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Hotels near Heathrow Airport have been charged with “Price Gouuging” following a lot of walking prices fourfold in the face of an increase in demand from blocked passengers, whose flights were canceled on Friday.
Visitors of the Sofitel Hotel near the airport have complained that they are required to pay £ 700 for a standard room – more than three times the price loaded this morning – while Holiday Inn and Travelodge have significantly increased prices according to their websites, leaving some access to nearby accommodation.
The pricing of a standard room on the Holiday Inn London Heathrow Bath Street, located near Terminals 2 and 3, had grown to £ 379 from the middle of the afternoon, more than four times higher than the 87 pound cost of the same room in a week.
A standard room at the Travelodge Budget Hotel London Feltham, located 20 minutes away from Terminal 4, had grown to £ 99.99, compared to £ 37.99 for a week later.
Sarah Jones, a retiree who had settled to Singapore with her husband to board the Orient Express for her wedding anniversary, said the mounting costs to stay in Sofitel London Heathrow were “really stressful”.
She was able to book an extra night for 199 this morning – but a couple who refused to be named said the price per room had increased to £ 700 a few hours later. That was more than twice the £ 209 they had paid for a room and last night morning.
Jones said: “We had to extend our hotel room. We’re stuck here, there is no alternative, but we eat at the hotel. So breakfast cost £ 66 (for two) … and prices are rising as we talk.”
She added: “It is the extortion, indeed, isn’t that so? Especially because you have no choice because someone else tried to book another hotel, but they are all.”
John Norris, a 35 -year -old teacher who would fly to New York to learn an acting course, said he would have to find a friend’s bed to sleep as he could not afford an extra night in hotels near the airport.
“This part absorbs when they accumulate (prices) like this,” Norris said.
Arora Group, who owns and operates the Hotel Sofitel, said the hotel “currently was experiencing a high demand for reservation and cancellation requests”, adding that he was expecting him to be fully reserved this evening.
While refusing to comment on individual norms, “it would not be uncommon for a luxury hotel such as Sofitel London Heathrow to sell his highest room categories. With premium fees,” he added.
Whitbread said her four Premier Inn hotels near the airport were not receiving any new bookings as everyone was without electricity. The company added that it was prioritizing the accommodated locals, who had to be evacuated after losing power, as well as the airline crews that had stalled at the airport under the airline contract.
Other Premier Inn hotels within 15 miles from the airport were available with rooms as little as £ 72, she said.
Travelodge confirmed prices stated by FT. Holiday Inn did not immediately respond to a comment request.
