From the moment you step out of your car and take a deep breath, JFK can feel like the most uncomfortable airport in America. The crowds are large and unruly, it’s hot as all get out, and there’s nothing to do but stand in line for hours on end. So thankfully, JFK has finally come up with a solution: sleep pods!
These comfortable little cubbies have been popping up at different terminals around the airport over the past few months. They’re designed to offer weary travelers an opportunity to escape from their stressors while they wait for their flights. And best of all – they’re free! Just head over to any terminal that has them (they’re scattered throughout) and find yourself a cozy place to snooze.
Does JFK Have sleep pods?
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As of early mid-2023, JFK has installed private sleep suites by Minute Suites as per the press release posted by Minute Suites (more details below). A check today, however, revealed that sleep pods provided by Gosleep, a Finnish company may no longer be available as Gosleep has removed JFK from its list of locations it serves. For a long period, only Gosleep pods – including Jetblue branded pods were the only resting cabins at JFK and Minute Suites introduced private suite rentals in August 2022.
Most airports now served by Gosleep are foreign such as Dubai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Beijing and Amsterdam as shown in the snapshot below. O’hare and Philadelphia Airports have installed Minute Suites. Some of the busiest airports in the US such as Seattle Tacoma, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Orlando Airport have not installed sleep pods. This was not the case this past summer.
Jetblue Sleep Pods at JFK Airport
Back in 2016, JetBlue unveiled four state-of-the-art sleeping pods at John F. Kennedy International Airport, each with a mix of lights, music, and vibrations to gently rouse passengers 20 minutes later. The aim is to put tired travelers to sleep and wake them gently about 20 minutes later. When it launched it was featured in NY Post here.
The Jetblue sleep pods were installed by GoSleep a company that specializes in rest equipment.
Each pod includes a long leather mattress with a breathable lockable screen on top. Typically, each pod can be rented by the hour or overnight but it appears that Jetblue decided not to monetize these pods. They are still free despite earlier reports that Jetblue was going to increase the number of pods and start charging a fee.
They are still free on a first-come, first-use basis. Those who use the pod can keep their belongings under the mattress, which is a big concern as many fliers have reported getting worried their stuff is going to get taken away. Munich Airport’s Napcaps and Atlanta Airports’ Minute Suites have figured out the solution to this with a lockable mini cubicle.
Each pod includes a quick charger for electronic devices and users are responsible for cleaning their own pod with the cleaning products provided.
JFK Terminal 5 Sleep Pods
At terminal 5, you can sleep in sleep pods (Airside) for up to 20 minutes free of charge. JetBlue has JetNap Energypods that are located next to Gate 16 and between gates 27 & 28 There are a total of 10 pods, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Read more on JetBlue’s website here. On the landside, you can use TWA sleep pods as well.
@JetBlue has the answer to napping at #airports w/ #JetNap. #tech #traveltech https://t.co/XyclkpxXcJ pic.twitter.com/SH9TDIyrvW
— TravelPulse (@TravelPulse) April 21, 2016
Terminal 7 Sleep Pods by British Airways
In 2021, British Airways also installed Sleep pods at Terminal 7 of JFK airport. B. Airways pioneered EnergyPod, a technology developed by Rest Works. British Airways is offering the 7 pods at the BA terminal as complimentary and you do not need to book ahead of time. When you get to the Terminal, you need to use the British Airways ‘Your Menu’ lounge app to check availability in real-time.
Restworks is a company that specializes in providing workplace sleep technology and rest facilities such as massage chairs and nap pods and has installed it at Heathrow and JFK. Check out sleep pods at Heathrow Airport here.
Other US Airports with Sleep Pods
Other than JFK, the following sleep pods in the US also have sleep pods;
- Philadelphia Airport
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Washington Dulles International Airport
Minute Suites at JFK:
Barely two months ago on August 31, Minute Suites posted on its website blog that it was now introducing Minute Suites at JFK. The blog states that there are 7 private suites located on Terminal 4 near Gate B39. Below is a snapshot of the press release on Bloomberg announcing the introduction of the Minutes Suites at JFK’s Terminal 4.
On its website, Minute Suites had indicated a one-hour minimum stay, with additional 25-minute increments available for purchase. An overnight flat rate is also available. Several locations feature a shower service, which can be reserved separately in 25-minute increments. Priority Pass members receive a free hour and a discounted rate for time spent after the first hour.
Upon checking the availability of Minute Suites on its website in mid-September 2023, it seems that JFK is no longer listed among the airports where Minute Suites operates. I checked further and noticed that Minutes suites/sleep pods are now exclusively available to Priority Pass cardholders. Read more on Priority Pass’ website here or read about our guide to Priority Pass membership and cost here.
Below are the rates to access Minute Suites’ sleep facilities as posted on the Priority Pass’ website;
What can you get here?
All private suites at JFK’s Minute Suites include free DirecTV, Netflix and Wi-fi. A daybed that pulls out into a trundle bed sleeps two people comfortably and is in each room. Up to four people can fit in each room. There is also a mini-bar with drinks and snacks that you can purchase items from.
Which airlines are at Terminal 4 served by Minute Suites?
Minute Suites are available to most international fliers arriving on the flights/airlines listed below that land in Terminal 4 at JFK;
- AeroMexico
- Air India
- Air Europa
- Avianca
- Caribbean
- China Airlines
- China Southern
- Copa Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- ELAL Israel Airlines
- Emirates
- Etihad
- Hainan Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- jetBlue
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Kuwait Airways
- LATAM Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Uzbekistan Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
- WestJet
- Xiamen Air
How to reserve Minute Suites at JFK Airport
As you can see in the snapshot below from their reservation page, you can book a min of 1 hour but can increase to 1.25 hrs, 1.5 hrs, 1.75 hrs..until a max of 8 hours.
Minute Suites also has Overnight suites available from 10 pm as shown in the screenshot below;
There are also booking for Priority pass cardholders;
There are suites for nursing moms, airline crew members, military/first responders and 30-mins shower rentals as shown below;
There are several types of suites named after some iconic places in NYC such as Tribeca, SOHO, Central Park, Times Square, Wall Street, and Broadway, among others as shown in the snapshot below.
You can reserve it on Minute Suites website here.
Minute Suites Cost at JFK:
You can book Minute Suite’s Private Suites for a minimum of 1 hour and that will cost you $48. For the first 2 hours, each 15-mins increment will cost you an additional $12. Splitting an hour in 15-mins portions, that 2 hours will add up to 8 15-mins slots which come to a total of $96 for the 2 additional hours. The total you can expect to pay to sleep for 3 hours at these private suites is $144 which is a sum of $48 for the first hour and $96 for the two additional hours.
YOu can also opt to purchase a 2-hour slot for $96 and get charged $9.5 for each incremental 15 mins up to 2 hours. That’s a total of $76.5(8*$9.5) for the incremental period. For the entire 4 hours, you’ll pay $96 for the first 2 hours and $76.5 for the additional 2 hours.
| PERIOD TO BOOK MINUTE SUITES AT JFK | COST |
| One hour (minimum) | $48 |
| 15-minute increments (first two hours) | $12 |
| Two hours | $96 |
| 15-minute increments (after two hours) | $9.50 |
| Extended 8-hour stay (after 9PM)$ | $175 |
| 30-minute shower | $30 |
| Shower with suite rental purchase | $20 |
If you want to sleep overnight at these private suites by Minute Suites, you can pay $175 with an option of $20 for shower facilities. Unfortunately, the rooms/suites do not come with a shower. The $20 charge for the shower is, however, a discount from a standalone price of $30 you’ll have to pay if you didn’t rent any of their rental units. Below is a snapshot with the pricing that I got from Minute Suite’s website.
