Aussie airline introduces stretching classes and jetlag reducing lights

Qantas is introducing stretching classes, jetlag-reducing lights and an outdoor terrace in the airline’s new transit lounge at Perth Airport as part of their approach to improving health and comfort.

Sounds pretty luxe to us.

The Perth International Transit Lounge was unveiled ahead of the inaugural Perth to London Dreamliner service.

It has been designed by Australian Industrial designer David Caon and SUMU design, in consultation with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre using an evidence-based approach to wellness.

The lounge offers a range of unique features including ‘light therapy’ in the shower suites to help adjust the body clock, a wellbeing studio with stretching classes and a refresh area providing hydrating face products.

Customers can dine in an open-air terrace with a BBQ serving gourmet dishes by Neil Perry.

Qantas Head of Customer Product & Service, Philip Capps, said an emphasis on wellness in the lounge design was a whole new approach to long-haul travel.

“We’ve brought together some of Australia’s best culinary, design and scientific minds to create a lounge experience that will help set our customers up to feel better throughout their journey,” said Capps.

“This sophisticated lounge is the ideal space for customers to unwind in between flights.”

“The design reflects the natural beauty of the WA landscape through natural light and colour choices, and offers some of the best local food and wine.”

Charles Perkins Centre Professor of Sleep Medicine, Peter Cistulli, said the overarching goal was to enhance the passenger travel experience and optimise wellbeing.

“We’ve worked with the University of Sydney’s School of Physics to create an airline-first bespoke body clock intervention using bright light to help kick start the adjustment of customers’ body clocks.”

“Applying light at appropriate times helps reduce the effects of jet lag,” Cistulli said.

“The lounge is just one aspect of our partnership with Qantas to improve the wellbeing of travellers.”

“We’ve also worked together to influence the menu and timing of the food and drinks service on the Perth to London route, cabin lighting design and temperature in the 787 and we are interested in seeing how customers will respond.”

The lounge is open to customers transiting in Perth when travelling on QF9 from Melbourne to London and QF10 from London to Melbourne.

It is also open to customers beginning their journey in Perth to London.

Eligible customers include customers travelling in Business, Gold, Platinum and Platinum One Frequent Flyers, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire customers and Qantas Club members and their guests.