Pre-flight flu shots and IV infusions: Airport health and wellness centers are taking over

Airports are usually where you overpay for a 10 am beer and try to find your gate on 4 hours of sleep. But now, more airports are investing in health and wellness services — and not just to prevent that no sleep + $16 beer hangover.

While some airports have long had massage chairs or select spa services, prominent airport spa brand XpresSpa is expanding its ‘Treat’ brand at airports like JFK, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and Salt Lake City. Parent company XWell bills treat as an “oasis for people who value their own mental and physical wellbeing.”

Fancy a pre-flight flu shot?

In addition to their standard relaxation services, Treat is bringing the full wellness spa experience to your terminal, offering a lengthy list of self-care services including:

• Flu shots, Covid tests, vitamin injections, and IV infusions

• Manual massage and hydro massage

• Self-guided wellness services such as visual decompressions with VR goggles, meditation room, workouts, and yoga

• Consultations with a medical provider for acute illnesses, mental health coaching

But Treat isn’t the only place helping you practice deep breathing after the airline loses your luggage. Other airport lounges like the Amex Centurion in Houston have added wellness options like neck warmers and free access to the Calm app as well.

All of this may be a welcome change, given that experts are predicting both Covid and flu spikes to add to the stress of this coming holiday travel season.