Whereas the cab ride from the train station is offered au gratis? Cab fares are cab fares regardless of where you jump into them.
Cab fares are based on mileage, and the last time I looked, Penn Station was a whole lot closer to midtown Manhattan or even Wall Street than either La Guardia, JFK or Newark.
That’s great if midtown is where you’re heading. Of course, you also have to deal with the midtown traffic jams, since most airports are connected to freeways while most train stations are located right on the worst of the city street congestion. And if you’re heading to White Plains or Annapolis, what good is it to be deboarded downtown as opposed to industrial suburbia?
I can tell you since I’ve lived in the Upper East side, a residential neighborhood, for the past 25 years. Presently the taxi trip to LGA (5 miles away, but a 7 mile ride) costs about $22 with tip. You also have to pay a bridge toll. I think it’s 4 bucks now. To Penn Station (2.5 mile ride) it’s about $13, but because of mid-town traffic the ride to LGA is often about as long. The alternative to either is bus-subway, 2 bucks. There are also private buses, Olympic comes to mind, that cost about $10. Many people living in lower Manhattan find Newark more convenient and less hectic.