The new Sydney airport ‘beauty cabin’ is the pre-flight experience we never knew we needed

Hate killing time while at the airport? This lush new ‘beauty cabin’ is the pre-flight experience we never knew we needed.

While an airport should feel like the first step towards your holiday, most travellers say the terminal experience is just as stressful as ever.

In a bid to enhance the airport experience, more and more locations around the world are looking at ways to increase relaxation for their travellers as well as keep jet-lagged passengers entertained. Because, let’s face it, who says you need to wait until you reach your holiday destination to have a bit of relaxation in your life?

To adapt with the growing demand of lifestyle experiences at other overseas terminals, Sydney Airport has launched a world-first initiative at their international wing.

For the next six months until September, passengers departing Sydney can now treat themselves to a massage, an eye-rejuvenation treatment or even a make-up application before they board their flight. And the best part? Most of the treatments won’t cost you a cent.

The La Prairie Art of Luxury beauty cabin at the HEINEMANN Tax & Duty Free complex is an experience that will give passengers a taste of luxury before they reach their destination — a perfect opportunity to hydrate before flying at 35,000 feet.

The pop-up beauty hub will be at Sydney Airport until September. Picture: Damian Flanagan

A recent report by McKinsey Consulting said the number one complaint for travellers at an airport was “having to wait with nothing to do.”

This is a pretty lush way to solve that problem.

La Prairie managing director Australia and New Zealand, Rosi Fernandez, hopes this new installation will not only provide passengers with a taste of indulgence before they fly — but also assist with people wanting to relax, unwind and prepare their skin before they board.

“We are bringing a unique immersive experience to Sydney Airport to allow guests to select either a luxury treatment in a private suite or an express service that can be performed on counter (for free),” she said.

While not all treatments are free (you’ll have to dip into your holiday spending money if you’re after a 20-minute facial), there are a few consultations that are complimentary.

The new ‘beauty cabin’ at Sydney Airport is the pre-flight experience we never knew we needed. Picture: Damian Flanagan

Dreading that 6am long-haul flight to Los Angeles? You might want to try the instant eye-revive treatment that will smooth, hydrate and brighten your entire eye area in just 10 minutes.

Perhaps your hands need a little TLC before landing in London? Using the brand’s iconic Skin Caviar collection, you’ll have baby-soft hands in minutes before you board.

However, if you have a little more time to kill — or perhaps you’ve been met with a dreaded delay — passengers can also indulge in a treatment that will prepare your skin for dry “cabin air” that awaits.

Over 20 minutes, passengers will be taken into a private beauty suite followed by a 10-minute personal consultation.

The facial includes a deep cleansing facial massage and application of selected products to ensure the skin is best-prepared to endure a long flight.

The only catch is you need to be prepared (even if you’ve left every other aspect of your trip to the last minute) and book the consultation online before you fly.

The La Prairie beauty hub will offer select free beauty treatments at Sydney Airport. Picture: Damian Flanagan

Earlier this month, Changi Airport’s new Jewel precinct in Singapore launched their $1.8 billion development — combining dining and a 130-room hotel surrounded by designer shops in a bid to cater for growing tourism demands for various experiences while faced with a layover.

The new precinct caters for travellers and locals wanting to use the airport as a destination on their holiday rather than simply a layover.

Changi Airport is set to be an attraction, revolutionising the way passengers go about the “traditional” layover before getting on another flight. But unlike airports around the world, the vision for Jewel isn’t just for tourists — it’s designed with the locals in mind.

“Jewel will be a place where Singapore and the world meet,” Mr Lee Seow Hiang, chief executive officer of the Changi Airport Group, said.

“For international travellers, Jewel will be an exciting tourist destination.”