A joy of traveling medium or long-haul in first or business (and sometimes economy) is the airline amenity kits. I have picked out the top 10 best airline kits, which can also come with free pajamas. It might just help you decide which airline to pick on your next long-haul flight.
1. Qatar Airways First & Business Class Amenity Kits
Qatar Airways First & Business Class Amenity Kits has just launched a new range of amenity kits for first and business class passengers on medium- and long-haul flights.
The bags have been created in partnership with luggage designer BRICS and Italian skincare brand Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio. The first class women’s amenity bag is designed in the style of BRICS’s Bellagio series bags and features full-grain leather inserts paired with a high-tech shell with Tuscan leather trim.
The first class men’s business class amenity kits have been influenced by the brand’s Sintesis line of trolley bags. Both travel bags come in four colors: black and grey for men and white and burgundy for women.
Inside the bags, passengers can find products from Castello Monte Vibiano Vechio, including lip balm, hydrating facial mist, and anti-aging moisturizer in business class, with the added Night recovery cream in first class kits. Kits also include eye masks, earplugs, and socks, with luggage tags and a hairbrush in first class. Qatar has announced different amenity bags for the A380.
Qatar Airways has also launched Nappa Dori amenity kits for premium passengers traveling on flights within five hours from the airline’s Doha home base. The Nappa Dori kits also feature lip balm from Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, socks, and eyeshades.
I love Qatar as you also get really useful White Company pyjamas when traveling in business with Qatar Airways on overnight flights. These pajamas or loungewear make the Qatar offering my first choice for the best airline amenity kits.
It is worth reading my tips on how to find really cheap First or Business Class flight tickets to and from North America for a way to save money on your next First, Business and even Premium Economy flight booking.
2. Emirates First, Business & Economy Class Amenity Kits
Upper class amenity kits on Emirates are packed with bespoke beauty goodies from one of my favorite scents; Bulgari. In business, you get a nourishing face emulsion, body lotion & 5ml eau de cologne, plus deodorant, a shaving kit (for men), handkerchiefs, comb, and a toothbrush. The same kit is supplied on Emirates in First. Each set comes with an exclusive fragrance—Red Tea, Black Tea, White Tea, Green Tea—developed for the airline to correspond with the colors of the national flag of the United Arab Emirates. Scents and kits rotate every 90 days, so frequent fliers can get a variety of goodies. You can read our latest reviews of Emirates business class London to Dubai and Emirates business class Dubai to Cape Town.
Emirates has introduced the world’s first moisturizing pajamas in first class designed for airline use and to overcome dry air, thus giving the passenger a better night’s sleep. They will be available to First Class travelers on Emirates overnight long-haul flights. Economy passengers also get amenity kits boasting Bulgari—albeit a bit pared-down version—on long-haul flights.
3. KLM First & Business Class Amenity Kits
KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) has a special place in my heart, as I lived in The Netherlands when I was a little girl. KLM is part of the Sky Team alliance and currently has an exclusive partnership with Dutch Haute fashion designer Jan Taminiau. He’s created a series of bags for intercontinental flights in the KLM’s World Business cabin. Unlike other amenity kit pouches, these are six chic clutches (for women, pictured above) and wallets (mens) in 12 different colors that are designed for post-flight use. The bags are offered in addition to the airline’s exclusive Delft Blue houses, which are collectible ceramic gifts that have been a KLM gift since the 1950s.
4. Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Amenity Kits
Amenity kits for first and business class passengers on Cathay Pacific long-haul flights feature natural skincare products from renowned Australian brands Aesop and Jurlique, respectively. Aesop branded pouches are gifted to passengers in first class. Inside you can find signature products such as hand cream and lip cream presented in a specially designed case from Aesop, along with a dental kit, earplugs, a wooden comb, moisturizing cream, and a sleep mask. Uniquely stackable camel-colored Aesop cases are offered on flights to and from Hong Kong, allowing passengers to attach the two kits together after their journey. Male First Class passengers are given a grey Aesop case. You also get pajamas, which you can see in our Cathay Pacific first class review JFK to HKG.
I also reviewed business class on Cathay Pacific on long-haul flights. Here, you get an amenity kit designed by Seventy-Eight Percent. Natural skin care products from Jurlique are included in the kit, which comes in 12 colors and is presented onboard on a rotational basis.
5. Etihad First, Business & Economy Class Amenity Kits
Etihad offers the Residence, a three-room suite in the air complete with butler service, a bed dressed in Italian linens, a personal shower and a generous offering of Acqua di Parma products, along with Christian Lacroix loungewear.
Etihad first class passengers also get Christian Lacroix loungewear and toiletries from the Hungarian skincare brand Omorovicza.
Economy passengers get a sleep-tight kit, which features a cool sleep mask, among other goodies. Those in business class receive ultra-hydrating moisturizers and lip balms packed with vitamin E. On the ground, the airline has partnered with the uber pampering Six Senses Spa in Abu Dhabi and the Etihad’s first class and business class lounges in Abu Dhabi are excellent.
