The Trans World Airline (TWA) Flight Center was designed by architect Eero Saarinen and it was described as being similar to a "Leonardo da Vinci flying machine". It was completed in 1962 and open for business. The original head house (aka: terminal building), operated as a functioning terminal until 2001. The exterior of the building, along with the interior, of the head house were declared landmarks in 1994. Moreover, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Today it is part of the TWA hotel complex, but anyone can visit the flight center, lounges, gift shop, food court, and museum area. In addition to the original building, it has been partially surrounded by additional hotel buildings. Inside, the former terminal has been restored to its former glory. You can see the open three-level tall windows with amazing views of departing and arriving jets in the sunken lounge area. There are the tube-shaped, red-carpeted departure/arrival corridors that now lead to rooms in the hotel, but used to connect the gates. Now various places in the head house and flight center are museum-type displays for the former airline. It is a very interesting place for anyone to check out the displays and read about the history of TWA. Moreover, there are additional items to check out like the old cars and the huge Twister game. Whether you stay at the hotel or just need a few hours to kill on your layover...this is "something to do". Personal Note: I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everything in the flight center. It brought back so many wonderful memories. When I was a little girl, my family and I used to look forward to flying in and out of here back when my dad worked for the airlines. We loved this airport and mainly because of this terminal...it was fun and different. With the way they have restored it, it almost seems like I entered a time machine to another time. I am forever grateful they gave this building a new life. I hope other families make new memories and remember the old ones as I did. It's a very special place and there is nothing like it! read more

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This is probably the most remarkable building in the state of NewYork. Repurposed from the old TWA terminal, this TWA Hotel Lobby was designed by Eero Saarinen. Inspired by the Sydney Opera House, Eero created this terminal to resemble a bird in flight. The photos says it all, but come here and experience the space for yourself. There is peripheral perception of space that you do not get from photographs. There is an air train that loops around all of the Terminals at JFK airport. Get off where it says TWA hotel and walk to the lobby or take Uber or Lyft and be dropped off at the front door. read more

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This was an incredibly fun experience. Everyone visiting NYC should go and check the whole thing out. The hotel lobby, the bars, the displays, gift shops and in addition, I strongly suggest everyone should have a cocktail in the Connie SO FUN! One day I hope to stay at the TWA Hotel read more

TWA Flight Center - Meats! Cheese! - Airport Terminals Near Me - New York, New York

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This was like going to the Smithsonian. They had a twister room. They had a room that looked like a family room from the 70s. We had a drink in the lobby and on the plane bar. It was pricey. They also sell TWA souvenirs. Even though the food and drinks were pricey it was a fun experience. read more

TWA Flight Center - Cool sign! - Airport Terminals Near Me - New York, New York

Did I walk through a time warp? Am I in the 1960s? The 1962 landmark TWA terminal has been reignited and restored into a hotel and flight center! I got to JFK very early to give myself some time to explore before I left. In the baggage claim area you will find a bright red wall and elevator, take it to the second floor and prepare to be amazed! Give yourself at least 30mins just to walk around. There are two bars so you can also grab a drink. Make sure to peak around every corner for hidden seating areas and artifacts from the past! read more

Walk down the futuristic fifties tunnel and you go back in time to the original TWA terminal at JFK. Long closed, along with the bankrupt airline, it rises again as a hotel with its sunken departure lounge a cocktail bar, and a cafe upstairs. This is second day, and they're doing well. Over opening week, they have had dancing pilots and flight attendants, and little airline badges. JetBlue's terminal 5 cuts the view of the runway, but they have a restored vintage Lockheed Constellation aircraft parked by the windows for show. If you have a little time until your next flight, or you need a place to overnight, this place is a lot of fun, got that right! read more

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A nostalgic, fun time. Great for lovers of timeless architecture. Sit down and have a drink or snack in the flight center or in the "Connie". If you are laying over or have time in between connections at JFK it's a great stopover. Did not stay in the hotel but got a peek inside the rooms and they look small but adequate.. maybe you'll even play twister in the room sized twister board! read more

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Okay. First the pros. Magical atmosphere Magical staff Magical building Iconic building Great bars Great food 10* bed 10* pillows Now the cons No porters Insane walking if handicapped No hot water No privacy blinds (absurd with such wonderful views) No USB ports No wake up call Tv doesn't work I spoke to Heather (who was one of the magical Staff), who was wonderful. I booked and paid for a king runway room. Got a queen room with view of the uniform museum. She was 10*. I will always stay here (and recommend it) in spite of the glitches that will hopefully get ironed out. read more

