The TWA Hotel at JFK Airport is a favorite of ours. We are experts in everything that comes with taking an iconic building and making it functional for today's needs, while not changing it beyond recognition. The hotel is a perfect blend of past and present. It retains the architectural style of the original building, but offers modern amenities in its rooms.
The hotel was our home for the duration of our 2019 trip to Germany. We loved it so much that we stayed there again in 2019. Our trip was memorable for many reasons, including the Connie outside and the check-in area. We wanted to return and were open to the idea of staying again.
Although the pandemic caused some problems with our plans for 2020 travel plans, we were able to travel internationally for a time in 2021. We booked round-trip Icelandair tickets from JFK for our trip. Sharon was almost unwilling to let me book anywhere else than the TWA Hotel the night before we left for Iceland.
We enjoyed our stay and noticed some signs that may not be a sign of things to come.
The check-in process has only gotten more difficult.
The idea of having front desk agents working behind ticketing counters when the hotel opened was adorable. Now that touchscreens are available, however, the main purpose of the agents is to guide guests through self-check in. Sorry if you arrive early. If you wish to check in early, there are no rooms available.
The front desk told us that we should return at the specified check-in time. Most guests thought it was a great time to grab a bite to eat, and the only restaurant at the hotel is The Food Hall.
Although the original idea was to have a busy area with local food vendors, it has become a chaotic mess of many different counters that are apparently all owned by the same company. There is only one person who can take orders at all the stations, whether you need a hot dog, bagel, sandwich or bagel. Many people stood in the other areas until they realized that no one was there to help them.
It was a positive that we could order our food without having to wait twice. It is not possible to eat at the hotel's breakfast or lunch, which is disappointing.
We were able to find the Mister Softee booth at the far end of counter, where there was no separate register.
The machine was only soft-serve and you would find better selections at a Manhattan truck if you could.
Let's get back to the check in process. We checked our bags after we made the decision to not wait in line for a room, and instead headed out to Manhattan. Although you would think that the desk at the airport could handle bags and store them as Bell Services, the agent brought a Smartcarte for us to stack our bags. We then rolled it into an empty conference room.
We returned that night to find the room unlocked. They gave us our cart, which was mixed with four other carts, and we rolled it up into the room. I returned it to the desk the next day and we again stored our bags in that room while we went to Juniors. I was complimented by the desk agent for my ability to stack so many bags onto the cart.
Let's not get into my Tetris skills. But what about the hotel?
This is to say that we love the TWA hotel and will continue to stay there whenever possible.
Despite being relatively young, it is beginning to show its age. The most noticeable is the numerous stains on the red carpeting that runs through the tunnels to the main terminal.
The window shades were open when we arrived in the room. We didn't want to show everyone the same show as the guests who stayed in our previous visit, since our room faces the terminal building.
The problem with the window shade to the right was obvious when we tried to lower them.
It was mostly straightened after a lot of pulling and maneuvering. The shade is electronically controlled and can be moved around by pushing the chair against the window. This causes the shade's position to shift to one direction. This is not what I would expect from a $300-per-night hotel.
I told the desk staff when we checked out but it's doubtful that they did anything.
Finally, I mentioned before that the Food Hall was the best place to have lunch. The TWA Hotel boasts a rooftop pool and a bar that offers food. This could have been the perfect place to spend an afternoon watching the planes take off from JFK, while also enjoying some drinks. We were not willing to pay the admission fee.
TWA Hotel guests must make a reservation to use the pool, observation deck, and The Pool Bar every day between 11 AM and 11 PM. Hotel guests can swim in the pool or visit the observation deck from 7 AM to 10:30AM, but occupancy limits apply.
Each pool reservation is for an hour and 45 minutes. Guests will be asked to leave the pool area after the time has expired.
The following admission prices are available:
Monday through Thursday $25 for adults and $20 for children (ages 512 and under).
Friday through Sunday: $50 for adults and $20 for children (ages 512 and under).
The reservation fee covers admission to the pool, observation deck, and a place at the pool bar. The reservation fee does not include food, drinks, or guarantee a chair at the pool.
I was aware of this policy and I went up to the pool deck to verify it. As I was about to exit the elevator, a polite bouncer approached me and asked if there was a reservation. I replied that I didn't have a reservation, but I was simply looking. I was politely acknowledged.
He was not the only guest he encountered. Other guests arrived in swimsuits, and were surprised that $300 per night was the price of a hotel. The hotel then charged $50 per person for 2 hours of swimming.
They should have read the interview with the TWA Hotel owner. He believes that hotel guests should be accustomed to paying for what they need, rather than expecting them to give it to them for free. He believes that hotels should be charging for services in the same manner as airlines.
Last Thoughts
Because I love this place so much, I have forgiven the TWA Hotel's shortcomings, such as the lack of maintenance, problems with the food hall and bizarre handling of luggage. It's an incredible idea to transform an iconic 1960s building in the middle JFK Airport into an extraordinary hotel. The hotel will soon become too large for its own good, and people will be charged for every experience in the area, despite the many small problems that can easily be fixed by someone who cares.
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