amenity kits

Travel Tidbits: from United and JetBlue

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.

 

Airline amenity kits you might fight the kids for

A wide range of airline amenity kits, for both adults and children, were on display last week in Hamburg, Germany as part of the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo.

Amenity kits for adults were lovely, of course, but those for kids just look like lots more fun. Especially the Super Hero kit I spotted (below) that includes a backpack with a built-in cape!

 

Souvenir Sunday: 747-themed amenity kits on United

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

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:

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.

Batman v. Superman – the airplane

Turkish Airlines - Batman v Superman Special Livery 2

The action adventure film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens worldwide on March 25, 2016 and evidently there’s a scene that takes place on a 777 Turkish Airlines plane.

Off-screen, Turkish Airlines is celebrating the movie with specially-painted Batman v. Superman plane, limited edition movie-themed in-flight amenity kits for adults and children and movie-themed in-flight menu items, including branded cookies and cupcakes.

Turkish Airlines - Batman v Superman Special Livery

You’ll have to wait until February 8th for the on-line part of the promotion, which will include an opportunity to enter a contest to attend of one the world premieres.

(Photos courtesy Turkish Airlines)