Heathrow now has 12 airside bedrooms so transit passengers can sleep comfortably
19.10.2011 (Evening Standard)
even the hardiest of long haul travellers despair.
a duvet and away from the crowds in a soundproof cabin – complete with bed, shower,
television and even a mini-bar. The rooms, which also have free wi-fi, are the
first airside bedrooms in Britain.
to passengers. But despite about three million transfer passengers passing through
Terminal 3 alone every year, the new airside bedrooms are the first in Britain.
The company behind the idea, No1 Traveller – which runs six airport lounges across
Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and JFK in New York – hopes the trend will catch on
and hopes to expand the service across Heathrow and to other UK airports.
willing to pay. Passengers can book ahead or turn up on the day.
cost £20 an hour for a single and £30 an hour for a twin – which covers everything
except room service and the mini-bar.
positive response since the rooms opened this month, with a 100 per cent satisfaction
rating from guests.
in the UK but in Schiphol they have several airside hotels which are very successful.
You’re talking hundreds of rooms there, so there’s definitely a demand for it
at Heathrow and we want to expand once we understand how it works for Heathrow’s
market.
before is their experience passing through the airport and the bedrooms are just
another aspect of us trying to make a full range of services available that help
to make the passenger have a better journey.”
to look at the other passengers without feeling a little sorry for them.
slumped on seats trying to get some sleep or wandering round the shops, I am about
to be taken to my very own cabin.
compact – there is definitely not much room for manoeuvre unless you get inside
the shower – it is clean, comfortable and has everything a weary traveller might
need. It would certainly add to the overall cost of your trip.
of extra comfort and, in my case at least, time spent asleep is money saved on
overpriced coffees and unwanted purchases from the shops.