Amenity kits

Souvenir Sunday: mouthwash tabs for travelers

Amenity kits, Uncategorized

On Souvenir Sunday we celebrate inexpensive, offbeat and/or locally-themed souvenirs you can buy when you’re Stuck at The Airport.

This week, we’re focusing on a curious-but-cool and very inexpensive “invention” that arrived in my mailbox that may just find a spot in my travel amenity kit.

These Listerine Ready! Tabs, are zero alcohol, sugar free, tablets that somehow change from solid to liquid when you chew them so you can freshen up with a bit of safe-to-swallow mouthwwash on the go.

They’re a step beyond those ‘breath strips’ that were all the rage for a bit (and I notice are still for sale, and now come in cinnamon). But these tabs seem to be more serious and ‘robust’ and might come in handy after those long flights when the line to the airplane bathroom is long and you really just need to make sure you don’t overwhelm your seatmate with your morning breath.

Would you use this?

*I’m on a fair number of press mailing lists and things (sometimes related to travel, sometimes not; sometimes chocolate, sometimes not) show up in my mailbox. I share the more interesting items in an occasional “Would you use this?” post and store some items away to use a ‘prizes’ for readers who send along story tips or photos of great Souvenir Sunday items found on the road.

Travel Tidbits: from United and JetBlue

Amenity kits, JetBlue, Lounges, United Airlines, , , ,

United Airlines will open its Polaris lounge at San Francisco International Airport (at Gate  G92) on April 30 to passengers traveling in the premium cabin travel.

The two-level, 28,000 square foot lounge has 440 seats, 492 power outlets and USB ports, 5 daybeds with Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, 8 shower suites, valets who will steam garments for you, a bistro-like buffet and a restaurant-style dining area.

At the bar, they’ll be serving cocktails inspired by the Bay Area including, says United, the Mai Tai, invented in Oakland in 1944, and the Pisco Punch, “featuring pisco which became all the rage during the California Gold Rush of 1849.”

Not flying through SFO? In addition to this new lounge and the existing one at Chicago O’Hare, United will open Polaris lounges at Newark Liberty International Airport in early June, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston this summer and at Los Angeles International Airport this fall.

United also introduced some food and beverage upgrades for passengers on board.

Starting May 1, pasengers can purchase egg and chicken chorizo tacos (breakfast/$8.99) and barbecue chicken sandwiches (lunch/dinner; $9.99) from the inflight menu and some interesting new beers and ales, including Lagunitas Sumpin’ Easy Ale, New Belgium’s Citradelic Tangerine IPA and, this summer,  Belgian pilsner Stella Artois ($7.99 each). 

For those flying on JetBlue’s Mint flights, be sure to open and take home the limited-edition amenity kit.

In addition to a keeper pair of SuperSoft socks from Basic Outfitters, the kit includes a toothbrush and toothpaste, eye mask, screen wipe, pen, earplugs and pillow pack, and a Hudson Made New York trio of lip salve, facial mist and hand cream – all tucked in a Hayward and Hopper collaboratively designed travel bag inspired by Dennis Hopper and Brooke Hayward’s Los Angeles home circa 1963.

 

Souvenir Sunday: 747-themed amenity kits on United

Airplanes, Amenity kits, aviation, Aviation history, ,

United Airlines is going to retire its Boeing 747 fleet on November 7 and to mark the occasion the airline is giving out 747-themed Polaris amenity kits starting Monday, October 23, through January 2018.

Silver kits go to first class customers, while blue kits will be handed out to business class fliers. In addition to the usual amenity kit items, each kit contains a pack of five 747 trading cards, so you can swap with your friends.

Passengers on United’s premium transcontinetnal routes (EWR-SFO, EWR-LAX, BOS-SFO) will receive (smaller, but just as charming) commemorative kits as well.

 

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Amenity kit after-use

Amenity kits

I was thinking about using the amenity kit I received during my 787 Dreamliner flight on KLM from Seattle to Amsterdam as a fashionable clutch.

