In the early days of aviation (think 1920s-30s), cabin kits were all about practicality. Airlines handed out cotton plugs to tackle the roaring engine sound and chewing gums helped passengers adjust to the shift in air pressure. Plush pillows and cosy blankets followed next. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that luxury took flight, yielding shaving kits, lip balms, face creams, and even sewing kits to elevate the passenger experience. Cut to 2024, and commercial airlines are upping the ante in Business Class with ultra-hep cabin kits featuring pouches designed by Salvatore Ferragamo, products from Diptyque fragrances, and even PJs and sleeping masks designed by fashion maestros like TUMI.
Intrigued? Explore our curated list of the most luxurious cabin kits currently pampering Business Class flyers.
Luxury reimaged: Our favourite Business Class cabin kits
Emirates
Functional with a dose of fancy was perhaps the brief for Emirates‘ amenity kits, curated separately for men and women. The women’s kit, smeared in lilac-silver finesse, features a packet of tissues, a foldable comb, a compact mirror, Rexona deodorant, a dental kit, Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste Scented Body Lotion, Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste Face Emulsion, a Bvlgari lip balm, and Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste Eu De Toilette. The men’s kit holds a Gillette Shaving Foam, Rexona deodorant, tissues, a razor, a comb, a dental kit, and Bvlgari toiletries including an aftershave balm, Eu De Toilette, body lotion and lip balm.
Emirates also provides its Business Class passengers with soft in-flight loungewear, including a cowl-neck top, drawstring pants, a matching eye mask, and sturdy slippers.
Food and entertainment: Expect a spread of gourmet cuisine complemented by a 23-inch HD screen, where you can scour through 65,000 channels (on Emirates A380). The retractable tablet ensures easy access from your reclining seat, without having to reach out for the screen. Complimentary scented hot towels add further convenience.
Seats and other amenities: Emirates’ A380 aircraft enchants with plush seats that recline into fully flat beds with cosy mattresses and soft blankets to enhance your bedtime experience. The 777 variant also offers comfortable seating with easy access to power sockets, storage, and entertainment screens. The Business Class offers abundant storage compartments, temperature-controlled water, and flannel towels. Additionally, the dazzling lounge is a great place to grab a cocktail and network with staff and fellow travellers.
Etihad
Etihad’s opulent Business Class cabin kits are curated exclusively in collaboration with renowned designer Giorgio Armani and Armani/Casa. These stylish unisex kits, available in cube and clutch bag designs, are filled with plush skincare and well-being products from iconic beauty brand ESPA, including nourishing lip treatment, hydrating spa face mist, and rejuvenating hand and body lotion. Long-haul Business Class flyers also receive Armani loungewear and slippers for ultimate comfort.
Food and entertainment: From traditional Emirati dishes and an all-day dining menu to destination-inspired meals, only a few can hold a candle to Etihad’s top-notch gourmet offerings. Add over 1,000 hours of on-demand movies and TV shows to this for the perfect experience.
Seats and other amenities: Boasting some of the best seats in the sky, passengers can relish a fully flat bed, memory foam mattress, and Armani Casa bed linen on the larger Etihad aircraft.
Air India
Air India’s Business Class offers a touch of Italian elegance with cabin amenity kits designed by Salvatore Ferragamo. These stylish kits include essential travel items like socks, earplugs, tissues, a dental kit, and Ferragamo-branded skincare products such as body lotion, hand cream, and lip balm. The mini case comes with an exclusive vegan leather patch by TUMI, which passengers can later personalise with their initials at TUMI stores. Air India completes the luxurious experience with soft pyjama sets and slippers from TUMI and even extends the Ferragamo branding to pillows and comforters onboard.
Food and entertainment: Sumptuous entrées, well-aged wine, and the 21″ in-flight screen ensure that entertainment is not compromised.
