Driverless POD. Photo: Ceri Breeze / Shutterstock.com Travelers flying from or arriving at London Heathrow Terminal 5 have an unusual transport option waiting just outside the airport: a fleet of driverless electric pods that can take passengers directly to a nearby hotel in just five minutes.
The Heathrow Pods connect Terminal 5 with Thistle London Heathrow Terminal 5, offering a convenient alternative for passengers staying at the airport hotel. The automated vehicles run without a driver between the terminal and the hotel throughout most of the day.
The service operates daily from 4:00 am until 12:15 am, making it particularly useful for travelers arriving late at night or catching early morning flights.
Driverless POD. Photo: Alex Yeung / Shutterstock.comThe pods operate between Terminal 5 and the hotel via a dedicated route. According to Thistle, the journey takes exactly five minutes.
Passengers arriving at Terminal 5 can reach the Pod station from International Arrivals by heading toward the North Meeting Point and taking the lift to Level 2, where the station is located in the Business Car Park.
Driverless POD. Photo: JamesYi006 / Shutterstock.comOnce at the station, travelers select Station B on the touchscreen, enter the pod and press the start button. After arriving at the hotel, guests follow a short pedestrian route to the Thistle reception area.
Domestic arrivals have a slightly different route to the Pod station, but passengers are directed to the same Level 2 location.
The driverless transfer is not free. A journey costs £8.75 per person, and passengers can pay at the hotel reception after arriving from the airport.
Travelers going from the hotel to Terminal 5 can purchase their Pod ticket at reception or through the hotel's self check-in kiosks. They receive a unique four-digit code to access the Pod area.
The return journey also takes five minutes. After reaching Terminal 5, passengers can take the nearby lifts to Departures on Level 5.
The service can be particularly attractive for travelers with early departures, overnight connections or long layovers who prefer to stay close to Terminal 5.
Thistle London Heathrow also promotes stay, park and fly packages, allowing guests to combine an overnight hotel stay with airport parking. The hotel offers additional facilities including its Aviator Bar & Restaurant.
The Pod service is separate from Heathrow's free inter-terminal transportation. Passengers traveling between Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 can use the London Underground, Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express services without being charged for the inter-terminal journey, although they need an Oyster card, contactless payment or a ticket to pass through the gates.