Designed by Jan Taminiau, the bag is a nice red color and big enough to hold a cellphone and a few other items. But when I got to my hotel room – the lovely Conservatorium Hotel – I found that the bag also came in handy when I needed to prop up my computer cable so that it stayed connected to the adapter in the wall.

Pleased with myself, I sent out a Tweet to show off how handy I am.

Only to get this message demonstrating a tastier adapter solution:

https://twitter.com/drjmacq/status/747462823198994432

So now I’m making a collection.. if you’ve got a creative solution for hooking up your computer cables when on the road, please take a snap and send it along.

United Airlines amenity kits celebrate Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Amenity kits,

United Airlines Olympics Amenity Kit First

 

From June through September, United Global First, United Business First passengers on long haul flights and P.S. Premium Service passengers on transcontinental flights will receive amenity kits celebrating the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The Global First and BusinessFirst passengers will get their kits in a rounded fuselage-shaped tin that lifts open to reveal a themed eye mask and pair of socks, a toothbrush, a good-sized (0.85 oz) tube of toothpaste, a tiny packet of tissues, a comb, a pen earplugs, mints, toothpick/flosser, a selection of Cowshed moisturizing products and – a sign of the times – four tiny packets of hand sanitizer.

P1070243

 

United amenities kit PS

The P.s. Premium Service kit is a rectangular tin with eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste, Cowshed lip balm and two tiny packets of hand santizer.

 

 

 

 

 

How to get a free amenity kit at Denver Airport

Airports, Amenity kits, ,

DIA TRAVEL KIT

Need to refresh your travel kit or need an inexpensive gift for that friend picking you up at the airport?

If you’re traveling through Denver International Airport this summer and spend $20 at any of the airport’s retail shops, you can use those receipts to get a free Summer Travel Pack (value: $16) filled with useful items such as lip balm, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, tissues, headphones, neck pillows, eye masks and more

You’ll need to be at least 18 years old to take advantage of this offer and you’ll need to turn in those receipts before all the kits are gone.

Here are more details and rules for Denver International Airport’s free Summer Travel Kit offer.

Fresh amenity kits on United & Delta

Amenity kits, ,

United-CowshedKits

 

 

While not the reason to purchase a pricey premium cabin ticket, these new amenity kits from United and Delta help make front-of-the-plane rides that much more special.

Once United resolves and recovers from its system-wide computer glitch on July 8, premium passengers will be able to enjoy the carrier’s new partnership with Cowshed Spa, a premium spa and lifestyle brand from London, which is providing the personal care items in new amenity kits, in premium cabin lavatories and in about a dozen United airport lounges worldwide.

The kits roll out Aug. 1, 2015, and will be distributed to premium-cabin customers (Global First and BusinessFirst) on long-haul intercontinental flights to and from the United States and will contain Cowshed’s moisturizing hand cream, Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm and a Chamomile Refreshing Towelette. Striped socks, an eye mask, tissues, ear plugs, a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and a pen will also be in both kits.

The United Global First kits are a bit larger and also contain Cowshed’s Quinoa Hydrating Daily Moisturiser, Jasmine Toning Eye Balm and an eyeglass cleaning cloth.

Look for Cowshed products in the shower facilities at United Clubs at ORD, EWR, Hong Kong, London and Tokyo and in United Global First lounges in ORD, SFO, DCA, London, Hong Kong and Tokyo as well.

Delta One passengers will also be getting a refreshed amenity kit – and snazzy striped socks.

Delta Amenity Kit

 

Delta has begun handing out hard and soft-sided TUMI amenity kits containing a TUMI soft-touch pen and eyeshades, MALIN+GOETZ lip moisturizer, body lotion and new mouthwash; striped socks, facial tissues, earplugs and a dental kit with Crest toothpaste.

