Turkish Airlines won the “Best Business Class-Unisex†amenity bag honor at the recent TravelPlus Awards and I offer my critique below in this installment of Amenity Kit Reviews. Also, a special thanks goes out to Thrifty Tourist for sending this kit my way – I love having it in my collection. For a better description of each category and the 7-point scale for scoring, please review my introductory post.
Turkish Airlines Business Class Tablet Case Amenity Kit
Bag/Container: The ribbed leather tablet case is a unique shade of blue (iron, midnight or Prussian?) and is one of three colors Turkish Airlines offers, the others being gray and red. It opens to reveal a brown nylon-lined interior with the airline’s branding on the interior flap and a tag further down denoting its designer, Formia. The Turkish logo itself is also embossed on the exterior loop closure. Sturdily manufactured, its reusability is very high and it definitely offers more protection for your electronic gadget than American’s tablet case kit. I’m deducting a half-point as I find the Crabtree and Evelyn exterior tag a little annoying – Turkish’s branding is a bit more refined and appropriate. Score: 6.5 out of 7
Turkish Airlines Business Class Amenity Tablet Case
Skin Care: As mentioned above, Turkish partnered with Crabtree and Evelyn for its selection of skin care items in this kit, which consist simply of Jojoba Oil hand cream and lip balm. The hand lotion is delicious smelling, though greasy (not surprising given it’s oil-based), and the lip balm is effective and smooth. The enclosed product information card describes the fragrance as an, “invigorating blend of lavender and green herbs with a hint of citrus,†which I find to be true. Now I just need to go wash my hands before I get my keyboard too oily. Score: 4 out of 7
Turkish Airlines Business Class Amenity Bag
Oral Care: Also rather average, but adequate, are the enclosed Colgate toothpaste (regular flavor) and medium-bristled plastic toothbrush with case. I wonder if Turkish Airlines offers mouthwash in the lavs? In any event, they’re basic airline-issue oral care items for an amenity kit and get the job done. Score: 4 out of 7
Comfort Items: Enclosed in their own nylon pouch are standard one-size-fits-all elastic eyeshades and socks with rubber grippers on the base (which I like as they reduce slippage on cabin carpeting). “Do not disturb†and “wake me for meal†stickers are also inside the pouch. Other items include a folding comb/brush, shoehorn and very soft earplugs with an accompanying plastic case. There’s nothing overly fancy about any of them, but I think Turkish did well here for a business class kit as compared to some of their competitors. Score: 5.5 out of 7
Intangibles: This kit definitely impresses on presentation and I also quite like the additional pouches inside the kit (the pictured zipper pouch contained the skin care, oral care and some comfort items). This allows you to take only what you need to the lavatory and protects the luxe exterior case from a potential lav-whoops (sitting it in water, having it fall on the floor, etc). Score: 7 out of 7
Total score & comments:
The case itself is certainly why Turkish won the TravelPlus award, while the skin care and oral care categories are pretty average. Still, it’s a solid business class offering and definitely a step above what many European carriers provide. Final score: 5.05.
– Follow Darren Booth on Twitter, @FrequentlyFlyin, for more airline, hotel and travel industry news, reviews and opinions.
Read more:
TravelPlus Amenity Bag Award Winners
American Airlines First Class Amenity Kit Review – Eames Tablet Case
Like many others here, I travel a lot and have shopping bags full of amenity kits in the closet. At last, Turkish has a kit that is actually useful after the flight. From myself and from my iPad, thanks, TK!
@Tookay: The TK tablet case is definitely a post-trip winner!