Settling into the massage chair, I felt the tension from the first flight of a long-haul travel day begin to melt away. As the masseuse worked out knots in my neck and shoulders, I breathed out slowly and sank deeper into relaxation. The treatment ended far too soon, but it left me refreshed and better prepared for the next leg of my journey. Energized, I headed to the gate for my connecting flight.
Long flights can take a real toll on the body: dehydration, stress, stiff muscles and low energy are common effects of time spent in a pressurized cabin. There are simple steps travelers can take to minimize those impacts—plan ahead and pack familiar comforts, drink plenty of water before, during and after the flight, and keep blood flowing by walking the aisle and stretching while seated.
If your itinerary includes a long layover and you have lounge access, you can often add moments of wellness to your travel day, even booking a spa treatment before your next flight.
© Emirates
For example, passengers flying La Première, business class and Flying Blue Elite Plus on Air France can enjoy complimentary facial treatments in the airline’s lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). In partnership with French skincare brand Clarins, the lounge offers two private beauty spaces where guests choose from three 20-minute treatments that target jet lag, detoxification and tired eyes. Each treatment, suitable for men and women, is designed to relieve tension, boost circulation and promote relaxation. La Première travelers also have exclusive access to a 30-minute “Relax and Reset” facial created by Clarins for Air France.
Clarins treatments are also available in Air France’s newest lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Clarins spa area opened in September and offers business and Flying Blue Elite Plus passengers on-the-spot treatments upon arrival in the lounge. La Première guests can reserve treatments in advance by phone. The spa’s de-stress treatment is reserved for La Première travelers.
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air France’s La Première lounge features services from French luxury brand Sisley-Paris, giving passengers another high-end option for pre-flight pampering.
Travelers passing through Dubai International Airport can visit Timeless Spa inside the Emirates Lounge in Terminal 3. The spa provides a tranquil space with a wide range of services—facials, massages, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures and blowouts—offering a quiet escape from the busy airport.
© Emirates
United Polaris passengers at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) can use the airline’s Reset Suite, developed with Therabody, inside the United Polaris lounge. The semi-private suite includes a Therabody Lounger that combines sound and vibration therapy for full-body relaxation, plus Theragun devices and RecoveryAir JetBoots for circulation and muscle recovery. SmartGoggles and complimentary TheraFace skin and body products enhance the calm, spa-like atmosphere. United plans to add more Reset Suites at Polaris lounges in other U.S. airports.
If you don’t have airline lounge access, credit card benefits may provide wellness options. Select American Express cardholders can enter Centurion Lounges, which at locations like Miami, Dallas and Los Angeles include on-site Exhale Spa services such as complimentary mini-massages and other therapies.
Chase Sapphire Reserve members can access wellness offerings at Sapphire Lounge by The Club in Boston (BOS) and New York LaGuardia (LGA). Boston’s lounge features a wellness area with anti-gravity massage chairs and guided digital meditations led by well-being educator Devi Brown. At LaGuardia, the Sapphire Lounge includes wellness rooms and treatments from Face Haus, an open-concept facial bar staffed by on-site aestheticians.
Whether you have a short stopover or an extended layover, lounges and affiliated spas provide practical ways to arrive at your destination feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready to go.