Hartsfieldboy From United States, joined Sep 2001, 552 posts, RR: 1 Posted (6 years 5 months ago) and read 459 times:
The former TWA terminal is very good looking. The use of concrete and no internal columns is awesome. My question is, was the terminal practical is it was beautiful? Was there enough space for passengers, logical layout, etc?
Watewate From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 2254 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 346 times:
The gate area is quite awful compared to other new buildings. It's depressing there- very dim. I found that security lines were way too long- lines often stretching all the way through the 'tunnel' one must go through to get to the gate area.
But you're right- it's a beatiful terminal overall.
DETA737 From Portugal, joined Oct 2000, 566 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 300 times:
It's a much prettier building from the exterior, I always found the interior quite dark, they could have used lots more bright lights. I flew out of the terminal several times a year until this summer and found it to be quite inadequate. Up until not so long ago when TWA had more transatlantic flights the building would begin getting packed around 4PM. By 6, the check in areas were a zoo. Many of the transatlantic flights seemed to depart at the same time. There was little shopping except for some souvenier stores.
Arrival there seems to have been much worse. The immigration areas were often busy and the area was too small. I remember after baggage claim and customs having to put baggage on another conveyor belt and then going up an escalator and then people mover or was it the other way around? Anyway this seemed very silly. Final baggage collection was from another conveyor belt in the arrivals hall. I'm sure with more money TWA could have done much to improve the building.
ETA Unknown From Comoros, joined Jun 2001, 1453 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 256 times:
The terminal was practical- in the days of 707's for which it was designed. However, when TWA expanded in the 80's, they took over the National terminal nextdoor for domestic flights... but soon after, TWA fell into decline and consolidated all flights into the original terminal resulting in unpleasant scenarios described above.
Tom in NO From United States, joined Nov 1999, 7193 posts, RR: 54 Reply 7, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 185 times:
The current issue (May/June 2002) issue of "Airliners" magazine contains an in-depth article on TWA's JFK terminal, and is full of pictures from both the early days, and current.
Tom in NO (at MSY)
"The criminal ineptitude makes you furious"-Bruce Springsteen, after seeing firsthand the damage from Hurricane Katrina
Frequentflier From United States, joined Aug 2000, 422 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 146 times:
There's a rumor circulating that the landside terminal (nice part) will become a museum or conference center while the airside will be demolished possibly to be replaced by a new jetBlue terminal.
Nwa757300 From United States, joined Oct 2001, 192 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 122 times:
I know it is has landmark status, which prevents it from being demolished. I guess it's up to American on what to do with it. Maybe they should put in another CR Smith museum.
Tbird From United States, joined Oct 2001, 819 posts, RR: 19 Reply 11, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 108 times:
Greetings:
I hope something is done with the TWA terminal. I remember the last time I left from their back in Aug. Even then it was a sad site. AA cut most TW flights, one concourse was already closed and there was just a creepy feeling throughout. I can remember countless times leaving out of TWA's terminal and it was bustling with people. The lines were huge, people running all over the place, and traffic grid locked outside. Even with the chaos of JFK TWA's employee's did a great job directing the lines, getting you checked in, and getting you off the ground on-time. It just goes to show you that moden terminals, people movers, and fast baggage transports don't mean jack!!! TWA was the number 1 airline in customer service and on-time performance for years without moden eq at JFK. Hopefully the hardwork of all those TWA employees will rub off on AA.
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