A Throwback to the Golden Age: Inside the TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK Airport
by Krish Patel
The Golden Age of Flying was a time of luxurious and glamorous air travel that lasted from the 1920s to the late 1960s. Among the many major airlines operating during this era was Trans World Airlines, more commonly known as TWA. New York’s JFK Airport served as the carrier’s primary transatlantic hub, with flights on aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Lockheed Constellation. Despite being from the mid-1900s, JFK’s TWA terminal still exists, but has been converted into a hotel. If you’re looking for a place that offers a throwback to this incredible era of flying, then the TWA Hotel is the one to visit.
TWA Hotel Location and Convenience
The TWA Hotel is located at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York. It’s connected directly to JetBlue’s Terminal 5 via a walkway, making this a great place to spend the night if you have an early morning flight from T5.
The AirTrain is also connected to the hotel, making it easy to get to any of the other terminals, whether it be Delta’s Terminal 4 or American’s Terminal 8.
TWA Hotel Layout, Amenities, and Ambiance
Designed by architect Eero Saarinen, the TWA terminal is incredibly stunning, with large glass windows and a high ceiling. Inside, it’s very spacious and airy. The front desk area is located to the left upon entry and is designed more like an airline check-in counter. The TWA logo behind the desks and long row of counters both contribute to this appearance.
It was a nice touch to find some lounge seating right adjacent to the check-in counters in TWA’s signature shade of red. There were also pictures of famous icons from the 1950s and 1960s who had flown the airline.
If you walk straight ahead from the entrance, you’ll come across the Sunken Lounge, serving as the central focal point of the hotel. It’s a lounge seating area that includes plush red furniture. I loved the classic departures board that’s retro style and features split-flaps. It’s these small elements that make you feel as if you’re in an airport terminal from the 1960s. Sunken Lounge does a great job resembling airport terminal seating from the Golden Age.
Adjacent to the seating lounge is a souvenir shop offering TWA-branded souvenirs and merchandise.
To the far left of the seating area, you’ll find a corridor that leads you outside onto an airport-inspired patio. On the walls of the corridor is a timeline of how the “Connie” (Lockheed Constellation) was brought to JFK’s TWA Terminal by road. It’s a four-engine propeller plane that was popular in the 1950s.
The outdoor patio feels like an actual runway, with headlights and markers to direct the aircraft. There’s a real Lockheed Constellation that once flew for TWA, but has been converted into a bar and lounge. Stepping foot into the lounge area is very similar to boarding an aircraft by stairway.
Inside, there’s a real cockpit and plush seating branded with the TWA logo. Behind the seats were two long couches with table space and the bar area itself. The bar was very small and didn’t have an extensive drink selection. Coke was the only non-alcoholic soda that was available, and there were only a handful of wines to choose from. Snacks, such as popcorn and nuts were available for purchase.
Going back to the actual hotel building, the property features both a pool and gym. You’ll find lots of TWA-inspired decor in the elevator lobby and a door that leads outside.
During my visit, the pool was temporarily closed, but I still saw many people sitting outside in the pool chairs or at the bar. As an aviation enthusiast, the best part of the rooftop pool and bar were the fantastic views of planes parked at Terminals 4 and 5.
TWA Hotel Rooms
The TWA Hotel offers 512 rooms, many of which overlook the airport terminals and runway. While many of the rooms are great for plane spotting, they’re not very big. Even the suites are on the smaller side and not as big as some others. For my one-night stay, I was booked into a standard room featuring two twin-size beds.
Upon entering the room, I felt that it was incredibly cramped. A small coat hanger and bar table was situated to the right and the bathroom was to the left. There wasn’t even a mini bar with drinks, so I don’t understand why there would be wine glasses anyway.
The bathroom came with only one sink and shower, featuring a plain floor and wall that was somewhat basic. The only notable feature in the bathroom was the 1950s retro-style mirror.
Across from the beds was a television, desk, and chair if you wanted to do some reading. Provided on the desk was a stash of TWA-branded pencils which made for a cool souvenir. A retro-style telephone was also on the desk, which was nice to see.
Separating the beds was a very small nightstand backed by a soft blue wall. You’ll find several TWA advertisements hanging above the beds, which I thought was cute. Overall, the room is very basic and designed for only a one-night stay.
TWA Hotel Food and Drink
To the very right of the entrance, you’ll find the food hall. It can get crowded depending on the time of day and has a selection that feels more like a museum cafeteria, which isn’t great. All of the salads and sandwiches on offer looked very uninspiring. In addition, there were chips, desserts, and sodas. Overall, I’d try to avoid eating here altogether because the food selection is lacking and it doesn’t smell great either.
Paris Café by Jean Georges is the hotel’s main dining establishment offering French cuisine. It’s incredibly beautiful, featuring bar seating and dining tables. I enjoyed a delicious burrata followed by a mushroom risotto as my entree for dinner. If you’re looking for fine dining during your stay, then this is the place to eat. Note that it’s possible to get a reservation at Paris Café without being a hotel guest.
TWA Hotel Museum/Memorabillia
Located across from Paris Café is a museum that has all of the TWA pilot and flight attendant uniforms on display throughout the airline’s history. If you’re curious, you’ll be able to read more about them in the descriptions provided with each uniform. Pretty much the entire hotel is like an airline museum, with various walls of information about the airline. These even include convincing advertisements that show TWA’s destinations.
TWA Hotel Service
During my stay, the service wasn’t amazing. The staff were polite, but didn’t offer any help to bring the bags to and from the room. It appears that the hotel has no baggage carts, and I had to lug two bags without help when going to the terminal.
Booking a Stay at the TWA Hotel
On the website, you’ll notice that the TWA Hotel offers both overnight stays and Daytripper stays for four to twelve hours. You can book a Daytripper stay starting at $150-$160 for four hours or $210 for half the day.
A one-night stay in the entry-level room at the hotel costs close to $215 before taxes and fees. If you’re looking to book a runway-view room, then that would cost close to $390 (or more) per night. Booking a stay at the TWA hotel is expensive for the standards of an airport hotel, even if it’s only for one night.
Click here to book the TWA Hotel.
Overall Thoughts
The TWA Hotel at JFK Airport offers a throwback to what it was like during the Golden Age of Flying. It incorporates unique touches such as an airplane from the mid-20th century converted into a bar and lounge, as well as a retro-style terminal. While this hotel is a great place to learn and appreciate the history of Trans World Airlines, it’s certainly not one I’d look to stay at when considering the guest experience. The rooms (even the suites) are on the smaller side, and there’s only one good dining establishment on property. With all things considered, this is a convenient place to spend the night if you have an early morning flight from JFK. Additionally, the hotel offers a unique experience during the day for having a drink or going to the restaurant, even if you’re not flying.
You may also enjoy: