Tiny airport sleeping rooms come to America

 

Pictures courtesy of Everythingaviation’s Blog

7 December 2009 | In recent years, a number of airports in Europe and Asia have seen the arrival of tiny rooms that give passengers a private retreat within the terminal to take a nap, relax, or do some work between flights and long delays. The ‘private pods’ are meant to appeal to those travelers who don’t have access to an airline lounge. 

In Europe, British-based Yotel has opened pod-hotels at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports and at Amsterdam Schiphol. Rooms can be booked in four-hour blocks, starting at about €35 (USD50), and feature a HDTV, iPod docking station, mood lighting, and a private bathroom. In Asia, Rainforest by SATS runs a pay-per-use lounge with 18 so-called ‘slumberettes’ at Singapore Changi Airport. Prices are SGD30 ($20/€15) for the first 3 hours and SGD8 per hour thereafter.

According to USA Today, sleeping pods haven’t caught on in the USA until now because layovers are shorter and Americans view airports as a point of transit to hurry through. Vancouver International has tried MetroNaps’ sleeping pods — a chaise with a large egg-shape cover — but discontinued them because of lack of demand. Now, a number of new initiatives are being launched in the U.S.

In what Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson says is a first for a U.S. airport, five Minute Suites were opened late November that provide travelers a private place to work, read, watch television, relax or take a nap. The rooms — 7 feet by 8 feet, or about the size of two office cubicles put together — are equipped with a daybed sofa, pillows (with disposable covers), fresh blankets, a small desk, Wi-Fi access and a flat-screen 32-inch monitor with access to DIRECTV, the Internet and the airport’s flight-tracking system. A sound-masking system in each suite neutralizes noise. The rooms cost USD30 for the first hour and USD7.50 for each additional 15 minutes. Minute Suites says the target audience are business travelers on a layover of three hours. On average people who have stayed in them have used the rooms for about 90 minutes.  

San Francisco International, meanwhile, has teamed up with Unique Retreat to install 14 rooms of about 90 square feet that will open next year at the airport’s International Terminal. Each room will be equipped with a day bed, desk, a 32-inch TV and Wi-Fi. The company will also offer movie rentals and business center services. Canadian-based Edo Traveler Suites is launching next year and seeks to develop rooms at Canadian and U.S. airports. Each room will have a private toilet, shower, Wi-Fi access, and an iPod docking unit. Edo says one major Canadian airport is close to signing an agreement to open a location early next year.

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