By Chris Dong

I landed in Los Angeles after a 13-hour flight and made a beeline for the lounge. I wasn't there for a Martini or a meal, though the bento boxes seemed enticing. Instead, the Delta One Lounge's dedicated relaxation suite became my refuge before my JFK connection.

I bypassed the zero-gravity nap pod (I'd slept on the plane) and found a cozy spot in the wellness suite where I could stretch out and use the tools offered to relieve my flight-induced stiffness. I slipped on the puffy air-compression boots -- the kind athletes use after a punishing game -- that pulsate and increase blood circulation while reducing soreness. Then I went the extra mile and pummeled my corpse-like limbs with a hand-held massage gun. Some 30 minutes later, I felt renewed for the next leg of my journey.

It is all part of a new wave of lounge and airport amenities that provide a day-of-travel respite for passengers. Flying takes a physical toll on frequent fliers. "Sitting for prolonged periods places mechanical stress on the body," said Dr. Joshua Martin, a sports medicine specialist and expert in musculoskeletal pain in Potomac, Md. That immobility can cause blood to pool in the legs and wear and tear on muscles and joints.

Rest and recovery -- along with alleviating stress -- is a perk for those flying in a premium cabin or holding a premium credit card. Long-haul business-class passengers on Delta, for example, can reserve a full range of Hyperice recovery gear, like the compression boots I used, along with zero-gravity chairs and full-body massagers -- all complimentary.

Those seeking a snooze between connections can check into a nap room with ceiling lights that mimic nighttime constellations at Capital One Lounges in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN) and Las Vegas $(LAS.UK)$ -- free as long as they hold a Venture X credit card. "Sleep deprivation and disrupted circadian rhythms weaken the immune system, making travelers more susceptible to illness," said Martin. To circumvent that disruption, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX provides day-to-night transitional lighting with bulbs that dim to presumably prep the body for sleep before the red-eye to London. Or, preflight, travelers can sip a drink with magnesium, ashwagandha or L-theanine intended to promote relaxation at Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX and Capital One Lounge (LAS).

Airports have also made feel-good design choices by adding natural light and greenery. In New York, JFK's Terminal One, set to be open in 2026, will include ceilings up to 90 feet high with expansive spaces flooded by natural light. Portland's 1-million-square-foot terminal at PDX, which opened in 2024, has a forestlike space with 72 trees and 49 skylights. Inspired by "a walk in a Pacific Northwest forest," said Vince Granato, chief projects officer at the Port of Portland, it is one of the first U.S. airports to go all-in on biophilic design, which develops indoor spaces with the natural world in mind. Forest bathing it isn't, but the greenery improves the indoor air quality as well.

Sensory rooms with low lighting and soft surfaces have debuted from San Francisco (SFO) and Salt Lake City $(SLC.AU)$. These spaces provide a quiet place for those with an anxious mind. "Constant simulation, changes in routine and lack of downtime make it difficult for the brain to relax," Martin notes.

Low cabin humidity can result in dehydration, fatigue and sinus irritation, as well as tax dry skin. Drinking water in flight helps, but those passing through Chase Sapphire Lounges in New York (LGA) and Philadelphia $(PHL.AU)$ can book "The Soother," a free 30-minute facial to plump up parched skin with a jellylike mask, or "The Renewer," in San Diego $(SAN)$, a treatment to reduce inflammation.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 28, 2025 12:00 ET (16:00 GMT)

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