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An Inside Look At The Old TWA Terminal At JFK
In 2012, it's hard to imagine catching a flight as anything but a routine, frequently dehumanizing process – waiting in long security lines, bad food and cramped terminals conspire to make our flying experience less than enjoyable. This wasn't always the case - back in the 1960s, flying was considered a glamorous, cutting edge industry, and the design of the airports matched that perception.
A great example of this is long-ago closed TWA Terminal at New York's JFK Airport. Opened in 1962 and designed by visionary architect Eero Saarinen, the building's soaring departures lobby, sleek waiting lounges and polished interior beckon travelers towards an optimistic golden age of travel that was just getting started. Today, that terminal lies tantalizing out of reach, a designated National Historic Landmark that rests unused and waiting directly in front of JetBlue's massive new Terminal 5.
Earlier this weekend, Gadling traveled out to JFK as part of Open House New York to take a sneak peek inside the now-shuttered terminal of TWA to get a taste of what air travel used to be like. Want to see what the glory days of air travel looked like for travelers? Take a peek inside the gallery below.
Gallery: Inside TWA Flight Center at New York's JFK Airport
Filed under: Photos, North America, United States, Airlines, Transportation, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
KirkHere Oct 8th 2012 3:31PM
So glad the TWA Terminal has been designated a landmark. My Dad was one of the Operating Engineers (Crane Operator) who poured the concrete of the famed "Winged Terminal." The construction men of the 1960's were so proud of that building when they were done. They would bring their families to the worksite and proudly say "We Built That!"
Designating it a "Historical Landmark" honors those men as well as the architect who designed it.
Ginger Oct 8th 2012 3:36PM
I grew up in Queens, NY, not far from JFK. Flying was so glamorous back then that going to the TWA terminal was often an inexpensive, but exciting place to take a date for a thrifty teeage boy!
Gary Oct 8th 2012 7:08PM
Here in STL, where the main terminal was also designed by Saarinen, before 9/11 there was a parking / viewing area at the west end of the runway. When I could I would pack a lunch then watch planes come and go. The north side of the airport was MacDonnell Douglas so occasionally you would see fighters take off then go vertical as they got away. 9/11 and $1Billion of wasted money expanding the runway made this really nice way to spend a lunch hour go away.
sunny Oct 8th 2012 3:38PM
Yeah..I actually remember when you could drive up to the curb at LAX.
When people would get dressed up to go on a plane ( ladies would wear tweed suits and pearls and men would wear ties).
And I can remember calling to ask if it was a prop plane or a jet, how many stops would it be making, if a meal would be served and what would the movie be, if one was being shown.
Flying will NEVER be like it was in the 50's and the 60;s.
Mike Oct 8th 2012 7:39PM
Do you remember the old terminal with the Mike Lymons restaurant? You could just drive thru the loop to take a look at people arriving in Los Angeles....all gone..
KirkHere Oct 10th 2012 1:37AM
Idewild Airport (Pre JFK's Death) and LaGuardia Airports in New York.
For those old enough to remember the city's school choirs would practice Christmas songs from September until early December and then your school choir would be bussed to one of the airports and sing those Christmas songs to the departing and arriving passengers.
The Airlines would set up "Stages" for us to stand on in the various terminals.
Talk about "Days Gone By."
Try that today and there would be lawsuits asking for injunctions to stop the signing of young children as offensive.
Amy R Oct 8th 2012 3:42PM
I loved flying TWA and leaving from that terminal for internation travel. In fact, we were on the last flight from that terminal to Las Vegas 10 days after 9/11.
And, yes, air travel was glamorous and exciting. We still fly and are lucky to have the opportunity to see the world and we dress appropriately. We are representing America and try to dispell some people's view that we are all "Ugly Americans".
JP Oct 8th 2012 3:42PM
My old Man retired from PanAm so we used to fly quite a bit. Always something to look forward to. Even children were treated as if they were the most important people on board. The Flight Attendants were attentive, seemingly to your every need, always with a smile on their faces.
Great meals/snacks and beverages at no additional cost. Seats were spacious and comfortable, lots of leg room. Yes, engines were loud, I remember flying on prop driven planes before the jets came out.
Like nothing we are ever going to have again.
Pat Oct 9th 2012 9:41AM
Always loved TWA's Idlewild terminal. Take a look at SFO Terminal 1, Gate 26 and imagine this gate with TWA red carpets. A great look back for two of our greatest cities.
Vimala Oct 8th 2012 4:02PM
It's all about MONEY! Money, service, style go hand in hand.
When air travel was expensive, it was rare and exclusive for the wealthy only. Passengers dress up and it was an event. The plane, the service, the terminal were all set up to serve the wealthy. Even luggages were handled with care.
Then air travel became common place. Passengers wear t-shirts and flipflops and carryon backpacks. Cheap fare also mean less service and shoddy terminals.