Seats and other amenities: Some seats boast full-size wardrobes to hang your clothes after changing into loungewear. The massive seat cubby and generous legroom ensure enough space for storage and stretching your legs. The centre row even features a unique design that eliminates overhead bins, creating a more spacious cabin feel.
Qatar Airways
Crafted in collaboration with legendary French perfumer Diptyque, the comfort kits onboard Qatar Airways‘ Business class delight with Diptyque fragrances, a nourishing lip balm, face cream, and a body lotion. Inside the pouch, travellers can expect either Eau Rose Eau de Toilette (bottling the stupor of damascena and centifolia roses) or the brand’s signature fragrance, 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Eau de Toilette, featuring notes of amber, patchouli, cinnamon, and rose.
Food and entertainment: Qatar Airways’ Business Class dining goes above and beyond. Passengers can request à la carte meals anytime during the flight, with options catering to various dietary needs including vegan, raw vegetarian, diabetic, kosher, non-lactose, and more. After a delicious meal, unwind and enjoy a movie on the 21.5-inch touchscreen powered by the Oryx One Entertainment System.
Seats and other amenities: Travellers can enjoy personal lie-flat seats with privacy dividers. Additionally, ask for a pair of soft pyjamas to truly veg out.
Cathay Pacific
Planning to fly Business Class in Cathay Pacific? After being greeted with a hot towel and welcome drink, you’ll be handed gorgeous grey-and-burgundy amenity kits branded by conscious luxury stalwart Bamford. Inside the faux leather bag, expect a sleeping mask, toothbrush, mouthwash, socks, and indulgent products like lotion, facial mist, and lip balm by Bamford. Additionally, travellers also receive pyjama sets by PYE along with slippers.
Food and entertainment: Cathay Pacific’s in-flight entertainment system was adjudged the best in the world at the 2023 Skytrax Awards. Mix it with spirits from the airline’s award-winning cellar housing fine wines, champagnes, Betsy beer, and more.
Seats and other amenities: Sink into luxuriously soft, 400-thread count cotton linen sheets, sustainably sourced, and drift off to sleep with the help of their fluffy pillows.
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Air France
Dip your toes in luxury as you unpack Air France’s beautiful amenity kit. Key constituents include a soft eye mask, ear plugs wrapped in Kraft paper, a lotion, a moisture-replenishing lip balm by the esteemed brand Clarins, toothpaste, toothbrush, and socks. To reduce its environmental footprint, Air France has done away with plastic packaging and the comfort kits come with an integrity seal. The pouch’s likeable design is elevated by the red zipper, symbolic of the brand’s logo.
Food and entertainment: An exclusive menu curated by Michelin-star chefs and a prestigious list of wines and champagne selected by sommelier Paolo Basso promises to elevate your long-haul journey. Enjoy your flight while watching a movie, concert, or documentary on a large HD touchscreen, transforming your space into a home cinema.
Seats and other amenities: The comfortable lie-flat seat in Air France’s Business Class measures approximately 2 metres and features a fully lowering armrest and adjustable reading light. Right next to the seat is an elegant privacy divider and a storage compartment, inside which a clear mirror and noise-cancelling headphones are seated. Additionally, the foot cubby is spacious and can be used for extra storage.
British Airways
Luxe from the get-go, British Airways‘ Business Class offers a zip-up bag by The White Company. Inside, you’ll find essential travel items like earplugs, a sleeping mask, socks, a toothbrush, and a pen. For a touch of in-flight pampering, the amenity kit also includes The White Company SPA’s Relax Pulse Oil, Restore Moisturizer, and lip balm.
Food and entertainment: Brace yourselves for a full British breakfast, afternoon tea, cheese platters, alcoholic beverages and everything in between onboard the British Airways’ Business Class. The airline’s Master of Wine, Tim Jackson, enhances the complimentary drink offerings with his expertise.
