Airport Spas
How to Arrive from a Flight Looking Polished and Rejuvenated
In the old days, airport delays left travelers with little to do but watch television, browse the newsstands, or while away the hours in dark lounges. Fortunately, spas have come to the rescue. With no appointments needed, airport spas provide travelers the opportunity to relax and enjoy a chair massage, full table massage, salon cut, hair coloring, pedicure, foot reflexology treatment, manicure, oxygen treatment, or other spa service. The number of services available is constantly expanding with XPresSpa, the leading airport spa provider in the U.S. now offering teeth whitening by licensed dentists at select locations.
The Chair Massage
One of the most popular airport spa services is the chair massage. Here, travelers remain fully clothed and seated in a special chair that cradles the head while a massage therapist massages the shoulders, neck, and upper back. A typical chair massage takes 10-15 minutes and wears off hours of stress. Clients report feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Oxygen Treatments
Another popular airport spa service is oxygen therapy. Here, travelers recline in a comfortable chair and combat the effects of stale pressurized cabin air. Through a flexible plastic nose tube, clients breathe in fresh oxygen that can be scented with essential oils. Oxygen therapy typically takes 15 minutes and helps travelers relax and feel energized. One of the leading providers, OraOxygen, has airport spas at Detroit International Airport, Alberta’s Calgary International Airport. and Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
Typical Airport Spa Customers
Surveys conducted by XPresSpa show that as many as 14 percent of airport spa customers are first time spa visitors, and more than half of airport spa clients are males. Customers appreciate not needing appointments and feel they're making good use of their time. And while most clients desire fast services that take less than 30 minutes, some clients have time for full-table and hot-stone massages. Airport spas are also open long hours so that they’re available for all travelers regardless of their schedules.
Where to Find Airport Spas
The list of airports with day spas, massages bars and kiosks, and oxygen spas continues to grow, and many airports with spas have multiple branches located in different terminals. For instance, Absolute Spa in the Vancouver International Airport in Vancouver, British Columbia, has locations before the security gates in the International Departure area; past security in the U.S. departure area, and in the Fairmont Hotel in the International Terminal.
The JFK International Airport in Queens, New York, which services the New York City area, has a full service branch of the New York-based Oasis Day Spa. This airport spa is located at the Jet Blue Airway Terminal 6.
At the Pittsburgh International Airport, the Polished Spa offers foot, hand, back and neck, and shoulder massages, men’s grooming, make-up application, manicures and pedicures. Pittsburgh’s Polished Spa is located in Concourse A after security. Another branch of Polished can be found in Boston’s Logan International Airport in Terminal C.
Tip: Be sure to ask at your airport spa for special discounts for stranded travelers, travelers with flight delays, and happy hour specials.
Resource:
- Top Ten Airport U.S. Spas, Detroit City Search.
