Tis the season at London Heathrow airport. This was shot by someone who had to stand in a transit line for 3 1/2 hours at Terminal 4. Since this was back in 2006, hopefully things have improved.
Thanks to these sisters for sending in this pic! Here they are catching some rays as they slept at London’s Heathrow airport en-route to Copenhagen. Note to Heathrow sleepers, bring your shades and some SPF if you can fit it into your liquids and gels allowance.
READ MORE ABOUT SLEEPING AND TANNING AT LONDON’S HEATHROW AIRPORT
I just read this article over at the Daily Mail about the rise of homeless people at London’s Heathrow airport.
A study over a three month period revealed that there are 111 people sleeping permanently at Heathrow and the numbers are growing. In comparison, only 20 people are believed to be living at Gatwick. More permanent residents are expected at both airports. If you’ve stopped by this site at all over the past few weeks, you’ve probably also read about Camp Stansted, which is geared towards the homeless travellers instead.
With airports being seen as “warm, comfortable havens, the homeless take a rucksack, a change of clothes and they use the toilet areas to wash and shave”. According to the director of a nearby homeless charity, “They’ll often be in travel gear, so they appear as if they’re waiting to go off somewhere or have just come back. If you look the part, you’ve a chance of being able to sleep without anyone disturbing you.’
One woman, Eram Dar, has been living at Heathrow for a year and a half. A YEAR AND A HALF!!!! She says “Living at Heathrow is like being in a good hotel. It is warm, very clean and you don’t get bothered. I think I’m very lucky to be here.” Alrighty then…
READ MORE ABOUT BEING HOMELESS IN LONDON HEATHROW, LONDON GATWICK AND LONDON STANSTED
I had totally forgotten about the cartoons I had done for a few of the memorable airport reviews sent in to the site. I should get in touch with my cartoonist again. So here is the review that inspired this one.
(Contributed by Davey) “The only good thing about London Heathrow terminal 4 is that planes leave from there to fly to Australia. I was due to fly home at about midday one Thursday. I had handed the keys to my flat back the previous day so I had nowhere to sleep. I was determined not to pay the high prices at one of the nearby hotels……..so I thought “Sleep at the airport………cant be that bad”
WRONG.
I got to the airport quite late, and somewhat the worse for wear due to the few beers I’d consumed over the past 12 hours or so. I staggered in and looked for something to eat. There was a vending machine with some potato chips, chocolate bars and other tasty looking stuff in. I didn’t mind paying the extortionate prices as 1. I was drunk 2. I was starving. After spending approx 7 on the sort of stuff that could induce a hypoglycemic coma I wandered off to find somewhere to sleep.
The choices were…uncomfortable seats or the floor. I decided on the uncomfortable seats. During a period of approx 3 hrs I was woken approx 10 times by Security Staff/Tannoy announcements/arguing passengers and bleeping mobile sweepers. Enough was enough and I tried to find somewhere else.
I found a carpeted area near a little cafe (that was closed) There were about 4 other weary travellers asleep on the grimy looking floor. I found a vacant plot, put my backpack on the floor as a pillow and lay down.
I must have been asleep for at least 30 minutes before I was awaken by a heavy jolt and the sound of a shout. I screamed and sat up. I had been run over by one of the aforementioned bleeping mobile carpet sweepers, driven by what appeared to be a non English speaking “economic migrant” for want of a better description. After a few minutes of abuse towards him Security arrived. Sadly they decided that it was my fault for sleeping on the floor and threatened to make me leave the terminal. I pretty much gave up at that point and spent the rest of the night smoking.
That night I estimate I had about 45 minutes of sleep MAX! During the rest of the time I was hassled by the staff, ripped off by the vending machine prices and finally run over by a carpet sweeper. NEVER TRY TO SAVE MONEY BY “SLEEPING” AT LONDON HEATHROW TERMINAL 4!!!!!!”
READ MORE ABOUT THE JOYS OF SLEEPING IN THE LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT
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