Amenity kit outrage

[juddles]

Het there everyone, sorry for the title - a bit over-the-top - but for all those people out there that fly in business class (and F), this topic peeves me.

I recently flew transatlantic with British Airways, in business class, and yet again I was shocked by the coughpy quality of many "amenity kit" products these days.

I suspect that the kits could not possibly cost the airline more than a buck each. Maybe much less. Is it too much to expect that the amenity kit could be at least worth keeping? I used to think it was a special thing, a delightful detail that made premium flying that much more special. But these kits are embarrassing trash. Are the bean-counters in the airlines that far removed from reality????

If the airlines paid 10 or 20 bucks per kit, they could provide an awesome product. Something actually worthy of the $5000 fare. Something memorable.

But no, they give you a toothbrush that insults the senses with its cheap quality. Almost dangerous.


I will eventually upload photos of my usual routes/carriers products, but in the meantime, can anyone please post content list and photos of different carriers current offerings in this much neglected area.....

 

[clazman]

First world problem Perth - HK - New York return, traveling with Clazgirl we get 8 of them per trip.... I try to give them away and you get some strange looks from PAX

 

[marki]

I collect whatever I can and give them away! But agree with juddles the quality of business amenity kitsch is just that Kitsch. The first class offerings are better and I still carry some with me after many years! Notably BA bags and QF first class slippers.

 

[dajop]

Try SQ. No amenities kits at all in J. Mind you in toilets on board they do supply good quality toothbrushes, razors, lotions and fragrances. Just not to everyone individually.

 

[juddles]

Some traditions die hard. I hate to think how many cheap shoe-horns I have discarded - shame on me!

 

[RooFlyer]

Current QF 'pencil case' amenity kits to me are the lowest of the low they would be the Chickenfeed $1 jobs.

Best kit I ever got was United, believe it or not - TPAC in F. Absolutely everything in it, including a little deodorant stick. A recent UA J kit had a golf theme (US are sponsors of the US Masters I think) - in addition to the usual stuff, there were golf balls, tees, a $20 voucher to buy some golf stuff, and golf plaid socks and eyeshades.

Emirates F was pretty good, especially the bag - I used it for a long time as my regular carry-on toiletries bag.

I don't use the amenities kits or PJs (I take my own), so they (and the PJs, unused) all go the to the Women's Refuge in Hobart; its only sometimes that I get a funny look when I ask for a ladies kit on board!

 

[Joshua]

Transpac the standard is pretty low in general so I suppose it's not surprisingly. I have been going around a lot the last year or 2 so have accumulated probably 100+ but haven't had time to do anything with (left them in ADL but not living there..) and they've been currently stored away. Friends have certainly been given a few.

I do actually use them half the time, if I'm travelling super light I usually plan on getting the kit and clothes.



The old QF F was pretty comprehensive but their new J one is a nice bag. Pencil case on TT flights are fine.
EK F is of course pretty solid, lovely bag.
CX F was equally good.
MH F has the same stuff as EK F and comes in the shopping bag.
LH F has the popular Rimowa bag but contents lacking.
QR J seemed like a lottery, getting different ones.
MH J has recently changed to a hard case on some routes
VS J was pretty disappointing compared to the rest of their product
JL J equally so-so, really need to fly them somewhere they have F
TK, OZ got very little.
UL had was ok on just a mid-haul.
RJ average.
SQ was an interesting one, add it to my list of why MH >> SQ.

There's a lot more of course, I can't really remember but the variety is huge.

 

[Archphoto]

The CX amenities kit on my recent HKG-PER in J was pretty woeful packaging-wise.



It did have Colgate toothpaste, an ok toothbrush, a laptop screen/sunglasses cloth and some Jurlique products, but certainly nothing to rave about. The SeventyEight "roll-pack" was ditched and I kept a few of the items and donated the rest. (I miss the folding comb/brush combination!!)

Still use a couple of the old CX Agnes B cases for my short-hop trips, one is pencil-case style the other is more square, but they do the job perfectly and fit my HLO *very* well.

*Hated* the older QF flat zippered cases - they were fairly useless for after use, only kept one that I stow a couple of hard drives in these days, the rest have disappeared into the wilderness.

