Airline amenity kits are usually quite handy items to have on international flights. In economy class at minimum they usually contain socks, an eye mask and earplugs. Once you start getting into the more premium classes, all sorts of potions and lotions are also included.
There has been a recent outcry online around American Airlines introducing business class amenity kits in cardboard boxes. This is the eco-friendly option and it makes sense to me, though some frequent flyers seem to have reacted as though their first born had been sentenced to stoning.
It’s All In The Packaging – Apparently!
Judging by the reactions, it appears that frequent flyers like to display their airline amenity kits in a well lit cabinet, in a prime position in their home to show off to their friends. If the packaging is that important, they are clearly using them as display pieces. Or not.
What Do People Do With Airline Amenity Kits?
Obviously on a flight you might use some of the contents and some of the premium ones are worth taking home. I do enjoy using the products you get, as it’s nice to use upscale brands for free. However, I have yet to find much of a use for the packaging.
Years ago, British Airways used to issue their Club World kits in a fabric bag, which could be used to put your shoes into. That is literally the only time I’ve ever had a use for the thing the kit is encased in.
Recently I did a clear out and found an entire bag of unused airline amenity kits from various oneworld airlines. Since I have no real use for them, I took them to work and let my co-workers take their pick. At least someone might get some use out of them.
Overall Thoughts
It begs the question, what do you do with your airline amenity kits? I read a comment online from someone saying they had 30 or 40 stashed away in the house somewhere, gathering dust.
The contents will eventually lose their effectiveness, so it’s really just delayed landfill, isn’t it? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Amenity bags should be as follows. A nice bag for those who want it, and just the basic items for those who would rather do without a thousand bags, and the many left over ones in the cabin that we see as we head out. A cardboard box is ridiculous, cheap, and makes AA look awful. Yes, other carriers have had these before, and they were discontinued for good reason.
As for my bags, I give to friends and family. The best new bag becomes my go to. Creative bags get reused in various ways, (AA – from cable holders to shoe bags).
Dozens of bags are given to my local homeless shelter that really appreciates these, along with hotel miniature toiletries (They really really need these as they are convenient). Sometimes when a hotel clerk goes above and beyond, or even someone in a store, I go grab an extra one to give to them. It makes their day.
Yes, I know some airlines have a drawer in the first class lavatories with various bits inside there for the taking. You’re not the first person I’ve come across saying they have donated them to homeless shelters. I really need to keep that in mind for the future. Good call on the hotel staff too. Very nice suggestions there, thank you for that!
They are great souvenirs, great for use when traveling, use in the car, sandwich case, case for pens, paper towel case, keep circular tire gauge, etc.
I can see where you’re coming from, though I wouldn’t use them for those things. Perhaps I need to get more creative!
“It’s certainly something else to see people worked up about it. I’m sure these same people believe global warming is a myth and that the earth is flat.”
This is an interesting take, perhaps a bit much. With fares increasing and amenities decreasing (such as this), I can understand the sentiment. However, I think it’s on the airlines to design a bag that’s reusable and purposeful instead of the same old small pouch. Years ago, for example, Swiss provided a bag that was a full-size reusable tote. I think airlines could really innovate on this front and provide a valued amenity to premium passengers by seeking input as to what would be most useful post-flight. In the U.S, make an amenity kit bag the TSA-approved quart- size and clear for liquids. It doesn’t have to be either a luxurious leather pouch or a cardboard box. I think there’s a way to make this seemingly small item be valuable to travelers and environment friendly, as well.
I reuse many of my kit bags for things such as charger/cord bags while traveling, suitcase organizers, quick access for inflight items I need if I put my carry on overhead, etc.
What you have there with the line you quoted is an example of my humour 🙂 … You’re right in that it doesn’t have to be a luxurious leather pouch or a cardboard box. I think you have hit the nail on the head – providing something useful that would be used again and again and not go straight into landfill would be great. I hadn’t thought to use them for cables and such, as it would make sense to put in travel adapters and charger plugs actually. Thanks for the very thought provoking comment there, I appreciate it.
Amenity kits are a terrible waste. I try to gift them to people because I hate to throw them out, but they all wind up in the garbage anyway. Nobody wants them, and it’s unclear to me why airlines put as much resources as they do into them.
Completely agree with you and I could have written the above word for word. I think having the items on request would be good. Need some moisturiser? Ask the crew. Need flight socks? Ask the crew. It would remove a great deal of packaging by just doing that. I’d say much, much less would be used as well.