Delta Socks

 

 

 

 

 

 

New/retro amenity kits for American Airlines

Amenity kits,

American Airlines new amenity kit

American Airlines has rolled out a new batch of what it is calling “Going for Great” upgrades and among the perks are limited edition amenity kits honoring nine airlines that have morphed into the modern-day airline: American Airlines, AirCal, Allegheny, America West, Piedmont, PSA, Reno Air, TWA and US Airways.

American Airlines Heritage TWA Amenity Kit

The retro-themed heritage amenity kits will be available through January 2016 for passengers in international Business Class or transcontinental First Class and are felt cases designed to be re-used as a mini-tablet computer case.

The airline plans to roll the legacy themes out in batches of three every four months.

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.

The amenity kits in transcontinental First Class will have socks and an eye mask with the airline branding, a toothbrush and toothpaste, earplugs, and personal care products.

International First Class customers will receive new, larger kits, containing socks and an eye mask, mouthwash, headset covers, a toothbrush and toothpaste, earplugs, pen, tissues and personal care products. Upgraded pajamas and cotton terry slippers will also be handed out.

As a nice bonus, 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.

Limited edition & PGA-themed amenity kits from United Airlines

Amenity kits, Sports, , , ,

PGAUGFAmenityKit-large

United Airlines has been making upgrades to its premium cabin service and this week rolled out its latest perk: a new set of commemorative amenity kits and the promise of a PGA-themed kit that will arrive in April.

Why a PGA theme and not a rock & roll, football or pirate theme?

(Wouldn’t those be fun?)

United is the official airline of the PGA Tour, so PGA-themed kits it is.

These will double as shoe-bags and include traditional amenity kit items plus tees, golf balls and a golf-related discount offer. Look for these kits on international flights departing and arriving the United States.

UNITED FIRST CLASS PGA AmenityKit-large

In the meantime, United is distributing a new set of limited edition tin amenity kits.

united amenity kits

Global First and United BusinessFirst customers on international flights departing from the airline’s seven mainland U.S. hubs and Honolulu will be offered these tins showcasing skylines of London, Frankfurt, Toyko, Beijing, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai or Honolulu.

A set introduced in 2014 featured images of mainland domestic hubs.

Airline amenity kits – part 2

Amenity kits, , , , ,

Here’s part 2 of my round-up of cool, collectible airline amenity kits, originally produced for CNBC Road Warrior. See part 1 here.

7_JetBlue amenity kit

A complimentary amenity kit filled with deluxe-sized, beauty, grooming and lifestyle products chosen by the sample-savvy folks at Birchbox is one of the perks included with JetBlue’s upgraded, coast-to-to-coast Mint service introduced in June, 2014. The kit content will change quarterly but the mix of premium sample items started off with everything from Benefit Cosmetics mascara in the women’s kit to Ernest Supplies Cooling Shave Cream in the kit for men.

8A_Finnair_Eco-Friendly amenity kit

Finnair offers business class passengers a minimalist, eco-friendly amenity kit that includes socks, an eye-mask and earplugs packaged in a brown paper envelope. A more elaborate, but equally-eco amenities kit, with items in a green tea or birch scent, is available on request.

9_AirFrance_Business Amenity Kit

Business class customers on Air France now receive an amenity kit filled with Clarins cosmetics as well as mouthwash, slipper socks, toothbrush and eye shade. Passengers in the airline’s La Premiere cabins receive a leather cosmetics kit designed by Givenchy filled with skin care products by Biologique Recherche, including face cream, an anti-fatigue roll-on for the eyes, an eye mask, lip balm, hand cream and an oshibori hand towel.

10_Etihad_FIRST CLASS SOUGHA MALE

Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, gives passengers in economy, business and first class cabins amenity kits that feature patterns of Sadou, a colorful, intricate and centuries-old Abu Dhabi weaving craft traditionally used on blankets, cushions and Bedouin tents. In addition to the nice array of products inside the bags, “I love the fact that Etihad has invested in an authentic design for their kits, embracing their cultural roots,” said Jonny Clark, a commercial pilot who evaluates airline products and design at TheDesignAir.