Lifestyle Healthy Mind Self-Care Tips

Finally, Airlines Are Doing Something to Make Flying Less Stressful

Tehrene Firman

April 9, 2018

Thumbnail for Finally, airlines are doing something to make flying less stressful

Pin It

Photo: Stocksy/Melchior Van Nigtevecht

Traveling via airport isn't exactly the most relaxing experience in the world. After getting through security and weaving through hordes of people to get to your gate, you board the plane knowing there's a chance you'll get stuck with a seatmate who's super talkative or—better yet!—one who is clearly sick. Luckily, airplanes are finally taking steps to swap some of those flying-related stresses for high-in-the-sky Zen vibes.

According to The New York Times, United Airlines and JetBlue have already made it possible for its passengers to use the meditation app Headspace during flights. JetBlue even offers videos from the service to help folks feel at ease by talking them through common flight preoccupations like a fear of flying or trouble falling asleep sitting upright.

JetBlue offers Headspace videos to help folks feel at ease by talking them through common flight preoccupations like a fear of flying or trouble falling asleep while sitting upright.

These two airlines aren't the only ones getting in on the mile-high wellness trend, though: International carriers Swiss Air also offers Headspace; British Airways has an inflight entertainment channel that features meditations and stretching exercises; and Hong Kong–based Cathay Pacific just launched six videos in partnership with Pure Yoga that not only feature meditations but also yoga that passengers can do in-flight to help stretch out hips and back.

Hopefully with more and more airlines committing to wellness, flight-related stress will dwindle down to nothing. There's nothing quite like a mini-meditation sesh to make you forget you're in a tiny, cramped seat, thousands of miles above ground.

Discover the best meditation style for you, based on your wellness needs. Or, learn how to give your home a cool meditation-studio makeover.