The quality of airport lounges can vary hugely, depending on where in the world you are, who can access the lounge, etc. Airlines and lounge operators try to find all kinds of ways to differentiate their lounge experience, and one of those ways is with complimentary spa treatments for guests.
In this post, I’d like to provide a rundown of what I’d consider to be the best complimentary spa treatments you’ll find in airport lounges. I’ll rank them roughly in order of quality and availability. If I get any details wrong or there are any good ones I’m missing, please let me know, and I’ll update the post.
In this post:
Qantas First Class Lounge (MEL & SYD)
Qantas has spas in its first class lounges in both Melbourne and Sydney. In these spas, passengers can receive a complimentary 20-minute treatment, with the choice of a facial, a neck and shoulder massage, a hot stone back massage, or a foot massage. These treatments are lovely, and I’d say that this is the nicest complimentary lounge spa treatment environment you’ll find anywhere.
Treatments are available on a first come, first served basis. Qantas first class passengers can generally reserve treatments by email the day before travel, while other guests (including oneworld Emerald members) can inquire about availability when arriving at the lounge.
Chase Sapphire Lounge (LGA)
The network of Chase Sapphire Lounges keeps growing, though arguably the best lounge so far is the location at New York LaGuardia. The lounge offers complimentary 30-minute facials from Face Haus. There are a variety of treatments to choose from, based on your skin needs.
Treatments are available to all guests on a first come, first served basis, and can be reserved through your smartphone by scanning one of the QR codes in the lounge. Admittedly given the limited window with which these lounges can be accessed, plus the amount of demand, actually snagging an appointment isn’t easy.
Air France First & Business Class Lounge (CDG & JFK)
Nowadays, Air France is the only major airline to offer complimentary spa treatments to both its first class and business class passengers. The airline has spas in both Paris and New York, and they’re available on a first come, first served basis:
- The Air France Lounges at JFK and CDG have spas in partnership with Clarins, offering complimentary 20-minute face treatments to Air France business class passengers, as well as Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members; treatments include jet-lag relief, detox time, and eye-must
- Air France first class (La Premiere) customers receive a complimentary 30-minute treatment, with more options available; this spa is in partnership with Sisley
Cathay Pacific The Pier First Class Lounge (HKG)
Cathay Pacific has a spa in its The Pier First Class Lounge Hong Kong. In this spa, passengers can receive a complimentary 15-minute treatment, with the choice of foot reflexology, a head massage, a neck & shoulders massage, or an eye revitalizer. While the environment isn’t as nice as in the Qantas First Lounge, it’s still a lovely experience.
Treatments are available on a first come, first served basis, and anyone with access to the lounge can get a treatment. This includes oneworld first class passengers, as well as oneworld Emerald members.
Etihad First Class Lounge (AUH)
Etihad Airways has a spa attached to its lounge complex at Abu Dhabi Airport. While any passenger can pay for a treatment, complimentary treatments are available to select passengers.
Passengers traveling in The Residence can receive a complimentary 30-minute facial, or two 15-minute treatments. Meanwhile first class passengers and Etihad Guest Platinum members receive a complimentary 15-minute massage or other treatment. Appointments are generally pretty readily available, in my experience.
Emirates First Class Lounge (DXB)
Emirates offers first class passengers in Dubai a complimentary 15-minute treatment. The spa is actually located just outside the first class lounge, and sometimes I’ve found it’s tough to get an appointment without a lot of advance notice, so make sure you request one as soon as you arrive in the lounge.
There are several options to choose from, including a back massage, leg & foot reflex therapy, a head massage, a body stretch, or a hand massage. While this is better than nothing, personally I think a bit more effort could be put into making the experience more spa-like, as the whole thing feels a bit like an afterthought.
Delta One Business Class Lounge (JFK)
The Delta One Lounge New York JFK is one of the best lounges in the United States, and it offers many amenities. Among them is a complimentary spa treatment in the wellness area.
Treatments are available on a first come, first served basis, and anyone with access to the lounge can get a treatment. Treatments last 10 minutes, and include an eye treatment, a hand and arm massage, and a shoulder, scalp, and temple massage.
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (BKK)
Thailand is known for massage, and the airport in Bangkok is no exception. There are several Priority Pass lounges in the terminal that are branded as The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge, and they all offer complimentary 15-minute shoulder massages.
These are available over select hours, on a first come, first served basis. I can’t think of any other “proper” Priority Pass lounges that consistently offers such a perk.
“Be Relax” airport spas with Priority Pass
While not a complimentary spa treatment with an airport lounge, I think it’s worth calling out how many “Be Relax” spas at airports participate in Priority Pass. There are a few treatments to choose from, including a 10-minute foot massage, or a 15-minute lounger massage.
Note that since this is considered a Priority Pass experience, so if get your Priority Pass™ Select membership through select credit cards, you may not be entitled to this.
Bottom line
Airport lounge operators try to find all kinds of ways to differentiate themselves, and one of those ways is to offer spa treatments. There’s not much rhyme or reason as to which lounges offer these, but you can expect to find them in some lounges operated by Air France, Cathay Pacific, Delta, Etihad, Emirates, Qantas, and Chase. If there are any other good ones I missed, please let me know.
What’s your favorite airport lounge spa treatment you’ve had?
Worth noting that the Qantas spa is only available to passengers on a Qantas flight.
RIP the spa at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (JFK). In the years before the pandemic, I was in there quite a lot - I joked that I went through JFK to get a haircut when they offered trims (since if I could force a routing via JFK, the touch-up there was cheaper than my barber back home, and I got a nice lunch/dinner thrown in).
Hey Ben,
just a friendly reminder that there is also a Clarins spa at the AF lounge at LAX.
The Adani Business Lounge in Mumbai had a complimentary 15 minute chair massage, the last time i passed through that airport.
I hope you can get a female massager (as opposed to a man or "female"). Anyone know?
You can not.
I've only had female technicians.
Same-sex or opposite-sex should not matter much so long as everyone is professional.
I mean, I’m just a bunch of numbers, so gender isn’t really a thing to me… digits!
Apologies folks, I meant *should* matter, not *should not*!
Thanks for the 'assist,' other '1990.'
In the past several months, I've been in the lounge about every three to four weeks. Will be there again this week. There's only been one time that I've seen it not open. During that same time, I've had two treatments. Not certain why there's a disparity between our experiences.
Is there any difference in what’s offered to La Premiere passengers in JFK than to J passengers at the Clarins spa?
I go through LGA Sapphire Lounge several times per month. I wish they offered a chair massage
Still remember the wonderful blade shave that was offered in the Etihad F lounge before covid.
Turkish Lounge in BKK also has a chair massage service with a sign-up list. Sadly it ends at 9 or 10 and I arrived slightly before whenever the cutoff was. With all the Miracle lounges in BKK, might be able to ring up an hour of massage by lounge-hopping!
Irrelevant; that is a paid service.
Jess, what’s up with you and Turkish, girlie?!
That one looks like a bloody jungle! Crazy!
That fake Eskimo looks like a bloody jungle! Crazy!
Eskimos, who was the original, anyway? Did the O.G. Eskimo have any specific mannerisms or ‘hot takes’ or ‘hills they would die on’ so as to differentiate?
That is me right I am thr original right
Now the culprit has 'done me, too,' it seems. I'll say, they do a decent impersonation; like, a few 'hot takes' from the 'other' 1990 have been spot-on. Oof. Bah. Taiwan is a free, independent country. EU261. (That's how you know it's the O.G.).