Private suites, butler service, onboard showers, closets full of pajamas … international airlines have launched plenty of flashy amenities in their first- and business-class cabins in recent years. But the perks on the ground are just as exciting.
One trend we’re excited to see on the uptick? Full-service spas in airlines’ premium lounges, often with a high-end cosmetic brand as partner, and special emphasis on a discerning male clientele. In fact, Virgin Atlantic’s Spas and Salons Manager Rebecca Creer says that 65 percent of the customers using the spa at the airline’s flagship London Heathrow Clubhouse are men.
Here’s how some of the best airline lounges in the world are pushing the envelope in the spa department beyond chair massages for the masses—and what you need to do to be pampering-eligible. While this isn’t a rundown of every airport spa worth visiting, it’s what we’ll dub the Airport Spa Bucket List. Because clearly, there’s never been a better time to have one.
Paris Charles de Gaulle: Air France Salon
Where it is: Three locations, in Terminal 2E—Halls K, L, or M
Spa: French brand Clarins offers expert massages and facials. (The Hall M lounge is the newest and nicest, but its hours are limited to 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Just for him: There are two treatments formulated specifically for men on the spa’s menu. Choose the Jet Lag Moisture Reviver facial if you’re on an outbound flight: It includes ginseng extract to refresh and brighten the skin. And if you’re on your way home, pick the Energizer facial instead. It uses bison-grass extract to wipe away the signs of fatigue after a long work trip.
How to get in: Show your business-class ticket on Air France, KLM, or a SkyTeam partner—or ask if the lounge will let you pay an entry fee. (Only some do, depending on your elite status and which airline you’re flying; it’ll cost you between $26 and $48.)
How much time you’ll need: 20 minutes—but at this lounge, like many below, you’ll have to sign up for a time slot and pray it’s before your departure.
Insider tip: If you splurge on a La Première ticket, you’ll have access to Air France’s exclusive La Première Salon, which includes a Biologique Recherche spa that doles out complimentary 30-minute treatments to passengers including an eye-contour facial and a “weightless” leg massage that stimulates circulation.