I have to give American Airlines credit. The Raven + Lily bags with Joanna Vargas skincare items they debuted in September are actually an improvement over what they’ve been offering as amenity kits in international and cross-country premium cabins, though the contents are still too sparse.
Flagship First Class and Flagship Preferred Suite
Business Class
Premium Economy
Just like premium economy is a real sweet spot on the A321XLR, it’s an amenity kit sweet spot with American, too. That’s a nice kit for premium economy. In fact those offerings strike me as pretty good. But the contents of these kits remain almost identical from premium economy through Flagship First Class (which is also why premium economy seems so good). I have to wonder where’s the comb; pen (for countries that still require paper forms)? The mouth wash? The chap stick?
This summer’s business class and first class Brandon Blackwood bags felt cheap – more so than what American Airlines was using before that even (though not as bad as when they were giving out cardboard box kits, that was just sad). The Raven + Lily bags do not feel that way at all.
Of course, this is the bag I want to see them go back to – and the contents. I’m not harkening to long ago times when the airline invested as a true premium carrier. I’m just talking about 2019!
American is heading in the right direction with a great many small things. They need to keep investing, because there’s a lot of catch up to do. And they need to explain to their employees what they’re trying to accomplish and work to get them on board.
Becoming a carrier that customers want to choose over competitors, and want to buy up on, is how they’re going to reverse their financial underperformance. And with labor contracts in place that increase profit sharing, it’s how employees will earn more, too.
I liked the Shinola AA Flagship First amenity bag (tan leather), late 2023; got one from DEL-JFK, and still use it today. Amenity kits are hit and miss; if it has the basics (eye mask, ear pugs, hand cream) that’s usually enough. The socks are kinda unnecessary. A full toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream and razor, perfume or cologne, is overkill. ‘Prove me wrong.’
Delta’s premium economy amenity kit is merely an opaque plastic zip lock bag with printing on it. Many will open it and throw it away while AA’s bag is likely to be kept by the passenger and might be a memento.
The best amenity kit item I’ve received is the JAL phone charging cable. It’s a well designed cable that allows you to go between lightning or USB-C. I use it all the time and think of the airline.
The second best thing about amenity kits are the bags themselves. American does a good job rotating its bags so you have something new to look forward to. You may not like all of them, but they’re all decent enough. The fact that this new one doubles for many as a small purse and they include a strap – it’s really smart.
Agree @1990 – although I think a toothbrush/toothpaste is required either in the kit or in a business class bathroom. Nice to brush teeth before bed / waking up / etc. I’m usually wearing socks, I don’t need another pair. Pen… I have a pen.
Until the US 3 train their cabin crews correctly to be on par with Asian carriers (beginning with personal grooming) it won’t matter at all what is in a vinyl amenity kit. Yes, vinyl…..AA hasn’t used real leather kits since the 707 days flying the Deep South Pacific in the early 1970’s. And beware of their current toothpaste. Made in a Chinese sweatshop and tastes like it, too.
It looks like the Business eyemasks are still junk. I recently reviewed a far better 6-for-$10 eyemask at Amazon; why can’t AA do better? Here’s an excerpt from the review:
These unbelievably inexpensive “silk” sleep masks (six for 10 bucks when I got them) are far superior to the ones provided by my airline (the one with a 2-letter name at the beginning of the alphabet) on very expensive business-class international and transcontinental flights. They are large enough to cover the width of my face and the height of my eye sockets so as to eliminate any light leaks at the edges. … As you can see in one of my photos, the airline-provided mask sitting on top of the silk mask is basically child-sized, and has a narrow, uncomfortable and unreliable headband.
Amenity kits across the board need to change. No one flying business class will use the fake leather amenity kits. The tiny lotions last 2 or 3 uses at best. This is not sustainable. Perhaps little sample envelopes would work better and a fabric pouch or even a paper one, because this is just wasteful. Just like the stupid plastic cup they offer as you board, complete unsustainable waste. People should just wait for their drink. We are all adults.
@Gary, you lucky dog. Soon there won’t be any Flagship First so you can stop kvetching about the amenity kit not meeting your high brow expectations. You won the dang lottery!
Please do more stories about gross people on airplanes, you know, feet, poop etc.
Just the other day I was on a flight from ICN to SFO on Asiana. You should look at their business class amenity kits. The worst i have rever received.
These American ones really look super great in comparison.
The kits are the lease of their worries.
The 321XLR is a disaster of a product.
Seats facing the wrong way. Many having 1 window rather than 2.
Seats too narrow and coffin-like.
Screens that muss see t be stowed during meal service.
Worst of all are the stupid suite doors (which have yet to be approved by the FAA) making a tiny space liven smaller for a long flight.
The seat is fine if you are 4’6” or less.
Each of these new ideas seem like they are created by a 21 year old and his computer software.
I think there are some generational differences here.
I’m 40 years old, and I remember my first long-haul international business-class flight about 10 years ago.
I think my generation (“Elder Millennials”) care much more about the customer service than things we throw away.
I appreciated getting some toothpaste and mouthwash (Gary makes a good point there) — but the fake leather bags are about as tired as Macy’s of 25+ years ago trying to lure shoppers into buying shoppers I to buying $100 of cosmetics with the promise of a “free (plastic) bag” with a designer’s name on it.
All of this stuff is trash — and my theory is 95% of business travelers put this stuff in the garbage of their hotel room at the soonest opportunity.
I care a lot more about quality customer service than— flight attendants that remember my order — or provide some insight into a change in gates, or a tip on something fun to do while I’m traveling in a city.
The fake (plastic) leather bags and scratchy socks can go. (I have a nicer version of every one of these items on my carry-on.
It should be more like a business hotel. “Every item is available — upon request.”
“And they need to explain to their employees what they’re trying to accomplish and work to get them on board”.
First, they need to have a cohesive vision. They are doing better but aren’t there yet. And they need to actually value their employees and then treat them like they are valued.
Can’t see any of it truly happening with Isom and his cronies still in place.
One of the best amenity bags I ever received was a black Tumi nylon one, made from their luggage material. Indestructible.
I have several and have given others to family members. They’ve lasted for years and are the perfect size for phone and computer plugs and charging cords. American should take note.
Rather than dispose of them, I fill the bags with the unused products as well as hotel soap and shampoo, new toothbrushes and toothpaste – as well as unused socks – and give them to folks who are without homes. Makes a good amenity kit if they are staying in a shelter for the night. Good for recycling.