ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: For a milestone birthday trip to Curaçao, the most convenient flight was a nonstop on JetBlue from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Because of the early departure, I opted to stay overnight at the iconic TWA Hotel, which is especially convenient for JetBlue flyers since it connects directly to the terminal. From checkout to the gate took only about five minutes.
The TWA Hotel opened in 2019 in the former head house of the TWA Flight Center, with two adjoining buildings. With 512 guestrooms, conference facilities, multiple dining venues and an aviation history museum, it offers far more than a typical airport hotel — and you can watch planes take off and land nearby. We arrived in the early evening, used the hotel’s valet service and checked in quickly before heading to our deluxe king room with the historic TWA view.
GUEST QUARTERS: The guestrooms provide everything you need from an airport hotel, though at the TWA Hotel the room feels like part of a larger experience rather than the main attraction. The rooms are not massive but are practical and thoughtfully laid out. A wall of built-ins to the right of the entry offered storage, opposite a bathroom with a roomy shower.
Inside, the king bed faced a wall of windows with views of the hotel, airport and runways. Different views are available, and all rooms are well insulated from outside airport noise. A TV mounted from the ceiling near the windows could be swiveled for optimal viewing. Small bedside tables flanked the bed, and a long attached table served as a desk behind it. Nostalgic details such as vintage photos and period newspapers add character throughout the room.
© TWA Hotel
SERVICES/AMENITIES: This is where the TWA Hotel truly stands out. There is so much to explore that one night barely scratches the surface. The hotel is LEED Gold certified, the only on-airport, AirTrain-accessible hotel at JFK, and it connects to Terminal 5 via the iconic flight tubes designed by Eero Saarinen, the architect of the original 1962 TWA Flight Center.
Highlights include a rooftop infinity pool and observation deck with a bar serving food and drinks; four additional dining options such as Paris Café by Jean-Georges, The Sunken Lounge, Connie Cocktail Lounge housed in a historic airplane, and a Food Hall featuring quick-service vendors like Mister Softee and Feltman’s of Coney Island. There is also extensive meeting and event space and a sprawling 10,000-square-foot gym, one of the largest hotel fitness centers in the world.
Vintage touches begin the moment you enter, with an old-fashioned arrivals and departures board greeting guests in the lobby. The property offers numerous photo opportunities and features exhibits on TWA’s history curated by The New-York Historical Society, located throughout the hotel. These exhibits are free and open to the public. The TWA Shop offers memorabilia and keepsakes to bring a bit of the experience home.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
- This retro-modern hotel is a must for aviation enthusiasts; its nostalgic design and historical displays create a unique, memorable stay.
- Visit Connie, a 60-year-old aircraft repurposed as a cocktail lounge serving classic drinks and snacks, with cockpit access for guests.
- The hotel valets were exceptionally helpful, guiding us to a booking code and special rate for on-site parking. Parking for the trip ended up costing roughly half of typical airport garage rates.
TWA HOTEL
John F. Kennedy International Airport
1 Idlewild Drive
Queens, NY 11430
tel 212 806 9000