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The food court here is much better than food after security in Terminal 5. The halal guys stand was pretty good - not as good as midtown, but good for an airport. The panini place also had good food that we brought through security no problem. Intelligentsia coffee was excellent. My son loved climbing in the old cars - so fun. The Connie bar in the refurbished plane was great. Nice that the allowed us up to the pool deck to airplane watch for a few minutes. Not sure how long we would have been allowed to stay, we eventually had to leave for our flight. read more

A gorgeous space. It looks as good in person as it does in the photos. I really like that they have staff in vintage uniforms. They are professional stage actors/dancers. They were fun to chat with and take pictures with. I will definitely stop by again when I'm in town. The only downside is that Flight Center is a bit of a hike from the closest Airtrain stop. read more

It was the age of dreams. The age with no limits. The era of challenges, creativity and imagination. When everything was possible if you set your mind to it... And the era when Eero Saarinen draw the inspiring lines of his timeless masterpieces. Gateway Arch, Ingalls Rink and - TWA terminal. It was 1961. I was not even born yet when Saarinen passed away, just year before TWA was completed. His sketches were brought to life after his death, and now they are iconic landmarks we all know and admire. To fully understand and appreciate the grandiosity of this, take a look at his pencil drawings (in the age of google and year 2013, they are easy to find). Singing lines, pure music in architectural form. He did not just design functional structures - he created. He dreamed. He imagined. I been to TWA terminal couple times before it closed it doors in 2001, but every time I fly out of JFK this days, I still look out for it - a small bird ready to take off into open sky... Hopefully, one day, it will reopen for all of us to visit once again - as a hotel and conference center from what I heard, but really, as a symbol of creativity and spirit that are grand and limitless. "I think of architecture as a total of everything we have around us..." he said. Very much true. Dare we to dream big. read more

TWA Flight Center - Airport Terminals Near Me - New York, New York

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The old TWA Terminal was open to the public for Open House New York today. It is an amazing structure by the architect Eero Saarinen, which is landmarked and being restored. There are two long walkways that take you into the terminal and evokes a Jetsons image. Inside the terminal are walkways that traverse the interior so that you can look down at the main concourse. The terminal was filled with light (and mobs of people) and felt airy. One can imagine the age of air travel when people were dressed for travel and flying was still an adventure. Hopefully, they will again make the terminal available for public appreciation soon. read more

The bar inside a plane is a lot of fun and brings back memories of when flying was glamorous. We ordered the hot toddy which came in a contemporary paper coffee hot cup- a bit disappointing. It tasted good but a ceramic or glass cup would have made it feel more nostalgic. read more

The best re-opening of an old architectural gem in a long while! For years New Yorkers had to walk the causeway to the new terminal past the empty modernistic-historic terminal - dark, lonely, and unappreciated. Now you can step inside to check out exhibits soak up the atmosphere, and even enjoy a cocktail and bite. (If you take the Airtrain to Terminal 5, look for the arrows painted on the ground to TWA Hotel. At first it might seem confusing to get to the entrance, but so worth it.) The public spaces are wonderfully restored and the staff are so welcoming, you really get a chance to recapture the feeling of the wonder of flight! read more

Very disappointed I couldn't receive a refund on my prepaid reservation since my trip was cancelled due to Covid-19. Agent advised me I could use it as a credit but could be charged a change fee. read more

It's a must to stay at this wonderful and unique hotel. It's back in time when flying was an experience. The rooms food and staff were all terrific and they will all continue to grow. 5 stars plus read more

Food was terrible the chicken was so dry had bones all in it the chicken had bones all in it the service was terrible we asked for a chicken sandwich and they gave us just chicken and then it took them 15 minutes to get the buns then they wouldn't get our waters for an hour and me and my sister were sold so thirsty and the pizza don't even start with me on the pizza it was terrible so dry and nasty definitely do not recommend do not go and very very overpriced their food is terrible 10/1 read more

We booked a runway view room for the first night of our honeymoon months in advance. When we arrived, we were told in a relatively unsympathetic manner that there were no runway view rooms available (the whole reason we picked this hotel) because a previous guest trashed the room and it had not yet been cleaned. The hotel did not contact us prior to our arrival to let us know that our requested/booked room type was unavailable. While the building itself is interesting, we were thoroughly disappointed with the customer service experience and the cold manner in which the staff interacted with us as they attempted to resolve their booking mistake. read more

The design is just amazing. Right now there is a lot of construction going on to transform it into a hotel. Can't wait for that and will for sure visit it once it opens. The design was ahead of it's time. To bad that it never got really used. read more

TWA Flight Center - Airport Terminals Near Me - New York, New York

The TWA hotel is a great museum but it barely reaches a three star hotel. The staff is sub par, the restaurant is contracted out and is not worth the price. For food , go to terminal 1 and the food court. And please for the love of god, put trash cans in the rooms. A waste of $250. read more