Private Rooms Now Available at Miami Airport: Enhancing Traveler Comfort

This fall, Miami International Airport (MIA) is set to introduce an innovative service offering hourly private rooms for travelers in transit. Spearheaded by the company Wait N’ Rest, this initiative aims to provide a practical and quiet alternative to the common sight of passengers resting on benches and floors. MIA has often been criticized for its lack of suitable spaces for long stays or overnight layovers, and this project seeks to address those complaints.

Although Miami is joining the trend later than airports such as Atlanta, Charlotte, and Philadelphia, the goal is to resolve years of user dissatisfaction regarding comfort, safe resting areas, and overall service quality.

A Minimal Yet Essential Service

The new rooms will be located in two terminals:

• Concourse D (North Terminal), set to open by late November.
• Concourse H (South Terminal), soon after.

Each room measures approximately 34 square feet (about 3.1 m²), as reported by Telemundo 51, and offers:

• Soundproof walls
• A bed or sofa with clean linens
• Wi-Fi and power outlets
• Air conditioning with customizable temperature controls

Automated Check-in and Check-out

The service also plans to feature double cabins designed for couples or families, which include a private bathroom and shower, a desk, streaming television, and 24-hour availability. However, these amenities come at a cost:

• Individual rooms are priced at approximately $36 per hour.
• Double cabins are around $60 per hour.

Addressing a History of Complaints

For years, travelers passing through MIA have voiced their frustrations on social media and travel forums about the lack of rest areas, poor cleanliness in common spaces, insufficient electrical outlets, and the absence of secure sleeping locations during layovers. The long distances between terminals and limited access to nighttime services have been recurring issues.

In this light, the installation of these cabins seems more like a delayed response to a long-standing problem rather than a groundbreaking innovation. While this measure aims to enhance the experience for specific traveler profiles, its high cost limits access and doesn't replace the need for the airport to upgrade its free services and basic infrastructure.

Comparisons to the MIA Hotel

Currently, the only formal accommodation option within the airport is the MIA Hotel, located in Concourse E. This traditional hotel offers full rooms, breakfast, a pet-friendly policy, and direct access to counters and restaurants. However, it does not offer hourly rates, and rooms cost around $190 per night, making it unaffordable for those who only need a short rest.

Contract with Economic Projections, but Uncertain Impact

The agreement between Miami-Dade County and Wait N’ Rest is initially set for five years, with an option to renew for another five. If fully realized, the county could earn up to $10 million, with a 25% share of the generated profits. However, beyond the financial figures, it's unclear how much this partial solution will improve the overall user experience at an airport that handles over 50 million passengers annually and continues to grapple with structural and logistical challenges.

Who Stands to Benefit from These Private Rooms?

This new service targets three main user groups:

• Travelers on overnight or long layovers who prefer not to leave the airport's secure area.
• Families or couples seeking privacy during their wait.
• Business travelers who value privacy and connectivity, even for short periods.

In essence, while these rest cabins can be useful in specific circumstances, their high hourly cost and limited capacity make them more of a complementary service rather than a comprehensive solution. The question remains whether this measure will alleviate accumulated traveler complaints or remain limited to a select audience with little impact on the general perception of the airport.