Did you know there are many ways you can help improve your health and wellbeing while travelling?
A fabulous article by Dave from Upgrade Your Travel Life – an aviation and travel expert (especially in airports)
Here are 10 must do health and wellbeing travel hacks that I’ve learnt over my 20 years as a frequent flyer and travel expert that you can apply on planes and in airports. While I’ll use specific examples to bring this to life, most of these hacks can be applied across different airlines and airports if you use some imagination.
Top 10 health and wellbeing travel hacks
Here are my top 10 health and wellbeing travel hacks – read on for tips on how you can do all of these while flying.
- Get your steps up
- Workout at the gym
- Go for a swim
- Take a nap
- Stretch on the plane
- Freshen up when you land
- Have a massage or facial
- Try a local wellness treatment
- Head outside for some fresh air
- Take a shower at 35,000ft
1. Get your steps up
So your itinerary shows you have a layover, or perhaps you deliberately planned a layover. What better way to get the recommended 10,000 steps a day in than by utilizing your layover time and the size of airports. Sitting on a long haul flight, for many hours makes getting 10,000 steps in super challenging. But, you can walk around the terminal. Let’s take Hong Kong (HKG), a common stopover point for people transiting from Asia and Oceania to Europe or the Americas. It also happens to be one of the largest terminal buildings in the world (after Beijing Capital and Dubai International). A walk from gate 1 to 50 or 70 takes quite some time, and on a layover of a few hours you can easily do this multiple times. Mix it up walking to gate 70, then 50, then to gates 8/9. Why not combine this with a bit of lounge hopping (see my other article on staying healthy by choosing your lounges for the right foods). A few laps like this and you will easily walk a few kilometers!
2. Workout at the gym
There aren’t many better ways to burn off excess kilojoules, get the blood flowing after a long period of sitting, and build muscle mass, than a good workout. Luckily a number of airports now have gym facilities available for a fee to any class of passenger. Take Singapore Changi (SIN) for example. As part of the Aerotel Airport Transit Hotel you can access the gym for SG$23 per person, and you can easily workout between flights on the treadmill, bike, or with some free weights, followed by a shower after (towels are provided). If you are planning this, just don’t forget to pack your gym gear and a plastic bag for the dirties into your hand luggage!
3. Take a Swim
While we are talking of Singapore (SIN), this same facility includes a pool! Why not take a swim which is a great feeling after sitting in the drying air on a plane. If you do some laps you can also get the blood pumping and help easily burn some of the excess energy consumed on the plane and in the lounge. Of course you don’t just need to be in transit. Perhaps you have been working all day in Singapore. Why not get to the airport a bit early to take a swim (or even a workout too) before jumping on your long-haul flight!
4. Take a nap
Tired after a long flight in economy and have a transit and full day of flying ahead? Then why not take a nap? Let’s face it, not all of us have the cash or an employer whose policy is to fly business or first class in those lovely flat beds. So if you are in transit having just stepped off a long haul flight after no sleep, a good nap is one of the best recovery ideas to refresh the body and mind. More and more airports have transit hotels that you can hire for a few hours airside. Many airline lounges are also starting to offer quiet dark rooms with day beds. However, if you have just stepped off an economy flight you might not have access to these airline lounges or may not want to pay the often high prices for an airside hotel (especially if your layover is relatively short). Enter the ‘pay for access lounges’ with sleep rooms. A great example of this is in Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) with the Minute Suites, available through Priority Pass free for 1 hour or USD$34 per hour thereafter. Such a great way to get some shuteye in a quiet private room with day bed. Note if you are travelling with a family usually more than one person can use this room at no further cost.
5. Stretch on the plane
Sitting still for hours on end can be uncomfortable and make those existing aches and pains worse. Many people will sit in their seat and only venture out briefly for a bathroom break. Why not use space near the exit door area of the plane and do some stretches. You may even like to take a walk along the aisles of the plane before returning to your seat. Some airliners are 70+ m long, and while not all of this space is accessible to passengers, if you can walk from front to back and then back again (easier if you are in First going to the back of the plane), you may easily get 100m in. Of course, there are some caveats on this. Don’t stretch/walk if the seatbelt sign is on. Also, be aware of clear air turbulence (which can be unexpected). Finally as a courtesy to the crew and other passengers, don’t unnecessarily walk or stretch during meal preparation and service times.
6. Freshen up when you land
So you have a long-haul flight landing early in the morning into your destination. You won’t be able to check in to your hotel for many hours and depending how early it is, there may not be much point going to the city you have flown to as shops, cafes and other facilities may still be shut. Or perhaps you have a full day of work ahead. Many airlines and airports are now offering arrival lounges, with airlines often opening them to top tier frequent flyers or paid business/first class passengers on their airlines. London Heathrow (LHR) is a great example with many arrivals lounges across its 4 terminals. American Airlines as an example offers an arrivals lounge to American Airlines passengers and British Airways passengers in First and Business Classes, or who hold Oneworld Emerald irrespective of class. But if you aren’t on the “right” airline, or sitting in the pointy seat, don’t despair. You can often pay for access to an arrivals lounge or may have access through a lounge pass scheme or credit card. It is common for people to arrive into Sydney (SYD) airport after a long flight. Plaza Premium offers an arrivals lounge in the international terminal, accessible for a fee. Or if you are an American Express Platinum or Centurion Card holder you can freshen up with a shower, breakfast and quick check of your emails at no cost.
7. Have a massage or facial
If you are lucky enough to have access to business or first class lounges, some airlines offer a day spa. While the much applauded British Elemis Spa is now gone, Qantas in their Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD) First Class lounges offer commentary spa treatments including a facial, neck, shoulder or scalp massage or even some feet treatments. Perhaps not accessible for everyone, but great if you can get it for a good relaxation and pampering.
8. Try a local wellness treatment
Some airlines bring cultural wellbeing activities to their lounges. While these clearly vary all over the world, they are great ideas if you can access. One of the most novel is a sauna available at Finnair’s Helsinki (HEL) Platinum Wing lounge. The Nordic counties swear by their saunas and what better way to start a long journey than that to use one of these. Of course, if you are on a long-haul flight, just ensure you drink plenty or water after your sauna to rehydrate. Other ideas like this are the Wellbeing Studios offered by Qantas at their Perth (PER) international lounge where you can undertake stretch classes between flights.
9. Get outside
After being in an aluminium can for many hours, and in terminal buildings, often some sunlight and fresh air is great for overcoming jetlag, getting into the right timezone, or just feeling better. More and more lounges, and even some airports, are offering outdoor areas (that aren’t specifically aimed at smokers). A great example of this is the wonderful area offered by United Airlines at their lounge in Los Angeles (LAX). Relax outside on the terrace to watch to sun rise or set while observing the aircraft come and go. Air New Zealand in their Auckland International lounge similarly has a great outdoor area, with the food reviewed here by Nutted Out Nutrition.
10. Take a shower at 35,000 ft
Ok, so this is a bit of a novelty. But it’s now possible to take a shower on board some flights. It’s strictly limited to first class and above (yes there is such a thing), on a limited number of Middle Eastern airlines and also for a strictly limited duration. However, there can be nothing better than refreshing water in a shower and breathing in that steam to re-hydrate after many hours of luxuriating in your first class seat at 35,000ft!
