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.”

Recommended Videos

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.

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…
I record interviews for work. These are my favorite free recorder apps
The iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro's voice recording apps running together.

The Voice Recorder app on a phone (left) and the Voice Memos on another phone Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Before you head to the app store on your phone to buy a voice-recording app, take a moment to consider the apps that may already be installed on your phone. Why? In my experience, they're likely all you really need. I’ve recorded interviews and voice-overs for work for years, and I’ve found the two best examples come preinstalled on your phone already, so they’re entirely free to use.

Read more
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cases: 10 best ones so far
Two Galaxy Z Fold 5 phones next to each other -- one is open and one is closed.

Samsung’s next-generation foldable is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This iteration has some notable improvements, including a new hinge design that eliminates the gap from previous generations when the device was folded. You also get a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the outside while having a 6.7-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the inside, with both screens having a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, they're about as nice as you could ask for.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is made with premium materials, and the triple-lens camera system packs in a 50MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP camera on the inner display. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip inside for the best performance and power efficiency.

Read more
Google Pixel Tablet just got its first big discount and it’s worth a look
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

Tablets are a dime-a-dozen these days, with offerings from all the great brands including Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and more. So, if you really want to stand out in a sea of similar tech, you need to do things a little differently. That's what Google's Pixel Tablet offers. How? It comes with a unique speaker dock that can be used to both charge the device and offer room-filling sound -- almost like a smart speaker add-on. Better yet, when your Pixel Tablet is docked it benefits from the Hub Mode, turning the device into a smart display, with digital photo frame support, smart home controls, and hands-free Google functionality. Of course, it could set you back at full price, normally $499 unless you find it included in a roundup of the best Google Pixel deals. Well, guess what? Thanks to a Best Buy Google Pixel Tablet deal, you can get it today for $439 and save $60. Hurry, though, it's part of Best Buy's recent 48-hour sale so it won't stick around for long.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel Tablet
Okay, okay, so in our Google Pixel Tablet review, Joe Maring did give it less than stellar remarks, but he called out its reliable fingerprint sensor, comfortability during use and excellent speaker dock. Honestly, how many tablets come with a matching speaker dock that transforms the entire experience? This tablet also marks a "lot of firsts" for Google, as it's the first tablet from the company in nearly five years, the first Android tablet in eight years, and can be converted into a smart home display with the speaker dock. All of which are notable milestones.

Read more