Sleeping in airports is becoming more and more popular, as travelers attempt to save money on hotels or simply want to be closer to their departure gate.
Sleep pods have become increasingly popular in airports, as they provide a comfortable and private space for travelers to rest. While some pods are available for rent by the hour, many are free to use and can be found in a variety of locations throughout the airport.
What is a sleep pod?
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A sleep pod is a private, comfortable space where travelers can rest and relax. Sleep pods are usually located in airports, but can also be found in some hotels and train stations.
Pods typically have a bed, with a few amenities. Some pods even have showers, so travelers can freshen up before their flight.
Why use a sleep pod?
There are many reasons why travelers may choose to use a sleep pod. Pods can be a great way to save money on hotels, as they are usually much cheaper than booking a room for the night.
Pods can also be convenient for travelers who want to be close to their departure gate. This is especially useful for early morning flights or for travelers who have a long layover.
How to find a sleep pod?
There are a few ways to find a sleep pod in an airport. Many airports have dedicated sleeping areas, which can be found by following signs or asking staff for directions.
Some airports also have apps that can help travelers find sleep pods. For example, the “My Airport” app from London Heathrow Airport has a “search” feature for overnight sleep and naps that help travelers locate pods in the airport.
Here are the best airports with sleeping pods:
John F. Kennedy International Airport Sleep Pods:
JFK was the first airport in the US to install sleeping pods and was launched in collaboration between JetBlue and GoSleep named JetNap. GoSleep is a Finnish company that makes sleeping pods designed for airports, and their JFK pods are located in Terminal 5.
The pods are available to all travelers, regardless of airline, and can be booked by the hour or overnight. The first 20 mins are free and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and the rates are as follows:
- 20 minutes – free
- 1 hour – $25
- 2 hours – $45
- 3 hours – $60
- 4 or more hours – $75
- overnight – $85
Pod membership plans are also available for those who frequently use the pods.
Heathrow Airport Sleep Pods:
Another airport with sleeping pods is Heathrow Airport in London. In partnership with RestWorks, British Airways has installed sleeping or napping or sleeping surface shaped as a cocoon. They are called EnergyPods. Restworks is a US company that provides furniture designed for sleep and relaxation in the workplace. The sleep pods are currently available in British Airways’ First Lounge but there are plans to add more on Terminal 5. Read more here.
According to the British Airways website, a 30-minute session costs £30 (about $40), whereas an hour costs £50 (about $66).
If you prefer a similar services as a sleeping pod, you can also consider YotelAir which is located before security in Heathrow Terminal 4. They are quite small and affordable as well.
Abu Dhabi Sleeping Pods
A third airport with sleeping pods is Abu Dhabi International Airport. The airport has launched the first of its kind “recharge” zone, which includes 10 private “rest and recharge” suites.
The suites are located in Terminal 3, close to Gate 32, and can be booked for two, four or eight-hour periods.
The cost of the suites starts at AED250 for two hours (about $68), and goes up to AED850 for eight hours (about $231).
The suites come with a bed, a chair, a TV, and an iPod dock, and travelers can also order food and beverages from the in-suite menu.
San Francisco International Airport – YOTELAIR
SFO is also home to YOTELAIR, which is located in Terminal 1, near Boarding Area G. The rates start at $45 for 4 hours and go up to $65 for 24 hours.
The pods are small but offer everything you need for a short rest, including a bed, a TV, free WiFi, and outlets to charge your devices.
My name is Alex Mutuma and I founded this blog, Airport LLC as a way to document and engage with clients in my travel consulting business. Airportllc.com is the only source of over 2,000 fun things flyers could do during layovers.
Over the past 7 years, I have designed and planned tour packages for hundreds of clients and have recently focussed on the mission of changing boring layovers to excellent mini-vacations by giving you the best suggestions on must-do activities when flying over different airports.
Next time you or your friend are looking for suggestions on what to do in some airport, remember Airport LLC or Airportllc.com. On this site, you’ll get the best suggestions available on the internet regarding hand-picked activities that will fulfill your airport experience.
I currently reside in New York City and have obtained a license to provide professional tour guidance at Airports in the US and across the world. Why should you listen to my suggestions? I have flown through more than 100 airports in the world and fortunately, I have pictures, stories, and tips to share with you regarding all the fun stuff you can do as you wait for your next flight.
Aside from gaining thousands of flying miles, I am also a travel consultant assisting clients with bookings and specifically advance tour bookings of things to do at airports when the layover is longer than 5 hours.
To make a 15-minute free things-to-do consultation with Alex, use my email, alex@airportllc.com.
This is only recommended for flyers with long layovers of over 5 hours. If your layover is 3+ hours, you can still reach out but we cannot guarantee the ideal package that will change your layovers to mini-vacations. I only support clients flying through US airports and a select number of cities across the world.
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Name: Alex Mutuma
Profession: A professional travel consultant with a focus on airport activities to do during layovers
Email: Alex@airportllc.com
Phone: +1 945 348 889
Website: airportllc.com
Location: 322 Main Packway Street, Boston, US
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