If you are having a long layover at Heathrow Airport and thinking of where to sleep in Terminal 2, 4, or 5, you may be wondering if sleep pods are a possibility. In this blog, I have explained in detail Heathrow sleeping pods, where you can find them (which terminal), how they cost, which airlines offer them and more.
Let’s start with the basics;
What is a sleeping pod in the first place?
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They are basically private rooms/suites that you can rent for a short duration of time, usually by the hour. They offer a bed, clean sheets, international electrical sockets, reading light, luggage storage, and sometimes even a TV.
British Airways Sleep Pods:
Just this past week, British Airways launched a new way for their travelers to catch a nap during long layovers using their innovative sleep pods at Heathrow Airport. It was covered in their press release here.
Their so-called ‘Forty Winks’ nap lounge, which opened on May 17, 2022 features power nap sleep pods called EnergyPod. Similar to the British Airways’ sleep pods at Terminal 7 in JFK, these new sleep pods at Heathrow are being introduced in partnership with RestWorks.
These launched pods are now available in British Airways’ First Lounge at London Heathrow. In their press release, British Airways indicated that they’ll be adding more sleep pods to its Concorde Room at London Heathrow Terminal 5 when global travel restrictions ease and those lounges open.
How do RestWorks’ Sleep Pods look like?
RestWorks is an independent company that specializes in sleep and works with businesses to improve their employee productivity through better sleep. The company’s CEO told Business Insider that the pod resembles “a cross between a La-Z-Boy and a Tesla.”
The EnergyPod has a ” zero-gravity ” recline position that makes it easier to fall asleep. It also has a ” white-noise ” machine and a ” light-blocking visor ” to help you relax.
The EnergyPod has a privacy visor, a built-in timer, and music created especially for napping. The EnergyPod gently but effectively wakes the user at the end of the nap with a mild light, sound, and vibration combination.
They have a height of 147 cm (58 inches), 122 cm (48 inches) in height and a 212 cm(83.5 inches) in length.
Aside from JFK and Heathrow, Restworks has also installed sleep pods in Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore.
How much do these Sleep Pods cost?
The pods cost £30 (about $40) for a 30-minute session, or £50 (about $66) for an hour, according to British Airways’ website.
Where are these Sleep Pods located?
The pods are currently only available in the First Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5, but British Airways plans to add more pods to its Concorde Room lounge when global travel restrictions ease.
What about other Terminals?
For now, British Airways is the only airline with sleep pods at Heathrow Airport. However, Virgin Atlantic has introduced private suites called the “snooze zone” at its Clubhouse lounge in Terminal 3 where you can catch some shut-eye on a daybed or in one of their two “sleep pods” for £25 (about $33) for up to 45 minutes.
Heathrow Airside Bedrooms
Another option for you can opt to sleep at Heathrow Airport is using The Airside Bedrooms in Terminal 3 which, unfortunately, are temporarily closed since the COVID travel restrictions were put in place in the UK. However, you can check if they are now available using this link.
OPENING TIMES
- 6:00am to 10:00pm
Sleep Pods at Heathrow Airport Prices
- Singles from £20/hour
- Twin from £30/hour
- Triple from £35/hour (double bed with single bunk bed)
- Please note: there is a three hour minimum stay
Sleep Pods at Heathrow Airport Amenities
- En-suite shower room & WC / Aromatherapy Associates toiletries
- Hairdryer & shaver socket
- 22″ flat-screen TV
- Unlimited WiFi
- Small desk area
- Free international calls
- Infant cots available
Unlike the sleep pods, the airside bedrooms at Terminal 3 are much larger with more amenities such as a desk area, hairdryer, TV, and shower rooms.
Sleeping pods Heathrow Terminal 2
At Heathrow’s Terminal 2, there are no sleep pods but you can use the following sleeping by checking out the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge, or United Club. If you have a United Airlines ticket, you can use the United Club for free.
Below are some helpful links to the sleep options.
