TWA Hotel

 

In 1955, Trans World Airlines (TWA) commissioned renowned architect Eero Saarinen to design a “flight center” at New York’s Idlewild Airport (now JFK). Shaped like a futuristic bird, the project quickly became one of the most famous and fabulous airport terminals ever built. Unfortunately, the center, which was abandoned after American Airlines bought TWA, sat empty for 18 years. That is, until last week when it reopened as the luxury TWA Hotel.

Huge fans of modern architecture, we of course had to see the hotel for ourselves and so booked a room the night before flying home from JFK. Entry to the hotel was via a red elevator, at the far end of JetBlue's terminal 5 baggage claim, that took us to a long corridor. Everything was still new and not yet quite ready—calling it a “luxury” hotel, at this point, would be extremely generous—but the hotel's interior was absolutely phenomenal: enormously high ceilings, swooping architectural lines, and minimal barriers to accommodate busy travelers rushing from one end to the other. Entirely breathtaking. To complete the experience, an old TWA Constellation (“Connie”)—now a cocktail lounge—was parked on the tarmac out back. Truly a mid-century modernist’s dream.

 

Exiting the baggage claim elevator, we were greeted by a 

recreation of the TWA president's desk—photo ops galore!

 

"TWA red" carpeted corridor to the hotel

 

First glimpse of the interior. Restaurant on second floor, but

you need a reservation (we did not have one).

 

From other side of interior

 

Registration "desk" below, display of flight attendant uniforms above.

Check-in is done all online—the computer had a hard time

finding us . . .

 

Entrance from the front of the hotel

 

Skylight

 

View from the second floor

 

Panoramic view of the hotel's front

 

Plenty of seating upstairs

 

And red carpet

 

Old arrivals and departures board

 

Rotary pay phones

 

View of the Connie from the red sunken lounge

 

The Connie

 

"Up, up and away . . ."

 

The Connie cocktail lounge

 

Flight attendant logo

 

Fabulous uniforms!

 

A bar and bathrobe in our room, but no closet or cabinet.

Travelers are not expected to stay long at this hotel.

 

Everything is branded

 

Tiny rooms, but stylish furniture

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