TWA Hotel review: A plane spotter’s paradise

As an avid plane spotter, I have an immense appreciation for the hotels near the airport. The views from a room within the vicinity of the runway are often unbeatable. JFK’s new TWA Hotel is a perfect example of a prime location for an aviation fanatic like me. I checked it out on a recent trip when I was flying from YYZ to New York. 

That evening, I flew in on an A320 with Air Canada.

We were originally scheduled to travel on an A321 but mechanical problems had us switching last minute. That issue, unfortunately, delayed us for hours. Once the crew showed up, we boarded but the problems weren’t behind us just yet. The air conditioning was, in fact, MIA. The plane was headed back. When our replacement aircraft showed at the gate, we thought we were finally good to go. We weren’t. The gate agent hit us with more bad news: the New York airports had closed due to bad weather. We waited until 10:30 p.m. when at last, we were sailing down the runway. I arrived at the hotel at 1:30 a.m. 

Let me tell you something about TWA Hotel: it’s a plane spotter’s dream. It has everything! It has everything from an old Lockheed airplane on display to stunning views of the ramp from the pool deck upstairs. After that crazy first night of travel, I was more than ready for some well-due exploration. My first stop was the Lockheed plane on display outside. It was 116 long with a wingspan of 150 feet and a capacity of 15,800 pounds. I was amazed! Even the original layout was the same but is currently used as a cocktail bar and lounge. Personally, I was really in awe of how much cockpits have changed since those days. 

My exploring continued up to my favourite part of the hotel: the rooftop pool and observation deck. The layout was incredibly cool and even though it’s super loud, it was an incredible environment with tables, space to lounge and of course, an observation deck. This roof was certainly an amazing spot for plane spotting. It was the first time I’ve ever had lunch outside while watching Air Singapore A380 pull out of the gate. (Note: check it out in my gallery!) I should also say that you do not have to be a guest to have this experience at the TWA Hotel—it’s open to all plane spotters. 

I’m sure you’ve all been wondering how long it takes to get from the hotel to the terminal. The answer depends on which terminal you’re heading to, but to give a sense, I decided to walk from the lobby to the JetBlue terminal. It took me 10 minutes and you don’t have to walk outside (bonus for winter haters!). 

I couldn’t check out before heading to the gift shop. So, on my last day, I decided to go scope it out. One thing caught my eye right away: a pair of TWA wings. I had to have them. All in all, I left with a small stack of souvenirs from the experience including the wings, my key card, a note pad and a pencil from my room. It was a spectacular trip. I know I’m 100% planning to return and I can’t wait.