicopter agents gave me boarding passes for both my helicopter and American Airlines flights. I checked my luggage and went through TSA security just like at the airport. The only difference was � there was no line! At 5:50 the helicopter arrived. One of the two pilots came out, and gave a five-minute safety briefing to all seven passengers. We were then escorted out to the helicopter, a state-of-the-art Sikorsky S76 aircraft that holds eight passengers. After we took non-assigned seats, the pilot quickly showed us where the life preservers and emergency handles were. Then we were off.

8 MINUTES TO JFK
Guess how long it took to get to JFK? Eight minutes! And we had an awesome view of the city. I felt like I was dreaming when I looked out and saw all the traffic that we were cruising at 175 m.p.h. over. Even better was landing in a secure area so we didn't have to go through security again. We were escorted into the building, smack into the middle of the American Airlines terminal. The Admiral Club entrance was right there (day passes are available for $50). Surprisingly, this service is not even that expensive (especially if you're on an expense account). The cost is $159 one way. Note: US Helicopter flies Monday through Friday, every hour on the hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It does not operate on weekends or holidays. US Helicopter: 877-262-7676.

AMERICAN AIRLINES
After landing, I went into the Admirals Club to get a better picture of the helicopter and check out the lounge (it looked good, with plenty of comfortable chairs and work space, but a mediocre array of snacks). As soon as I turned around I bumped into one of my old Connecticut friends, who is now a bigwig on Wall Street. He said he was flying out to L.A. for one meeting, then returning the next day with his team. He asked where I was sitting. I saw his nice Business Class ticket and said with a slight frown, "Just a few rows from you." As we were walking out of the club one of his young colleagues said, "Look, there's Debra Messing" (from "Will and Grace"). My friend predicted she would be on our flight. I joked, "Yeah, she'll probably sit next to me." I knew my friend's colleagues thought, Sure -- keep dreaming! Like she's flying coach? I didn't tell these guys I had a first class ticket. You should've seen their reaction when they got on the plane and saw you-know-who sitting next to Debra Messing. It was priceless!