Seats and other amenities: The seat configuration depends on your flight distance. Club Europe seats on short-haul flights offer in-seat power on most aircraft and provide ample legroom at 76.3 cm. For long-haul journeys, Club World seats transform into a luxurious 183 cm fully-flat bed, complete with plush bedding for a restful sleep.
Singapore Airlines
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Singapore Airlines‘ Business Class services are carried out by A380, A350, and 777 aircraft, each carrying different perks for a luxurious experience. The journeys are boosted by green faux leather pouches by Penhaligon’s, containing pampering amenities like hand lotion, lip balm, and facial mist by the brand. Even the onboard lavatories are stocked with Penhaligon’s products, including facial mist, Eau de Toilette, hand cream, and essentials like razors and toothbrushes.
Food and entertainment: When flying Singapore Airlines, guests can preview the in-flight menu at least 24 hours in advance and book their meals. You can also preview your in-flight food, beverages, snacks and amenities eight days in advance using the airline’s digital in-flight menu.
Seats and other amenities: Singapore Airlines’ A380 Business Class features stunning seats upholstered in hand-stitched full-grain leather by Poltrona Frau, which recline into fully flat beds. at bedtime, the attentive flight attendants will transform your seat into a comfortable bed with a plush mattress, pillow, and duvet. The A350 and 777 Business Class seats promise two comfortable positions: the Lazy Z and the Sundeck. These handcrafted Scottish leather seats with diamond stitching also convert into comfortable flat beds.
Turkish Airlines
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Turkish Airlines pampers its Business Class passengers with stylish and eco-friendly amenity kits by Salvatore Ferragamo. Available in a range of colours, these kits contain thoughtfully chosen items like luxuriously soft socks, eye masks, earplugs made from recycled plastic, and toothbrushes crafted from wheat straw inside. For additional comfort, the kits also include moisturising hand cream, lip balm, toothpaste, and a comb.
Food and entertainment: With unmatched flavours rustled up by Turkish catering brand Do&Co and flying chefs, expect the choicest Turkish and Global cuisine on your flight. The noise-cancelling Denon headphones and 18″ IFE screen are brag-worthy too.
Seats and other amenities: The lie-flat seats plunge open into 193 cm-long beds with a width of 66 cm. The massage feature, locked storage, and cocktail table further enhance the journey.
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Vistara
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Among the most luxurious cabins from the Indian skies, Vistara promises amenity kits that are both practical and pretty. The pouch, made of faux leather and fabric by Forest Essentials, encloses a sleeping mask and socks, in addition to a premium facial spray, body lotion, and sleep oil by Forest Essentials.
Food and entertainment: The airline provides sumptuous gourmet dishes, with options for those with dietary restrictions. The meals are best enjoyed in the company of Vistara’s well-equipped in-flight entertainment system.
Seats and other amenities: Onboard Vistara A321Neo, expect lofty leg room with a 63″ seat pitch. The seats are crafted using genuine leather and roll out into 84″ fully-flat beds.
(Feature Image Credits: Air India)
Related: The Main Differences Between Business Class Vs. First Class — And Tips For Booking Each
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What items are usually included in business-class cabin kits?
Business Class cabin kits include beauty and skincare products (usually from luxury brand collaborations), dental kits, slippers, loungewear, sleeping masks, and ear plugs.
– Are cabin kits complimentary in business class?
Cabin kits are complimentary in most business class cabins of long-haul flights.
– Are business class cabin kits environmentally friendly?
Of late, airlines are prioritising eco-conscious cabin kits by ditching plastic and making way for kraft paper packaging, among other efforts.
– Can I keep the business class cabin kit after the flight?
Yes, you can take the Business Class cabin kit with you after the flight.
Written By
Yashita Vashishth
Senior Digital Writer - Growth, TravelWriter by day, reader by night, Yashita has a flair for all things travel, wellness and food. She has previously worked at Condé Nast India and Times Internet. When not working, you can catch her binge-reading the latest thriller on the block, re-watching Friends, trying a new recipe or hosting her friends.
