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Hotels near Heathrow airport have been accused of “price gouging” after hiking prices as much as fourfold in the face of a rise in demand from stranded passengers whose flights were cancelled on Friday.
Guests of the Sofitel hotel near the airport have complained of being asked to pay £700 for a standard room — more than triple the price charged this morning — while Holiday Inn and Travelodge have significantly raised prices according to their websites, leaving some without an access to accommodation nearby.
The price of a standard room at the Holiday Inn London Heathrow Bath Road, located close to Terminals 2 and 3, had risen to £379 by mid-afternoon, more than four times higher than the £87 cost of the same room in a week’s time.
A standard room at budget hotel Travelodge London Feltham, located 20 minutes away from Terminal 4, had risen to £99.99, compared to £37.99 for a week later.
Sarah Jones, a retiree who was set to head to Singapore with her husband to board the Orient Express for her wedding anniversary, said the mounting costs to stay at 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 for a room had risen to £700 a few hours later. This was more than double the £209 they had paid for a room and breakfast the previous night.
Jones said: “We had to extend our hotel room. We’re stuck here, there’s no alternative, but to eat in the hotel. So breakfast cost £66 [for two] . . . and the prices are going up as we speak.”
She added: “It’s extortion, really, isn’t it? Especially as you’ve got no choice because somebody else tried to book another hotel but they’re all full.”
John Norris, a 35 year-old teacher who was due to fly to New York to teach an acting course said he would have to find a friend’s couch to sleep on as he could not afford an extra night at the hotels by the airport.
“That part sucks when they gouge [prices] like that,” said Norris.
Arora Group, which owns and operates the Sofitel hotel, said the hotel was “currently experiencing high demand with reservation requests and cancellations,” adding that it expected that it would be fully booked this evening.
While it declined to comment on individual rates, “it would not be unusual for a luxury hotel such as Sofitel London Heathrow to be selling its higher room categories . . . at premium rates,” it added.
Whitbread said its four Premier Inn hotels next to the airport were not taking any new bookings as they were all without electricity. The company added that it was prioritising accommodating local residents who had to evacuate as they had also lost power, as well as airline crews who were stuck at the airport as per contract with airlines.
Other Premier Inn hotels within 15 miles from the airport had availability with rooms as little as £72, it said.
Travelodge confirmed the prices stated by the FT. Holiday Inn did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
