Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse Hancock International Airport has a new option for travelers looking for some peace and quiet and are willing to pay for it — escape pods.
Despite the name, the pods won’t take you anywhere. They are booths — 4 feet long, 4 feet wide and 8 feet tall — that provide travelers with private space to jump on a Zoom call or just enjoy some quiet time in the middle of a busy airport.
Two of the pods were placed at Hancock Airport — one each in terminals A and B — in December and became fully operational at the beginning of January. Two more will be installed at the airport by the end of May.
Each booth has a seat, a small desk to place a laptop on, USB charging and an LCD screen that lets you call up your flight information, control the lights and temperature inside the pod. You can even take a photo of yourself similar to an old photo booth.
The booths have a frosted window that lets in light while maintaining privacy. Soundproofing blocks out nearly all outside noise.
There’s no room to lie down, so the pods are not a place to catch a nap (though you could rest your head on the desk if you wanted to).
Access costs $10 for 15 minutes, $15 for 30 minutes, $25 for 45 minutes, $30 for 60 minutes and $45 for 90 minutes. The time counts down on the LCD screen, so users know who many minutes they have left.
Travelers can reserve time in them online or via a mobile app. Payment is made via a credit card.
“Think of them as the modern-day phone booth,” said Jason Mehl, the airport’s chief commercial officer.
The pods are made by a company called Jabbrrbox and distributed by MAG USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Manchester Airports Group, a provider of parking and retail commercial services to airports.
Jeremy Dalkoff, vice president of business development for MAG USA, said the company has deployed 35 escape pods in 10 airports in the U.S. and has plans to install 65 more in the next few months.
The pods have proven popular among people who are working while on the go and need a private place to make or receive calls, Dalkoff said. But people who just want some quiet time while waiting for their flight are also attracted to them, he said.
“It’s a place to get away from the hustle and bustle,” he said.
Erica Bauer, a spokesperson for MAG, said the pods are disinfected multiple times a day, have antimicrobial surfaces and are equipped with a filtration system that keeps the air inside clean and fresh.
Mehl said he contacted MAG after noticing an escape pod at an airport conference in Dallas in July.
“I had to take a call during the conference, so I asked if I could use the unit they had there,” he said. “It was very impressive.”
Because they are nearly soundproof, Mehl said users should note they probably won’t be able to hear an airline boarding call while they are inside the booths.
Dalkoff said that shouldn’t be a problem because most people nowadays use mobile apps to receive notifications when their flights are boarding and do not rely on loudspeakers in the terminal.
The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, which operates the airport, recently selected an affiliated company, MAG US Lounge Management LLC, to build a lounge in the passenger terminal. Called the “ Escape Lounge,” the facility will be 2,240 square feet, with another 560 square feet available for a future expansion.
The lounge will offer complimentary drinks and food. Entry will be free for travelers who are members of certain travel programs such as Priority Pass and holders of credit cards such as American Express’s Platinum Card and Centurion Card, and Delta Sky Miles Reserve Card. Any other travelers will be allowed in for a fee ranging up to $45 (with discounts available to veterans, active military, students and AAA members).
Such lounges are common at larger airports, but this one will be a first for Hancock. Mehl said the authority will soon enter into negotiations with MAG to complete the arrangement. Construction is expected to start off the hallway leading to Terminal A later this year, he said.
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