Stansted Airport has banned passengers from sleeping on seats and appointed ‘anti-snooze’ guards to to patrol terminals every ten minutes to wake people up.
The new policy, bought in amid claims passengers were camping at the airport on hammocks and blown-up beds, has sparked outrage for travellers catching early flights.
The airport says there have been as many 600 passengers staying overnight. Staying in airport hotels can cost up to £140 a night.
Stansted Airport has banned passengers from sleeping on seats and appointed ‘anti-snooze’ guards to to patrol terminals every ten minutes to wake people up
Warning signs have also been posted around the Essex airport asking travellers ‘Please do not lay down on the seats.’
However, many passengers have called in ‘unfair’ and say the treatment is ‘mean’ to tired travellers.
The policy, which began on Monday, sees the departure wing being closed after the final flight of the night.
It stays shut between midnight and 2am, meaning passengers will have to wait in the arrivals area, where they are allowed to sit but not sleep on the floor.
Guards are then on patrol to wake anyone who falls asleep.
Passengers have also been asked not to arrive any earlier than their check-in time.
The airport says there have been as many 600 passengers staying overnight. Staying in airport hotels can cost up to £140 a night.
The policy intends to make sure passengers don’t get in the way of the £600m construction work at the airport.
People have taken to social media to express their outrage at the crime.
One wrote: ‘So…the aviation industry is keen to promote cheap flights to make travel ‘accessible to all’. However, only the ‘All’ who can afford to sleep in (expensive) hotels within easy reach of the airport’.
Warning signs have also been posted around the Essex airport asking travellers ‘Please do not lay down on the seats.’
Another added: ‘Absurd. I personally don’t sleep at the airport but I don’t ever have a problem at all with those that do. This is just very mean.’
The airport said: ‘London Stansted Airport advises that overnight access to the terminal is changing from 11 June 2018 with the terminal periodically closing between midnight 2am.
‘From this date, departing passengers travelling on early morning flights should not arrive sooner than their scheduled check-in time.’
The new policy, bought in amid claims passengers were camping at the airport on hammocks and blown-up beds, has sparked outrage for travellers catching early flights