Rei Ami travels to Paris in athleisure and sneakers, but her in-flight routine is far from casual.
The singer gained fame as one of the voices behind K-pop group KPop Demon Hunters and its single “Golden.” She is known for high-fashion red carpet moments—an embroidered cape at the Oscars, a cherry-red fur look at an after-party, and a feathered corset at the Grammys. When she travels for downtime, comfort comes first. “Paris in the summer is really hot, so I’ve packed a lot of activewear,” she said during a video call while surrounded by bags of clothes in her closet. Most of her event outfits are styled by Ayumi Perry, while she handles her own casual looks.
Her approach to flying, however, is precise. Ami treats long-haul flights like a full-body reset, layering masks not just on her face but on her hands and feet. “As soon as I get in my seat, I do a whole setup,” she said. She arranges her skincare, chargers, and a lineup of masks—eye, face, hand, and foot—before settling in. After a meal, she heads to the bathroom to clean her face with hypochlorous spray, brush her teeth, and complete a bedtime routine. “I try to take advantage of long-haul flights to sleep and get ahead of jet lag,” she explained. Once she wakes, she refreshes her face, applies light makeup and SPF, and emerges ready for the day.
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Her first flight was a childhood move from South Korea to the U.S. on Korean Air. While her sister cried during takeoff, she was fascinated. “I had never been on a plane. I thought it was amazing,” she recalled. Her first business-class experience came later, on Delta One, when she flew to New York for the group’s recording sessions. “I had never felt so pampered,” she said. “The lay-flat seats changed everything.”
Sleep, supplements, and the art of the layover
Ami skips sleep before boarding to maximize rest on flights. “This is kind of reckless,” she admitted, but she prefers to sleep once in the air. She takes melatonin or ZzzQuil if needed and avoids caffeine. Her birthday trip this year took her to Catalina Island, where she parasailed and stayed in a multi-story villa overlooking the ocean. “It was just a short getaway that still felt a bit foreign.”
Water destinations top her list of favorite vacations. “I am a tropical, put-me-in-the-water kind of person,” she said.
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Her in-flight routine might seem elaborate, but it’s a ritual that keeps her centered. “Business class spoils you,” she admitted. “I feel guilty saying that, but I still indulge in the masks, the flat seats, and the rare moments of calm between performances.”
For those looking to upgrade their own travel experience, even small changes—like packing better coffee gear—can make a difference.
