HEATHROW airport is handing out 10,000 freebies this winter in the run up to Christmas and New Year.
The presents will be given out across all four terminals for passengers, with the airport saying it wants to spread “Christmas cheer”;; to travellers.
The gifts will be from the airport’s shops, bars and restaurants and range from free flights and lounge access, to perfumes, breakfasts and makeup.
They will be handed out to passengers by the airport’s “Little Helpers”;;, who will be located near the 25 Christmas trees spread across the terminals, donning purple Santa hats.
The Little Helpers will be present in the airport throughout the last two weeks of the month.
This December more than three million passengers are expected to travel through Heathrow during that time for festive breaks at home and abroad – double that of the same period last year.
Those passengers will get the chance to grab a freebie before heading off on their winter breaks.
Tonia Fielding, Director of Services at Heathrow said: “After three years of restricted travel, we are looking forward to welcoming millions of passengers who will be passing through Heathrow this December to go on festive breaks with family and friends.
“We have been working closely with all our partners across the airport to recruit more colleagues to provide a great airport experience.
“We want to ensure passengers can depart as they mean to go on and enjoy the holiday season from the moment they arrive at Heathrow. We hope our Little Helpers will spread a bit of festive spirit this Christmas.”;;
Heathrow’s Little Helpers are staffed from the airport’s Here to Help programme, which is now in its twelfth year.
More than 750 Heathrow colleagues from non-operational and office-based roles took to the airport this summer to contribute 10,000 hours’ worth of additional customer support and help manage the pressures in the airport.
Additionally, Heathrow has launched an advent calendar on both its website and app for passengers to claim further discounts until December 25.
Behind each of the windows lie discounts from Heathrow shops, bonus points from Heathrow Rewards, exclusive duty free promotions and deals on festive-inspired food and beverage menus.
The gifts could provide some relief for passengers affected by strikes at the airport happening throughout the winter period.
Unite ground handlers will walk out at 4am on December 16 for 72 hours in an ongoing dispute over pay.
Then border force staff will be staging two rounds of strikes across a number of airports, including Heathrow.
The first of those walkouts will take place on December 23 until Boxing Day.
The second round will start on December 28, lasting until New Year’s Eve, putting thousands of families’ Christmas travel plans at risk.
Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow airports and the port of Newhaven will all also be affected.
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And these shops are also giving out advent calendar freebies and discounts.