MInute Suites Priority Pass JFK:
You can access it by paying the hourly rate or by using your Priority pass credits. Priority Pass Cardholders are allowed one free hour-long visit to a Minute Suite per entitlement. If the cardholder wishes to use the suite for more than one hour, they will be charged a discounted rate of $34 per hour. Up to three guests can accompany the cardholder in the same suite at no extra charge.
Read more on Priority Pass’ website here.
TWA Hotel
If you’re not a fan of the idea of taking a nap at ‘JFK capsule hotels’, don’t worry – JFK has plenty of other options for weary travelers. One such option is TWA Hotel which is located inside the airport. TWA Hotel has a package for those looking to sleep during the day and regular night-time packages.
The day packages, called are available daily from 6 AM to 8 PM ET for a minimum of four hours and a maximum of 12 hours. Their cheapest rate is $149 for a max of 4 hours. You can check prices on its website here for all options here or on Booking.com. When you add the tax, it cost almost $200 as shown in the snapshot I took below;
Other great options to sleep if you don’t want to go with sleep pods:
- Hilton Hotel at JFK Airport – Check rates
- Fairfield Inn NY, JFK – Check rates
- Airport Plaza Hotel, JFK – Check rates.
- Days Inn by Wyndham – Check rates.
- Courtyard New York, JFK – Check rates.
You can also search ‘JFK Airport’ in the Booking’s site search box below;
How Sleep Pods Work
Sleep pods are rest equipment that reclines and has a noise-masking system. They come with an amenity kit that has earplugs and an eye mask, as well as a heated blanket if it gets cold. You can control the pod’s light and sound to get ready for a good night’s sleep. When you’re done sleeping, the pod will play a light jazz melody to gently wake you up.
Escape Pods at JFK:
As of Mid 2023, an independent sleep-service provider called Escape Pods now offer fully-equipped working spaces that they rent out at 15-minute intervals. It appears that these pods are not really equipped for taking naps but for working as they come with a table, charging pods, encrypted Wi-Fi, large seating space, a 24-in screen, and photobooth capabilities. As per their website’s FAQ page, they charge $10 for 15-mins period.
They are located on Terminal 4 and Terminal 8 at JFK and you can book on their website here.
FAQs
Q: Can you sleep at JFK during layovers?
A: Yes, you can sleep at JFK during layovers. In fact, JFK and a number of airports offer sleep pods for travelers but also have nearby hotels.
Q: How much do the sleep pods cost?
A: The JFK sleep pods are free to use.
Q: How long can I use the sleep pod for?
A: You can use the sleep pod for up to two hours.
Q: How do I book a sleep pod at JFK?
A: The sleep pods are available on a first-come, first-served basis so there is no need to book in advance. Just head over to the airport and look for the nearest sleep pod.
Q: Does JetBlue have a lounge at JFK?
A: Yes, JetBlue has a lounge at JFK. The lounge is located in Terminal 5 and offers a variety of amenities such as Wi-Fi, charging stations, food and drinks, and more.
Q: What are the hours of the JetBlue lounge?
A: The hours of the JetBlue Lounge vary depending on the day. However, the lounge is typically open from early morning to late evening.
Q: What is the cost of the JetBlue lounge?
A: The cost of the JetBlue Lounge varies depending on the day. However, it typically costs between $35 and $50 to enter or can book one of the hotels close to JFK
Q: Can I leave JFK Airport during a layover?
A: Yes, you can leave JFK Airport during a layover. In fact, there are a number of things to do in the city of New York and the surrounding areas.
Q: What is the best way to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan?
A: The best way to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan is by metro train, taxi or Uber.
Q: What is the cost of a taxi from JFK Airport to Manhattan?
A: The cost of a taxi from JFK Airport to Manhattan typically costs between $55 and $75 depending on the time of day. There are also other places or things to do around JFK.
Q: Are there sleep pods at JFK terminal 4
A: In early 2022, we just checked and it is still under planning to be launched in the future.
Related:
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.
