Airport hotels are notoriously bland. These properties generally belong to big international chains and lack any local flavor or design interest. The dog friendly TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York is an exception. The central focus of this airport hotel is Eero Saarinen’s iconic TWA Flight Center. Two recently constructed wings house 512 modern guestrooms.
The TWA Flight Center Building
The TWA Flight Center opened to great fanfare in 1952. The building was the epitome of jet-age glamour. A time when people got dressed up to travel and looked forward to being wined and dined in flight. Things were very different by the time Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center closed in 2001. The mid-century building simply couldn’t handle the increased traffic and larger aircraft landing at JFK.
For many years the TWA Flight Center remained vacant. It served as a venue for temporary art exhibits and even played a role in the film “Catch Me If You Can.” When plans developed to add a new terminal for JetBlue (our favorite dog friendly airline), there was some discussion of using it as a decorative entrance.
In 2015, the Governor of New York announced that the old Flight Center would be restored and developed into the TWA Hotel. The property is connected to JetBlue’s Terminal 5, making it the only hotel directly linked to JFK Airport. Passengers flying on other airlines can easily access the hotel using the AirTrain.
Dog Friendly TWA Hotel
Even if you aren’t flying to JFK airport, the TWA Hotel is a fun, dog friendly choice. Dogs can join you for drinks and snacks in the Sunken Lounge or onboard a restored 1958 Lockheed Constellation airliner. There are also several walk-up cafes in the lobby where no one objected to Louie’s presence.
After all that eating and drinking, your pup will be relieved that there is a large grassy area right across from the hotel entrance. It is also a relief to know that all of the rooms at the TWA Hotel are dog friendly. The property charges a nominal pet fee of $25 per stay. In addition to the grass across from the entrance, there is a fenced-in pet relief area located just outside JetBlue Terminal 5.
Details like the enclosed pet potty make staying at the TWA Hotel more attractive than many hotels right in New York City. When you also consider that nightly rates are about half of those in the city, staying at JFK is worthwhile. We paid $75 each way for a dog friendly taxi to Manhattan. Valet and public parking are also available at the hotel.
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I’ve never travel with my dogs (they’re giant and probably wouldn’t behave), but I’ve never thought about how inconvenient it might be to need a hotel room near the airport and not have one that’s pet friendly! I love seeing stuff like this as a pet owner!
I love reading about the pet friendly hotels and how they make the pets life easier with a potty station not far, it eases the travelling for us in so many ways. I would love to travel with Layla and pray one day will be able to
I am amazed that the pet fee is only $25. Totally cool. I hope this is a growing trend. I have stayed at hotels where the fee is $75+ and nonrefundable. I love traveling with Jack, my pup.