I'd love one of the Thai (I think) Porsche Design kits - but I don't fly Thai, so probably won't be getting my hands on one at any stage. A friend had one from an upgrade, and it will fit some of my photography flash accessories beautifully, without being overly bulky.

 

[russ]

I hate amenity kits because of the physical waste. I think it would be a lot more environmentally responsible to put the amenities at the mini-bar so people can take what they need as opposed to forcing it on people.

 

[chelzmalee]

Transpac the standard is pretty low in general so I suppose it's not surprisingly. I have been going around a lot the last year or 2 so have accumulated probably 100+ but haven't had time to do anything with (left them in ADL but not living there..) and they've been currently stored away. Friends have certainly been given a few.
.

If you do have kits you'd like to donate, local womens shelters are often in need and would really appreciate them

I do agree though, gone are the days of the Oroton amenity kits. Sigh.

 

[Alanslegal]

I assemble my own amenity bag and case so I know that it is up to my standard

There is no J amenity pack that tickles my fancy and I would not even bother touching/opening it - and hope that the airline reuses them and not just dispose of unopened items as a matter of course.

F amenity packs - I leave them sealed and give them to family, friends, work people.

 

[Archphoto]

I assemble my own amenity bag and case so I know that it is up to my standard

Anyone have any ideas where you can grab the 25g tubes of toothpaste these packs always seem to have?? I like that size for quick trips, but no idea where to get them.

 

[Foreigner]

Anyone have any ideas where you can grab the 25g tubes of toothpaste these packs always seem to have?? I like that size for quick trips, but no idea where to get them.

Your local dentist...i pick up a handful every six months.

 

[Archphoto]

Your local dentist...i pick up a handful every six months.

Aha, thanks Foreigner!! I'll have to get my folks or sister to pick some up next visit - don't have in BKK when I visit the dentist.

 

[TonyHancock]

i take my own amenity kit on QF F, it includes a coughtail shaker, martini glass and olives.

 

[amaroo]

Current QF 'pencil case' amenity kits to me are the lowest of the low they would be the Chickenfeed $1 jobs.

+ 1 ... not working for the kids either.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...and some Jurlique products, but certainly nothing to rave about.

I think Jurlique is pretty good! Certainly a brand I wouldn't have tried until I flew CX. So on that front, the advertising has worked.

LH stocks good products in their F amenity kits and WCs, QF was pretty good with Payot. For business class... about the best I can hope for (CX aside) is some L'Occitain lip balm.

Many F amenity kits pander to brand names over quality. I prefer products from houses that actually specialise in lotions and potions, rather than clothes, watches or shoes.

 

[artemis]

I hate amenity kits because of the physical waste. I think it would be a lot more environmentally responsible to put the amenities at the mini-bar so people can take what they need as opposed to forcing it on people.

I agree - I think they've become so not-worthwhile. IIRC, JAL offers a basket of various toiletries in J and one can take what they want.

I do worry about the cheaply produced kits that then use massive resources to be transported around the world for very little benefit.

Why not ask passengers what they'd like when they check in online and allow them some choice (male vs female, pyjama size, no kits etc etc, teeth kit only, donate to charity?) rather than all the waste (+/- fuel costs?).

Not my most articulate post, but I hope people get the drift - would be nice to see some return to the glamour days of F and J without all the waste.

 

[Archphoto]

I think Jurlique is pretty good! Certainly a brand I wouldn't have tried until I flew CX. So on that front, the advertising has worked.

LH stocks good products in their F amenity kits and WCs, QF was pretty good with Payot. For business class... about the best I can hope for (CX aside) is some L'Occitain lip balm.

Many F amenity kits pander to brand names over quality. I prefer products from houses that actually specialise in lotions and potions, rather than clothes, watches or shoes.

I probably didn't explain myself so well; the products were fine, the packaging though, was woeful.
My mum loves the Jurlique products, so they don't go to waste; I just keep collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste, which is currently being donated before it expires.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I probably didn't explain myself so well; the products were fine, the packaging though, was woeful.

Packaging is not usually exciting, but without doubt more exciting than the offerings of the 70s/80s/early 90s. There have been a few of note... the Rimowa mini-suitacses, the Anya Hindmarch 'retro' BA kits.

others?