FLYMSY

SAPriorityTag

I am curious what a la carte system on the transcons? I assume you mean between EWR/BOS/SFO/LAX? Last trip I took SFO > EWR up front we received an amenity envelope, which IMHO just reeked of cheapness!

SAP

Kacee

I think competitive pressure will prevent them from doing away with the kit entirely. Pretty much everyone except SQ offers a kit these days.

I've been doing lots of long-haul the past two years, and with the exception of the BR and EK kits, I mostly just leave them on the aircraft, as they just tend to pile up at home. CX has a nice eyeshade.

fumje

The survey screenshot above gives me the impression someone has decided kits should contain at most five items. I hope that inference is wrong.

drewguy

A la carte would be great, until someone decides they need 10 tooth brushes or combs. I suppose they could do it like snack baskets in domestic F and come by with the options, because an FA's glare as you take 4 eyeshades probably is enough to discourage things.

I like the kits, and save them for future use, though I toss the socks and eyeshades (except when they're good - the polaris ones are an improvement over the older versions).

drowelf

Bingo. As well as using some of the items in the kit (Socks/Balm/Eye Mask) I always evaluate the bag itself for its reuse capabilities. My wife loves a the clam shell style zipper bags we got a few years ago. They are great for corralling the various unguents my lady needs while travelling. I have a couple of different ones for my travelling meds and all those little electronic dodads you need to carry around today. They are great for keeping all the small stuff organized in both my computer and carry on bag. If the container style is one I like, I've even snagged extras ones abandoned in folks seats as we disembark.

The most worthless ones I found were the tins and those huge book style ones that were used in the beginning of the Polaris Days. Out of the half-dozen or so of those I only kept 1 or 2.

MBS MillionMiler

That's why I said, "I think"...Don't do many transcons anymore, but when I did, they passed around a basket...Apparently those days are gone.

Gig103

The issue IMO with a la carte, is not only is that more work for FAs, but when you get to passengers like myself who will want everything they put in the kits now, so I'm going to be handed 6 items and I don't have place to put them unless they make 'goodie bags' out of it, but now I've just traded a nice bag for more single use plastic. I also am one of those who enjoy having all the different bags from carriers, and reuse several of them.

Those screenshot kits sound like what most carriers are giving away. I haven't flown Polaris but since I like amenity kits I've looked at eBay -- those Cowshed branded ones had a ton of stuff, I was impressed.

uastarflyer

JAaronT

This is probably a conjoint study where they present loads of random options to loads of people and then use statistical analysis to determine which components are most impactful.

Lori_Q

I don't see how United could compete with other airlines' premium cabin services without an amenity bag. Naturally, they'd like to do away with waste, but I tend to think their motivation for the survey is to make the amenities better, and not only to justify doing away with them.

Although my All Nippon (ANA) experiences are now 4+ years old, they've offered a nice a la carte basket in the premium cabins on longer international routes. They had some nice options, such as the aromatherapy sleep pack (smelled terrific, but I seriously doubt it worked).

747FC

Note to UA, if you are listening: The only Amenity Kit container I have ever used after the initial flight is a drawstring LH bag I got in F about a decade ago. I continue to use it to this day. It's design allows me to stuff it with whatever I want, and I can either hang it on a hook or stuff it in any nook available. It continues to remind me what a wonderful F experience I had on LH.

bocastephen

I am still using my old brown leatherette amenity kit, and don't get me started on the amazing kits I have from EVA, especially the newer Georg Jensen variation.

Whether they go used or unused, they are a feature of any and every business class product worldwide, as well as a marketing conduit for new brands at minimal cost to the airline.

Leave it to that cheapskate Kirby to cut or eliminate amenity kits - first the food, now the amenity kits - why not just sell the meals on board and rent the pillows out?

PTahCha

Back in pre-merger days of transcon p.s., the amenity items were handed out from a basket instead of a kit. The staple items were eyeshades and earplugs. Dental kits were added later. When they used to have Westin Heavenly bedding, they also included Westin green tea mints in the basket.

seat38a

Its emailed to people United wants to give the survey out too. I'm guessing they are selecting people who have flown Polaris before, based on the questions being asked.