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.
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.”
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.