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Terminal 2B
- Plaza Premium Lounge at (Terminal 2A), at level 4. They have showers and private rest suites and you can pay at the Door
- United Club is another option at Terminal 2, opposite Gate B46. They have showers and can pay at the door with proof of a United Airlines ticket. You need to have the United Club Membership.
YotelAir in Terminals 4
Similar to Terminal 2, there are no sleeping pods at Heathrow but you can use YotelAir, a hotel within the airport. YotelAir, you can stay in a small cabin for up to 12 hours at a time.
The YotelAir cabins start at £30 for 4 hours, £40 for 8 hours, and £50 for 12 hours. If you want to add an extra bed, it is £10 per night.
They are a bit bigger than Sleeping Pods and actually look like a regular mini-hotel room with a bed, TV, and bathroom.
Below is an image of one YotelAir sleep area;
Aerotel London Heathrow
Another hotel within Heathrow Airport is the Aerotel London Heathrow. It is located in Terminal 3 and has 82 guest rooms which can be rented in blocks of 6, 9, 12 hours or overnight. The rates are from GBP 64.00 to 127 for Solo Plus package and GBP 76 to 152 for a Double Plus package.
Check its rates on TripAdvisor today here.
Sleep Pods at Heathrow Terminal 5:
Sofitel London Heathrow is the only hotel with direct access to Heathrow Terminal 5 through a 5-minute covered walkway. Sofitel combines French luxury with modern comfort.
The hotel is adjacent to the international business and shopping centre Terminal 5, with its many restaurants, bars, and stores. There are also 2 spas and a fitness center on-site.
The Grand Suite has a separate bedroom with a king size bed and an LCD TV. The living room has a sofa bed, work desk, and another TV.
Guests have free access to the Executive Lounge with its complimentary continental breakfast and evening drinks.
Rates start at £114 per night for one person.
Classic Room, Twin Beds; Credit: Twin Bed at Sofitel listed by Accor.com
Heathrow Airport Terminal 3:
At Terminal 3, you can book any of the two available lounges. You can opt for Club Aspire or Number 1 Lounge which have the following amenities;
- Relaxing environment away from the crows
- Excellent runway views
- Complimentary light meals and snacks
- Range of soft and alcoholic drinks
- Unlimited Wi-Fi and charging facilities
- Quiet zone and business facilities available
Club Aspire costs 34.99 Pounds and No. 1 Lounge costs 36 Pounds
Over 16,200 customers that have booked Sofitel have given it an average rating of 4.5/5 and has a high rate of returning customers.
FAQs
Q: Where are the sleeping pods located in Heathrow Airport?
A: The pods are located in the First Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5.
Q: How much do the sleeping pods cost?
A: They cost £30 (about $40) for a 30-minute session, or £50 (about $66) for an hour-long session. You can also opt for cheap hotels that you can sleep in for 12 hours with free shuttles from and to Heathrow airport.
Q: What amenities do the pods have?
A: The pods are equipped with a pillow, duvet, reading light, and air conditioning.
Q: Are there any other locations where I can find sleeping pods at Heathrow Airport?
A: British Airways plans to add more pods to its lounges at Gatwick and JFK airports.
Q: Are the sleep cabins terminal 4 Heathrow good?
A: The YotelAir sleep cabins at Terminal 4 are a good option if you want to stay in a small cabin for up to 12 hours at a time. They require you to get a pass of at least 4 hours. Here is a full review by Victoria who spent a night on the sleep cabins/Yotel cabins at Terminal 4 when she had a layover on her way to Kuala Lumpur.
Q: What are some fun things to do at Heathrow airport during layover?
A: There are several things you can do during your layover depending on the amount of time you have until your next flight. We have a list of 18 things to do that you can choose from.
Hi there! My name is Fred and I have a weird obsession with airport lounges. I recently joined Alex here at Airport LLC and will be writing about airport lounges in the US and in a few countries in Europe including the UK, Germany, and France. If you have any question(s) about any airport lounge, you can reach me on fred@airportllc.com.