You get what you pay for. What's so surprising about that?
Ancient Sage Oct 8th 2012 4:16PM
Enjoyed many TWA flights & "Getaway Vacations" from that terminal back in the good old days(60's & 70's) when flying was a pleasure. Just is not the same anymore.
Allen Oct 10th 2012 5:43PM
Just flew from LAX to Port Columbus last weekend. One of the worst experiences of my life. Flight attendants were rude and on a power trip, staff at the airports had no idea where airline terminals were located. The TSA agents gave me an insane amount of attitude over refusing to step through their fancy little X-ray machine, and insisted on talking to me and other passengers like we were small children.
At Las Vegas, we ended up sitting on the tarmac for 30 minutes while the mechanics diagnosed a 'mechanical issue' which ended up being a faulty air conditioner. The passenger next to me on my flight from Las Vegas to Cleveland was little over 5' tall and slim, yet got an attitude and called over a flight attendant when I refused to let her stretch her tiny limbs into my seating space, despite the fact that I was over a foot taller than her, and broad at the shoulders.
People refused to wait until their boarding zones were called to crowd around the boarding area...
This is just a small amount of the unnecessary discomforts I experienced over a 10 total hours trip. I once took a Greyhound from Los Angeles to SE Ohio, and I was much more comfortable and treated with more respect than the people who charge nearly double the amount for the same trip.
Casey Oct 8th 2012 4:48PM
When profit became more important than the customers who were flying in the planes, the airlines began to deteriorate. It is too bad--now I fly as little as possible. The planes are uncomfortable and seem to be dirty. There are just too many people cramped together in one plane. There are too many fees. I always feel like I have been overcharged whether I book the flight 6 months ahead or 2 weeks ahead.
ctwhite Oct 8th 2012 4:50PM
There is nothing glamorous about air travel any longer. Even traveling first class is a downgrade from what it used to be. There are a few airlines....of course no US Carriers....that do make travel much more comfortable. Emirates, Qatar and Singapore are my tops!
Paul Oct 8th 2012 5:35PM
You want to see something really bizarre? Visit Mid-America airport (BLV) terminal in Mascoutah /Belleville, IL! It opened up in the late 1990's and was all but closed down the next day. There has not been a commercial flight out of there for a decade or more yet the terminal is open everyday. No passengers, no ticket sales, no security, no concessions, nothing! They have a guy patrolling the area on a golf card with a broom and dust pan to pick up trash ghosts leave behind. I think they pay a guy to drop littler in the parking lot just to give this guy something to do!
This was supposed to be a reliever for Lambert in St. Louis but it never happened. STL built new runways and the airlines wanted nothing to do with Mid-America! The Metrolink light rail departs from a platform at adjacent Scott AFB and goes directly to STL.
I think the most business it ever had was Hooters air for charter flights. There's some outfit called Allegiant that allegedly is restarting flights to Florida in November 2012 after leaving BLV in 2009 but the web site doesn't offer any reservation offerings. If it goes as it has in the past, they'll be pulling out by spring. I think the most that flies into BLV are fresh flowers and produce from South America. Whoever is running that airport has a fleece job funded by taxpayer wasted money!
Please.... vote Obama / Biden 2012 and keep this waste of money going!
mike Oct 8th 2012 6:04PM
I Remember going through that terminal many times even a goodby kiss to the love of my life ! Many fond flying memories,Now I flat out refuse to fly ! I live in Florida & as the old orange juice commercial used to say "Come on Down" if you want to see me
Penny Kuzmeskus Oct 8th 2012 6:23PM
My favorite of that era was Pan Am with TWA a close second. Although alot has changed, I still love to fly. I do admit the first time I wore jeans on a flight I thought the world might come to an end.
rayK Oct 8th 2012 7:01PM
Ah, the golden age of travel, when the world was exotic and calling from beyound the sea. I recall the wonderful Pan Am flights to the orient, actual waiting rooms and stewartesses you made you feel save, comfortable and valuable. Just took a first class flight from Kauai to Newark and I hope it's the last flight I'm ever on. Delays, flight crew who believe passengers aren't much different than freight... It's over folks.
Dee Oct 8th 2012 7:03PM
Flying now is nothing more than a Greyhound Bus with wings.
Mike Oct 8th 2012 7:35PM
This article has brought on a lot of nice comments..I still get a thrill from the airlines but its sad to think of how they once were. Trains have gone the same way. The one consolation for anyone who feels they are being mistreated is to remind oneself that they could be on a Greyhound. My rant is that... once Security people start deciding what is safe..there is no end....just more and more regulations..I'm positive we could be just as safe with far less. ....remember there are somewhere in the area of 44000 thunderstoms happening every second somewhere in the world, no one is protecting you from them, and every one of them could easily strike you dead...I think people should just ..suck it up a little