Singapore Airlines Partners with Golden Door for Passenger Wellness

The experts at Golden Door are lending their secrets to Singapore Airlines to bring the wellness retreat experience to the sky.

When guests enter Golden Door, the San Marcos, California spa resort known worldwide for its “life-changing” wellness programming, the first scene they’ll encounter is a long wooden bridge under a canopy of leaves that runs straight and then makes a sharp left turn. Guests are told that when they turn that corner, they’re leaving the stressors of the outside world behind.

Now, Singapore Airlines is working with Golden Door’s experts in mental and physical health to give travelers that same feeling as they board a plane and turn down the aisle to settle in for a long-haul flight.

The new Singapore Airlines partnership with Golden Door, announced Tuesday morning, includes new menus, in-flight exercises, and sleep education. This initiative will launch on Los Angeles-to-Singapore (SQ37) flights in January before expanding to nonstop flights to Singapore from San Francisco, New York JFK, and Seattle.

Bringing Wellness to the Skies

How do you take the magic cultivated across 600 acres of Southern California avocado and citrus groves, hiking trails, Japanese-inspired gardens, and biodynamic farmland, and translate it to a 50-square-foot first-class suite 36,000 feet in the air? The answer is multifaceted and requires experimentation among chefs, nutritionists, and personal trainers. Ultimately, it comes down to a simple concept: teaching passengers how to pause.

“You have the right to pause,” Kathy Van Ness, general manager and COO of Golden Door, said. “And that right will help you live longer.”

Guests at Golden Door are there to take time out of their busy lives to care for their bodies and minds. On a long flight, travelers are afforded a similar opportunity to use this time to their advantage. “We build our programs around the world’s longest flights… to have the time to dive into the content that Golden Door is creating,” said Betty Wong, SIA’s divisional vice president of in-flight services and design.

Wellness Features for Premium Passengers

Passengers in premium cabins will have access to an e-library filled with simple exercises to increase circulation and flexibility, along with expert learnings on experience-based sleep techniques before, during, and after their flights.

What this means for travelers will vary. Some may enjoy a refreshing orange-braised baby beet salad while stretching and meditating along with fitness videos. Others might choose to relax with a romantic comedy and indulge in Champagne. Many will find their own balance in between.

“It’s flexibility and options,” Wong stated. “Everyone is different and their needs are different.”

A Taste of Golden Door in the Air

Having experienced Singapore’s previous wellness program with Canyon Ranch on the inaugural world’s longest flight in 2018, I understand the benefits of transforming a long flight into a mini-wellness retreat. After nearly 19 hours from Newark, I felt revitalized and ready to tackle a busy evening in Singapore.

Furthermore, I had the chance to sample the upcoming menu designed by Golden Door executive chef Greg Frey and Singapore Airlines director of food and beverage Anthony McNeil. Regardless of how each individual chooses to absorb this in-flight wellness experience, they are sure to appreciate the quality of the food.

The menu offers many of the same delightful dishes Frey serves his guests at Golden Door, adapted by McNeil to be suitable for in-flight storage and presentation. After months of collaboration through virtual meetings, the team met in person to finalize preparations for the launch of this exciting program.

McNeil expressed that visiting California helped him “understand the philosophy, see the surroundings, and really curate an accurate picture of what the Golden Door experience is.” With Golden Door’s commitment to fresh ingredients grown in on-site gardens, Singapore Airlines’ innovative use of aeroponic farming will ensure that diners have access to nutrient-rich, delicious options.

Sample Dishes from the Wellness Menu

The tasty offerings include:

• Citrus grilled shrimp salad with honey-glazed mushrooms, blackberries, sourdough croutons, and balsamic ginger dressing
• Portobello meatballs and risotto with heirloom tomato sauce and wilted greens
• Oatmeal with goji berries, blueberries, quinoa, almonds, and honey drizzle for breakfast
• Vegan coconut ice cream with mango for dessert

At Golden Door, dinner is the main event that unites guests from various backgrounds. On flights to Singapore, especially amid the ongoing pandemic, the social scene will differ. However, the team is optimistic that passengers will still feel a sense of rejuvenation upon departure.

“Our goal,” Van Ness stated, “is to positively affect every single person inside that plane.”