Airport spas are growing in popularity, but do they have anything worth slowing down for? If you are a frequent traveler, chances are that you’ve rolled your luggage past an XpresSpa. After all, they recently celebrated 10 years of providing massages and other pampering at 56 locations in 22 major airports — with at least 11 new locations on the horizon. But, if you’re anything like us, you’ve also wondered: Do I really want to visit an airport spa?
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We checked in with XpresSpa to get a little more information before we judge. The spas are the brainchild of Marisol and Moreton Binn, and the concept occurred to them when they returned to Manhattan after an extended trip abroad in Hong Kong and China — upset with how stressful traveling had become in a post–September 11th world. The couple noticed a closed retail space (previously operated by Philip Morris as a smoking lounge) at NYC’s JFK airport and Marisol got the wild idea that they could potentially replace all of the old smoking lounges with airport spas. So the couple opened the first XpresSpa at JFK, and it quickly became popular among weary travelers.
XpresSpa has grown into a full-service spa chain, offering massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and other grooming services. Last year, they added a new offering: their popular POD (Pampering on Demand) express treatments, served up from a traveling station that can meet you at the gate. XpresSpa also offers the opportunity to pack some extra pampering in your overnight bag, in the form of reflexology socks, body rollers, scalp massagers and more.
For those who need to freshen up before or after a long flight, XpresSpa offers shower services at a variety of locations — perfect for preparing for that post-flight interview or conference meeting. Haircuts and blowouts are additionally offered at most locations. If you’re anticipating a wait — during a layover, for example — you can book an appointment in advance. But, more importantly, next time you make it through security faster than expected or get stuck suffering through the indignity of a flight delay, you can stop in and make the most of the wait.
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Last modified: October 8, 2019
