Russ21Atl has started a thread asking about the contents of different airline amenity kits. I had already been thinking about my favorite amenities, a la the thread on hotel amenities.

I’m amazed overall at how uninteresting airline amenity kits are, and how poorly they consider the needs of the traveler. Regardless, there have been a few winners over the years. Here are my personal favorites:

 British Airways: eyeshields lined with white piquet; no plastic against the face
 Virgin Atlantic: aromatherapy gels, one to relax, one to invigorate. I liked these so well, I called Virgin and learned who their supplier was
 Cathay Pacific: folding hairbrush
 TWA: years and years ago, gave gifts on day flights back to the States. I have a handy folding case; smaller than a paperback book, perfect to pack when I might come home with more than I took


And my least favorite:
 United first class shoe bag, which leaves black fuzz on everything it comes in contact with
 Singapore – no kit at all in biz class




[This message has been edited by SanDiego1K (edited 02-10-2001).]

in Lauda Air's business class amenity you find a ... Condome.

Most interesting airline amenity:
[*]An on-time arrival!

VS: I love the smints
NZ: the gels are great for relaxation
SQ: four years ago, I got a watch in F on both transatlantic flights
AZ: THe tin boxes they give out are real collectors' items

The little porcelon houses from KLM with liquor are great. And don't forget the sleeper suits from Virgin on the overnight flights.

I think the halcyon days of such gifts are in the past, except on a few carriers like KLM where they continue their tradition of miniature Bols-filled Delft houses. AC in First Class [when it had such a thing] gave out quality art reproductions of The Group of Seven, a famous genre of Canadian paintings from the 20s and 30s. Before these items, there were small porceline containers of maple syrup, quality leather business card cases, and annual Letts diaries.

A couple of years ago, I was flying CX over the Chinese New Year period and on a New Year's Day J-class flight to Sri Lanka, received [somewhat ironically] a beautiful tin of ceremonial Chinese Tea.

We now have tohope for at least a usefull after-flight case from the amenity kits provided in J and F classes. But even these cases have gone into decline on many carriers, as has their contents. I still use some of my quality leather ones from the old days of AC and CP first class. They only have upgraded business class now on international services. I use each of these to hold my Walkman, DV video camera, PowerBook connector cables/power charger, and my own custom packed/filled in-flight amenities kit.

BA's First cases are very practical for storing all sorts of little valuable items, from jewelry to my portable audio mixer/mikes/transmitter kit. Most others I have recently come across have pretty limited reuse potential unless they've been designed specifically as such: CD cases [several carriers], fine leather pouch/bum packs (LH and Air NewZealand], real toiletry kits [LH and CX).

In sleeper first class on many carriers now, PJs of some fashion are regular features, as are robes and slippers on JL. I now have a collection of such garb, and seldom lack for a workout outfit or sauna clothing.

I suppose the Concorde is another place where one still receives such gifts, as well as a commemorative flight certificate. I have one dating back to the days when AF continued their Washington flight onward [subsonically] as an all First Class Braniff dinner flight to Houston. It feature enhanced menus and fine wines, as well as leaving the sense of achievement that one had flown the fastest and most expensive plane in the world, even if we were cheating a bit.

UNITED F and J kits are some of the worst I have seen for an airline. The little "gray sac" for Business Class is a joke. The Y kits from SQ and CX are better than that in my opinion.

US Airways has a practical one for Business Class. It is black and does not have the logo nor name of the carrier on the outside. It just says "Crabtree & Evelyn - London". The zippers say "Envoy Class" and the kit contains toothbrush/toothpaste, eyeshade, socks (light blue), Crabree & Evelyn aloe lotion, lip balm and a mini-guide to most European cities US flies to.

Swissair Business kits include cologne. The last one I got had the Crabree & Evelyn Citrus line.

I have read that one of the best in the industry is EMIRATES. I can hardly wait for them to fly from the USA.

One of my favorites is AC. I got one flying from Toronto to London but on the return trip they did not give them out. I guess only for overnight flights. It contains basically the same standard products of any kit and the reason why I liked it is because it was spacious and in a rectangular shape like a box.

CO BUSINESS FIRST includes TIC-TAC mints.

The most interesting item I ever received was in business class on NZ from LAX to SYD. I do not know the official name but I received a pair of Chinese balls for relieving stress and exercising the hands.

I thought that amenity was unique. Has anyone received that amenity on another carrier?

Shareholder - In sleeper first class on many carriers now, PJs of some fashion are regular features, as are robes and slippers on JL. I now have a collection of such garb, and seldom lack for a workout outfit or sauna clothing.

Woof! I'm impressed.

The Concorde surely isn't still flying pax, though?

I do remember the first real amenity gift I ever got. It was on one of my first transatlantic flights - B.O.A.C. LHR-JFK. A set of 5 Charles of the Ritz products in glass bottles in a pink case. Generous portions, too. And we were in coach...

I'm trying to be optimistic about the Concorde, so didn't want to use a too definitive past tense. Bear in mind, most of this sports wardrobe was accumulated on award tickets after a lot of domestic flying, certainly not all of it in the front cabin. I curently am nursing my annual "Y-class" transAtlantic head cold this weekend to prove it. Which, by the way, I find is about the only amenity one finds on most rear cabin flights these days!

I just can't resist -- Ben Wa Balls -- Perhaps???

In that case, I would hope the airline doesn't recycle those left behind after everyone disembarks.

One year, I was flying SQ from ZRH-SIN-TPE-LAX for both business and pleasure. I was on a F RTW and was surprised to find that on ZRH-SIN and TPE-LAX all F class pax were to be presented with Mont Blanc Pens to commemorate the 50th aniversarry of Singapore.
In addition, I really dislike the LH C class kits. I know F class gets the neat sweaters that say LH F class that are fun to wear around, but the C class kit is not even as good as UA.

See also...

Favorite Business Class Amenity Kit

Business/First Amenity Kits Discussion

Top Fliers Treasure In-Flight Amenities

those are unique. there is liquid (liquor) in it also!!
i gave one to my secretary and she liked it