Forget the TWA Hotel as an avgeek’s paradise, the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu attached to terminal 2 at Tokyo Haneda airport has them beat, hands down.
The property has just introduced a “Superior Cockpit Room” which includes a full sized Boeing 737-800 flight simulator. And they offer one of the best deals anywhere for experiencing a sim.
- Just want simulator time? You can book 90 minutes in the afternoon with an instructor for $277
- You can spend the night in the room — without the instructor, because that would be weird — for a room rate of $233.
Credit: Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu
You might even say this hotel room is perfect when you’re at the airport and just need a place to crash.
90 minute bookings are only available 5 days in advance for either 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Spending the night in the room will not allow all-night simulator use, since the simulator experience is only available with an instructor. (“The flight simulator is covered with a transparent acrylic board. You can not sit in the pilot’s seat in the simulator or touch the instruments.”)
Credit: Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu
I haven’t been able to find availability for the room overnight booking through their website, and day use rooms often require calling in any case. The property is a member of Preferred Hotels iPrefer so you don’t even have to give up points staying here. I don’t see how the program could possibly deliver an upgrade though if you’ve booked the Superior Cockpit Room.
This isn’t the property’s first foray into avgeek heaven. In 2007 they introduced what they now call the “Premier Flyers Room” which faces the Haneda airport runway and includes an airline seat previously used on international flights.
With U.S. airlines about to launch more flights to Tokyo Haneda and Delta even expected to move their full operation to close-in Haneda, abandoning Narita altogether, many more U.S. passengers will be visiting this airport. United’s partner ANA operates domestic flights operate out of terminal 2 where the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu is located.
Very cool – so Japan enthusiast to the next level – although it’s not a full motion sim so different comparison price wise
I’m still waiting for the first 737-Max to be converted into a hotel. 😉
so you can use the simulator in the room but not sleep there or you can sleep there and not use the simulator.
am i missing something?
Outstanding but something about the room is a tiny bit creepy. Maybe that’s because it reminds me of the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey. If I stayed there I’d be afraid of coming out of the bathroom and finding some old guy sleeping in the bed. Heh heh!
@ben senise
Article says
“You can book 90 minutes in the afternoon with an instructor for $277
Spending the night in the room will not allow all-night simulator use, since the simulator experience is only available with an instructor.”
based on that, I believe simulator use and room stay are two separate things.
@ben senise – they only allow you to use the simulator when supervised by an instructor
@daniel – http://www.instantrimshot.com
Booking a room without simulator time would be torture because you could see it behind the plexiglass but not touch it.
“You can spend the night in the room — without the instructor, because that would be weird”
The room is a double though.
So early check in or late check out is out of the question if there is an instructor plus other/s in the room.
Love that chain of hotels and with my elite status there I can see them comping the simulator portion.
Mile high club simulator!
@tjp @Rami
“based on that, I believe simulator use and room stay are two separate things.”
That’s correct.
Due to this, Check in is 6PM, Check out is 10AM for that room only.
Simulator is available in two blocks, 12pm-1:30pm and 2:30pm-4pm. So it looks like overnight guest checks out at 10am, room prepared for simulator, two simulator sessions, then preparation for next guest check in at 6pm.
Sim time is available to be booked 2 months ahead, must be prepaid with credit card.
I’ll be in Japan in November and booking this, so unless anyone else is there earlier, I can report back on the experience.