Skip to main content

Attention frequent fliers: this app claims to lessen jet lag

attention frequent fliers this app claims to lessen jet lag tony tyler skyzen
IATA CEO Tony Tyler models a Jawbone UP with the SkyZen app. Credit: IATA
For all you perpetually time-zone-confused, out-of-suitcase living, constantly jet-lagged frequent flyers, there may just be a light at the end of your runway, I mean tunnel. IATA, or The International Air Transport Association, has recently introduced an app called SkyZen that claims to lessen the effects of jet lag and improve the overall health of the beleaguered world traveler.

According to the IATA website, “SkyZen is a new mobile app for passengers to monitor their health and wellbeing before, during and after a flight,” and, “Helpful hints will enable users to improve their travel experience and combat jet lag when crossing time zones.”

The app works alongside the Jawbone UP wristband, which helps monitor activity and sleeping habits while you’re traveling. According to the IATA site, the SkyZen app “will read the Sleep and Activity data from the UP app and then overlay these insights on your flight activity.” The app then provides personalized feedback on how best to overcome the fatigue that often accompanies a difficult flight schedule or disruptions in normal sleep habits.

Interview on SkyZen

According to aviation data provider OAG CEO Phil Callow, “The SkyZen app will provide huge benefits to the frequent business traveller. The more often a person flies, particularly on long-haul flights, the more data is collected in order to generate valuable insights into their traveling habits.”

Screenshots of SkyZen on iPhone.
Screenshots of SkyZen on iPhone. Image used with permission by copyright holder

So, a bit ironically, SkyZen actually rewards the most sleep-deprived frequent fliers by giving them more effective and more data-driven tips on how to battle their constant feelings of drowsiness and jet lag. Callow continued, “Based on data provided by the App and the wearable technology, SkyZen will advise travelers on the best time to sleep before and during a flight and is a great step towards ensuring they not only enjoy their travels, but prosper from them too.”

SkyZen is already available to download on the app store, though if you’re looking for customer feedback, the app reports that it has “not received enough ratings to display an average for the current version of [the] application.” That being said, it is a free app, so you really don’t have anything to lose. So give it a try, and just maybe, you’ll discover the meaning of a good night’s sleep after a long day’s travel.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
How to view Instagram without an account
An iPhone 15 Pro Max showing Instagram via a web browser.

Instagram is one of the largest social media platforms on the planet. Whether you want to share a family photo, what you had for lunch at your favorite cafe, or a silly video of your cat, Instagram is the place to do it.

Read more
Something odd is happening with Samsung’s two new budget phones
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 (left) and Galaxy A55 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy A55 for almost two weeks and have now swapped my SIM card over to the Samsung Galaxy A35. These are the latest entries in Samsung's budget-minded Galaxy-A series. In all honestly, I can barely tell the difference between them.

Read more
Learn 14 languages: Get $449 off a lifetime subscription to Babbel
A person using the Babbel app on their smartphone.

Learning a new language no longer requires you to make time for formal classes because there are now several language learning apps that you can tap. One of them is Babbel, and you can currently get a lifetime subscription to the online learning platform for only $150 from StackSocial. That's $449 off its original price of $599, but we don't know how much time is remaining before the offer expires. If you want to take advantage of the 74% discount, it's highly recommended that you complete the transaction immediately.

Why you should buy the Babbel lifetime subscription
A lifetime subscription to Babbel not only unlocks the possibility of learning one or two new languages, as the platform encompasses a total of 14 languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Dutch, Polish, Indonesia, Norwegian, Danish, and Russian. You'll be learning your new language of choice with lessons that only take 10 minutes to 15 minutes each to complete, so unlike classes with a rigid schedule, you can learn at your own pace and at any time you're free through Babbel. The lessons cover real-life topics, and they use speech recognition technology to help you master pronunciation. You'll then test yourself through personalized review sessions that will help make sure that you retain all the information that's being taught to you.

Read more