Qantas' healthy soothing lounge

The only problem with Qantas’ new Perth International Transit Lounge, opened today, is that airline will have trouble persuading passengers to board the non-stop flight to London flight. Arguably it is the world’s best when it comes to healthy flying. A Wellness Centre, skin treatment rooms, magnificent shower suites and outdoor BBQ area make up a lounge that is unique. And the combination of all the elements - woven in with natural decor - is calming. The lounge has been designed by Australian Industrial designer David Caon in consultation with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre using an evidence-based approach to wellness.

Qantas Head of Customer Product and Service, Philip Capps, said yesterday that the 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 Mr Capps. Read: Qantas 787 defeats the tyranny of distance.  Charles Perkins Centre Professor of Sleep Medicine Peter Cistulli said the overarching goal was to enhance the passenger travel experience and optimise well-being. “We’ve worked with the University of Sydney’s School of Physics to create an airline-first bespoke body clock intervention using a bright light to help kick-start the adjustment of customers’ body clocks. The lounge has seating for 141 passengers, multiple USB and charging ports, wireless printing, Wi-Fi and TV screens as well as 15 shower suites.

The outdoor barbecue features gourmet sausages from Perth butcher Princi Smallgoods and vegetables such as grilled mushrooms and corn on the cob. There is a full-service bar with premium wine and beer from Australia, including the Margaret River region. But more importantly there is a hydration station – Quench – serving drinks including fruit-infused water, sparkling water and tisane (herbal tea).

In the bathrooms, passengers can activate bright light via a switch for 15-minute sessions. The light therapy is intended to accelerate the adjustment of the body clock to the destination time zone, increase alertness and combat the effects of jetlag. The wellbeing studio offers stretching and breathing classes pre and post flight with a yoga teacher from Perth’s eco-luxe day spa group, Bodhi J Wellness Spa Retreats. The lounge is open to business passengers, gold, platinum and platinum one frequent flyers, Oneworld emerald and sapphire customers and Qantas Club members and their guests.