Hi folks...

I'm curious to know about the most interesting items found in amenity kits. These are the little bags given out to flyers on long-haul international routes, typically in First or Business class.

For instance, although a toothbrush, comb and razor are common, I hear Lauda includes a condom in their kits! I am particularly interested in items found in carriers that have minimal service to the U.S. (like Aeroflot).

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/004106.html

and yes, I can confirm the condome that comes with Lauda's amenity kit (jan 2001: Vienna-Kuala Lumpur-Sydney and back)

My vote for creative/unusual kits also goes for Lauda Air.

In the Lavish department, I would vote for the SQ First Class Kit. I also hear BA's is quite impressive.

In the unusual category: CX First Class amenity kit. It is a nice brown or black wooden box with the usual supplies like moisturizers etc. but also, quite unexpectedly, some incense sticks! Are we supposed to burn those inflight. I think NOT!

Gaucho, could you expand on why you like the SQ amenity kit? I must have missed out. My husband and I flew SQ F from Singapore to LAX in January. I was optimistic when I saw they had separate kits for men and women, but both were plain vanilla in my estimation. The only thing special in the woman's kit was the little package with two vials of aromatherapy oil.

The Pierre Cardin slippers came in their own baby blue bag. They were HUGE! They must be sized for the NBA players. Honestly, it was unsafe for me to try to walk in them because there was so much unused fabric beyond the end of my toes.

Heres looking forward to the amenity kit in F on BA this coming Thursday for my trip to the Seychelles. I'll report back any unusual and/or special items when I return in May.

I vote for either Virgin or JAL. Virgin, in COACH, had neat blue plastic backpacks...contents cute (eyeshades, pad, mints, the usual) but I took several and use the waterproof backpacks to the beach.

JAL varies seasonally...has gotten amazing assortments of fine products in oversized ultrasuede bag in FC a few times, more plebian others.

Nothing too special or inventive at Air Canada. Usual stuff, different for boys than girls. Usually includes earplugs, blindfold, socks/slippers, lipbalm and a nail file.
For me I'm not sure which would be worse, burning incense in flight or watching the guy next to me file his toes!

I think CO BusinessFirst kits are abundant, yet not the best on luxury. They are among the largest I have seen and include among interesting articles- tic tacs and hair brush. It is the only carrier I can think of currently where in business type product offers you a vanity mirror, collapsable brush along with the other standard items like toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, socks, etc. Biggest thing lacking is skin lotion. It can get pretty dry at 39000 feet!

Hands down for best amenity kit for me is USAir Envoy class. You get cashmere/wool blend socks which feel good as soon as put them on. Also, zipper bag created exclusively by Crabtree & Evelyn is nice. I still use it today.

For coach, I echo the call on Virgin. Their kits and inflight entertainment service (movies and games) are great.

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"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

China Airlines has an amazing kit. They use Molten Brown products, have little wooden handled mirrors, and beautiful combs and brushes. As well they have wonderful fuzzy slippers with rubber soles. Again, different ones for men and women.

The grey leather ticket/passport holder I got from the Concorde (I forget which one, I think it was BA) a while back is pretty cool, with the Concorde logo on the front. Still use it for Int'l travel today.

One vote for LH as the worst kit carrying airline, espcially in C class.

Happy Easter to all that celebrate it !!!

I have to agree. LH's Business kit is very lacking and "cheap" looking for such a major carrier.

Delta just came out with new kits for Business elite. They are tin boxes with the old emblem and include L'Occitane products, a couple of tic-tacs, a small pen with notepad along with the standards.

US AIRWAYS Envoy kits are understated and elegant, although a bit basic. The logo or name of the carrier is not too obvious. Great Crabtree & Evelyn Aloe line.

What's wrong with the LH kits? Have they changed so drastically over the past few years. I received a very nice on in Business Class, albeit 5 or 6 years ago. It was a compact black leather DOP bag filled with quality Etienne Auger toiletries, toothbrush, razor and other basics I thought it quite a good one. Case was a bit smaller than those I have received on CX, UA and CO, but same basic fold open styling.

I did also get a "bum pack" style one on LH, which I admit was a bit tacky, but I would suppose quite functional for many.

Still believe BA's First kits are among the best. Very stylish Hindemarsh zipper cases and useful toiletries. The China Airlines ones sound like the same styling that CX used to have when they included Crabtree and Evelyne products.

As for items. I agree that the compact fold-up brush and mirror combo offered in the CO kits has come in very handy and resides in my basic DOP toiletry kit. Both BA and Air New Zealand have included variations of aromatherapy kits in theirs. I like the Rembrandt line of toothpaste and mouth wash found on many carriers, including CP metal AC flights. Wooden handled razors are classy, but I am not sure about wooden handled tooth brushes. Aerosol cans of shave cream are more useful than those one-time use pouches.

I have taken to assembling my own basic kit which I pack in my carry on bag or attache case. It contains a collapsible toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash drops. Also a complete set of those micro-accessories which slide into small card size plastic containers. One contains scissors, ruler, x-acto knife for clipping newspaper stories. Another is a complete mending kit with needles and thread. Yet another contains all forms of can and bottle openers, including a mini corkscrew. I keep a small vial filled with headache pills/asperin/antihistymines, and a applicator of Vick's. A mini flash light, some bandaids, stain removal cloths and a lint brush-cum-shoe horn complete the contents held in a small AC leather and fabric zippered case [vintage 1982].

Look forward to your story. Let us know where and when it will appear.

[This message has been edited by Shareholder (edited 04-18-2001).]

BA's 1st BAg is nr.1 for me, I also have a collection of Concorde gifts, wedgewood photo frames, silver spoons and a lovely mulberry foldable travel bag...