NEW YORK — Weary road warriors,
travelers with long connections or even those who lingered too long at one of
the many bars in Kennedy Airport can get some rest in JetBlue’s new nap pods.
JetBlue is the first commercial
airline to offer U.S. travelers JetNap EnergyPods, made on Long Island by
MetroNaps. Four consumer pods are available in Terminal 5, two at Gate 27, and
two at Gate 17. There are also two pods reserved for crew members.
Arianna Huffington, author of “The
Sleep Revolution,” cut the ribbon for the pods at Gate 27 on Tuesday.
They are now available on a
first-come, first-served basis to JetBlue customers free of charge for
20-minute naps.
Users recline with elevated feet
on synthetic leather cushions. The pods feature two internal storage bins and a
spherical visor that swings around the front for privacy, enveloping the user’s
upper body in relative darkness.
A built-in music player (playing
on a Bose speaker or your own headphones) helps keep out nearby distracting
sounds. An internal timer utilizing lights, music and vibration ensures that users
keep to the 20-minute limit and make their flights.
After the ribbon was cut, Huffington participated in a panel discussion on the
importance of sleep moderated by Miles Brown, a Sleep Number brand ambassador
and young actor who plays Jack Johnson on “Black-ish,” an ABC sitcom. Her fellow panelists
were Pete Bils, a Sleep Number sleep expert; Icema Gibbs, JetBlue’s director
of corporate social responsibility; and Carol Ash, director of sleep medication
at Meridian Health.
Gibbs addressed what JetBlue does
so its customers can have a more restful flight, including providing eye masks,
ear plugs, dimming the lights on long flights (especially at night), and
offering the most legroom in coach and a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee when
passengers awake.
Miles also asked the participants’
top “sleep hacks” when they travel. While all Gibbs needs is a pashmina and booties
to fall asleep on a plane, Bils recommended staying hydrated before stepping on board. Huffington suggested getting up, walking around and
stretching whenever possible.
And now, thanks to the nap pods,
JetBlue customers have another chance for restful travels.
Right now, JetBlue’s pods
are all located in Terminal 5 at Kennedy. The airline has a one-year contract with MetroNaps for the pods. A
spokesperson said JetBlue will monitor the pods’ usage over the next year to
see how customers react to them, then decide whether to add more pods in
other locations.