The lobby of the brand new TWA Hotel at John F Kennedy International Airport has been flooded with delayed passengers desperate for a more comfortable place to sleep than the concourse.
The landmark Trans World Airlines Flight Center opened its doors for the first time in 20 years on Wednesday after being transformed into the JFK's only on-site lodging.
Travel blogger Max Prosperi was among the first guests to check in to the hotel and told DailyMail.com that he was far from impressed by the state of the accommodations, which were hardly camera-ready thanks to exposed wires, construction and out-of-order elevators.
Prosperi, of St Louis, Missouri, said the 'cherry on top' of his disappointing stay was the people sleeping in the lobby area modeled after TWA's original lounge dubbed the Ambassador's Club.
He photographed several of the passengers he claimed TWA management has been allowing to sneak through the airport tube connecting JFK to the lobby and set up came on the benches and booths.
'The Ambassadors Club area is unmonitored and quiet making it the perfect space,' Prosperi said.
TWA Hotel has not returned DailyMail.com's multiple requests for comment.
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The lobby of the brand new TWA Hotel at John F Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, has been flooded with delayed passengers desperate for a more comfortable place to sleep than the concourse
Travel blogger Max Prosperi, one of the first guests to check in to the hotel, told DailyMail.com the 'cherry on top' of his disappointing stay was the number of people sleeping on benches and on the floor in the lobby area
Prosperi photographed several passengers he said TWA management allowed to sneak through the tube connecting JFK to the lobby and set up camp
'The Ambassadors Club area is unmonitored and quiet making it the perfect space,' Prosperi said
The landmark Trans World Airlines Flight Center opened its doors for the first time in 20 years on Wednesday after being transformed into the only on-site lodging at John F Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York
Prosperi said he booked a night at the hotel as a gift for his 58-year-old mother, who worked as a TWA flight attendant for 19 years.
'This hotel should not be open tonight for paying guests,' he said. 'They don't have ice machines, and there are holes in the ceiling because light fixtures are missing.'
Prosperi also had issues checking in, first being told to wait until 4pm and then suffering through a 40 minute ordeal with staff who he said seemed rude and unwilling to help.
But that wasn't the worst of his experience, as the travel blogger had been told a week ago that he'd be able to walk-in and get a table at The Paris Cafe by chef Jean-Georges, but that didn't work out for him and his parents.
'I didn't make reservations for any of the restaurants at first, which was my mistake, but I emailed the hotel a week ago and was told I'd be allowed to walk-in as a hotel guest at any restaurant on site,' Prosperi said.
'My father came too, and when we all showed up to the French restaurant the hostess said they're not accepting any walk-ins whatsoever.
'When I told her I had an email that said otherwise, I asked her if the hotel had lied to me, and she said: "I guess they did, they told you incorrect information."'
Prosperi said they ended up having meat and cheese plates with some mixed nuts for dinner.
'We may do Postmates for a burger or something,' he said. 'This was really unfortunate because I really wanted to bring my mom to this really great French restaurant.
'It's unfortunate because TWA means so much to my family, to me and my mom, but this is not a good representation of the company for us.'
Propseri had been told a week ago that he'd be able to walk-in and get a table at The Paris Cafe by chef Jean-Georges (shown), but that didn't work out for him and his parents. 'I didn't make reservations for any of the restaurants at first, which was my mistake, but I emailed the hotel a week ago and was told I'd be allowed to walk-in as a hotel guest at any restaurant on site,' said Prosperi, who had to have a snack at the Sunken Lounge instead
Prosperi and his parents ended up eating meager meat and cheese plates with some mixed nuts for dinner
'It's unfortunate because TWA means so much to my family, to me and my mom, but this is not a good representation of the company for us,' Prosperi said after the disappointing dining experience Wednesday evening
TWA went out of business in 2001, which is when the Flight Center closed its doors after first opening in 1962 (file image)
Travel industry analyst Jamie Larounis also shared his experience at the property with DailyMail.com.
'They should never have opened the property today and that was their mistake,' Larounis said. 'I've never really been to an opening night where it was in such shambles, this is a unique instance for me.'
The frequent flyer was part of a group of about 20 friends and acquaintances who had reserved a stay for the first possible night at the iconic and historically decorated hotel.
He said he was told the opening was supposed to be two weeks from now over Memorial Day weekend, but it was moved up due to an unnamed celebrity booking for Wednesday's launch, which ultimately fell through.
'The rooms were already booked, so the hotel was stuck opening this weekend,' he said.
The landmark Trans World Airlines Flight Center, which first opened in 1962, has now been transformed into the only on-site lodging at JFK in Queens, New York, though it wasn't exactly camera-ready for opening day
Travel industry analyst Jamie Larounis spoke with DailyMail.com about his
