Stranded passengers’ fury as hotels hike their prices

STRANDED BA passengers have spoken of their anger after hotels cashed in on their desperation by massively inflating room rates.

The only room available near Heathrow from its Hotel Reservations desk yesterday was a £600 double at the Park Inn hotel.

A member of staff said the rooms were normally priced between £100 and £150 but the huge demand had driven prices up. The only room available at the airport’s Sofitel Hotel was a luxury suite for £495.

Christophe Hurault, 37, had spent Saturday night sleeping on the airport floor with his wife and three children – aged between nine and 11 – after the family’s flight to Paris was cancelled.

Mr Hurault, who works for the French interior ministry, said: ‘When we tried to book a room on Saturday night we were told the only one available was at the Hyatt and it would cost £1,500. So no chance.

Mr Hurault and his family have been told they could fly to Barcelona last night and then to Paris this morning.

New Yorker Jose Duran, 37, also spent the night on the airport floor when his flight to Greece was cancelled on Saturday.

‘They said they could reimburse us £100 each for a hotel room,’ he said. ‘But I gave up checking because there was no chance of getting a room for anywhere near that price.’

Brazilian banker Eric Nakamura, 37, said he stopped at a guest house in Hounslow on Saturday after his flight home was cancelled and was told a room would cost £2,000.

He said: ‘Eventually we paid about £200 to stay in the Tower Hotel in London.

‘I think it’s awful that the hotels nearby were taking advantage when people were desperate.’