6. United First & Business Class Amenity Kits
United Polaris launched in December 2016, with a world-class lounge, new food, improved bedding, and two brand-new amenity kits: one for business class and another (slightly larger) kit for first class. In first class, the kit is presented in a tan color bag, while in business the kit is blue. Inside the first class bag, you find an eye mask, earplugs a Do Not Disturb sticker, tissues, and Polaris-themed disposable socks. Toiletries include Cowshed hand cream, moisturizer, lip balm, pillow mist, a towelette, and eye balm, along with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss stick, mouthwash, breath mints, comb, glasses wipe, and hand sanitizer.
In business class, you get an eye mask, earplugs and a Do Not Disturb sticker, tissues and Polaris-themed disposable socks, Cowshed hand cream, moisturizer, lip balm, pillow mist, a towelette, and eye balm along with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss stick, mouthwash, breath mints, comb, glasses wipe and hand sanitizer a pen. See my opinion of United from my trip report on United Airlines EWR LAX
More exciting than the amenity kits are United’s new pajamas, which are identical in both cabins and are handed out on flights 12 hours or longer. There aren’t enough pajamas for every passenger, so if you want a set, ask for them at the start of the flight. You can choose between mall/medium and large/extra large. The pajama set includes a top and bottom, and they are quite thin, which is good if you get hot on flights but less good if you tend to get cold.
7. Delta First & Business Class Amenity Kits
Delta now offers Tumi amenity kits featuring Kiehl’s products, with hard-sided amenity kits offered on flights from the US and soft-sided amenity kits offered on flights to the US. Products include Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 and Kiehl’s Hand & Body Lotion with Aloe Vera and Oatmeal (this is probably my favorite hand cream and works brilliantly on dry flights), and a dental kit. Delta One passengers also get luxe eye masks by Tumi and socks to help circulation.
8. American Airlines First & Business Class Amenity Kits
American Airlines offers retro-themed heritage amenity kits for passengers in international business class or transcontinental first class with felt cases designed to be re-used as a mini-tablet computer case.
In international business class, the kits will contain a pair of socks and an eye mask styled with the colors of a specific airline, a toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, headset covers, earplugs, a pen, tissues, hand lotion, lip balm, and wipes. American will also start handing out amenity kits in business class on its transcontinental service between New York and Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as Miami and Los Angeles.
The amenity kits in transcontinental first class have socks, an eye mask with the airline branding, a toothbrush and toothpaste, earplugs, and personal care products. International first class customers will receive larger kits containing socks and an eye mask, mouthwash, headset covers, a toothbrush and toothpaste, earplugs, a pen, tissues, and personal care products. Upgraded pajamas and cotton terry slippers.
9. British Airways First & Business Class Amenity Kits
British Airways is so very British, and although their business class or Club World seats come below competitors such as Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad, the excellent cabin staff and Biggles-style pilots keep me choosing to fly BA. In First you get a decent zip-up bag and Refinery lip balm, moisturizer, deodorant, eye gel, and, for men, shave gel, along with the Elemis products that you also get in Club World. See pictures in our review of British Airways First London to Muscat.
Passengers in Club World enjoy Elemis products, which include Lip Balm, Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, and Pro-Radiance Hand and Nail Cream, but the bag supplied with these goodies is cheap and nasty compared to the unique zip bags supplied by Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar. See pictures of the British Airways amenity kit in our latest review of Club World on BA. See also how British Airways Club World compares to Virgin Atlantic Upper Class in other aspects.
10. Qantas First & Business Class Amenity Kits
The smellies in the amenity kits on Qantas are a bit mean. The brand is Aspar, but as you can see from my pictures from my trip report when I flew Qantas Dubai to London, the sizes are very small. You also get Martin Grant Pyjamas and slippers along with the Aspar moisturizers and spray, deodorant, socks, eye mask, toothbrush, earplugs, comb, and a nice zip-up bag.
In most cases, a first-class ticket will cost thousands of pounds more than business class, so for the amenity kit and pajamas, the upgraded ticket price isn’t worth it unless you are buying on miles or your company is paying.
In my humble opinion, the best in-flight pajamas or loungewear are the White Company set supplied on Qatar, followed by the moisturizing pajamas on Emirates.
The best amenity kits have to be the Bulgari kit on Emirates (I just love that scent along with their rotating fragrances) and the fun BRICS bags and Italian skincare Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, supplied on Qatar. That said, I love Cowshed toiletries on United, and Kiehl’s hand cream (Delta) is an absolute favorite of mine.
A special mention should go out to KLM. Their collectible Delft houses are very special, and what is not to like about a free clutch bag or wallet? So KLM also comes near the top of my listing of best amenity kits.
British Airways, in particular, falls short with a crappy bag (not a classy zip-up bag) in Club World and Elemis products that I can take or leave.
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