USP A chic haven to prepare you for the unpleasant experience of flying. The Payot Paris Day Spa offers energising and hydrating facials, wraps and massages using Dr Nadia Payot’s beauty products from Paris.

AMBIENCE The elegant white marble-and-leather Qantas First lounge has been designed by Australian-born Marc Newson to put the romance back into travel. It has huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows with 180 degree views of Sydney City and Botany Bay, a library spread with leather tiles, a white marble bar and clapper boards to list departures and arrivals instead of typical digital displays.

The theme continues inside the low-lit spa, which boasts classic, clean lines and sympathetic therapists in smart white dresses. Three treatment rooms and two relaxation rooms each have live vertical gardens covering their walls, personally selected by tropical botanist Patrick Blanc - ask to be treated in the room with plants covering three walls. Tea lights abound, and the air is fragrant with essential oils.

EXPERIENCE After taking in the Sydney city skyline, perched on a white leather seat and a little open-mouthed, I slipped through the spa’s glass door and swapped my seriously grubby Merrell thongs for a pair of white fluffy slippers. I filled out a short consultation form, then was shown to my treatment room and left to undress ready for my first treatment, a 30-minute back massage.

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I prefer a massage to be at least an hour long, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much my slim, slip of a therapist achieved in so short a time, as she expertly worked into my knotty shoulders and mid back. Half way through, the wafts of "healing" music in the room switched to some much louder pop by mistake - thankfully by that time I was too comfy to care.

I then turned over for my Express Energising Facial, which included a firm facial massage and, later, a very effective head and neck massage while a mask was on my face. I felt nourished and soothed and disinclined to leave at the end.

There was a shower in the room, but instead I used the First Lounge’s more spacious and private marble-lined shower suites a short walk from the spa. They come complete with basic toiletries and Kevin Murphy hair products – both mine and my husband’s seemed to be for grey hair (which we don’t have yet), though they still felt great.

I wanted to eat the Payot Crème de Choc body moisturiser supplied, but contented myself with slipping it into my bag to use on the plane later instead.

FOOD There’s a spacious kitchen restaurant with menus by Neil Perry, head chef and founder of Rockpool restaurants – healthy, hydrating pre-flight delights include tuna carpaccio, buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad and a lightly grilled fish of the day.

If you don’t want a full meal, a constantly-stocked bar area has help-yourself bowls of cherries, dried fruits, nuts and vegetarian sushi, and there’s a fridge with San Pellegrino water and juices.

IN-CROWD Anyone who can afford to travel Qantas First Class, from Giorgio Armani himself to harassed-looking overworked business execs. Generally, we were surprised at how ordinary everybody looked – they obviously hadn’t left time to visit the spa.

WALLET WATCH All spa treatments are complimentary for passengers travelling Qantas First class. Return First-class tickets from London to Sydney on Qantas start at £4,815 including all taxes and charges (08457 747 767; www.qantas.co.uk).

NEED TO KNOW Payot Paris Day Spa, Qantas First Lounge, Level 4, Sydney International Terminal (08457 747 767; www.qantas.co.uk).

For more than 240 independent spa reviews log on to timesonline.co.uk/goodspaguide

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