If you follow my blog, you know I horde collect airline amenity kits and review them in my Amenity Kit Review series. As such, I generally don’t use the products in the kits with the exception of sampling each item at the time I post a review.
When I travel, whether it is a single day mileage run or a long international trip, I always have my own makeshift kit that fits perfectly into my laptop case. I’ve been using United’s current First Class amenity bag for the past couple of years as the carrying case for all of my items, as its size is perfect for what I bring along.
My essentials as pictured are:
- Antibacterial wet wipes – perfect for wiping down tray tables, hotel room remotes and back in the day when I’ve slept overnight at an airport, they’re a perfect way to freshen up.
- Quart-sized plastic bag – the TSA has significantly lightened up on the 3-1-1 rule when traveling with liquids, but in case a rogue agent really gets picky and requires I have them in a baggie, I have one on hand.
- Deodorant.
- Q-tips – I use a little case United used to provide in their Royal Pacific amenity kit from the 1970s and early 1980s.
- Shampoo – in a refillable container.
- Hand and body lotion – plucked from a recent hotel stay.
- Mouthwash – in a refillable container.
- Moisturizing face lotion – you can see I’m a Clinique guy and also use a refillable container.
- Antibacterial lotion – perfect for when the lavatory water is inoperative, which can be the case sometimes when parked at the gate before departure.
- Lip balm.
- Perfume oil – I generally only use it before landing on a long-haul international flight to freshen up.
- Toothpaste & toothbrush
- Eyeshades & earplugs
- Disposable razor – not pictured as I need to restock
- Miniature shaving cream – not pictured as well
I need to go back and rescore the bag on my United First Class Amenity Kit Review as I feel it ends up being ideal to store a lot of items and expands perfectly when adding in additional hotel amenities. Sorry, United… I was a bit too harsh in my review.
Do you travel with your own version? What are your essential items on the road?
One thing that I have in my kit are detergent wipes. You can get little square packets of Tide wipes to have just in case you spill or drop something on yourself during a meal service, etc.
I’m sure glad that you mentioned that one quart bag! It would be a shame to have you posting your blog from that SuperMax federal prison in Colorado.
I add nail clippers – they always come in handy. And TSA no longer considers the file portion to be a dangerous weapon.
I carry most of those items along with a contact lens case, mini contact solution bottle, mini hairbrush, small comb, and a small tube of ibuprofen, acetaminophen and multi-vitamins.
@LufthansaFlyer: Great idea!
@Cook: Ha!
@Mike: Also a good idea.
@Larry: I need to add ibuprofen to my kit… I end up stupidly buying it at the airport at ridiculous prices. Thanks for the tip.
Evian spray mist is a must when I travel overseas and face clothes, oil of Olay that activate with water to freshen up ( allllll over). 🙂
@Rosa: Love the mist spray idea.
Great kit…mine is a bit smaller, but the key addition would be:
Ambien
Before I started reading your blog, I always thought my habit of collecting amenity kits (55 at last count)to be slightly odd, even a little embarrassing. Now I know I have company! I travel with an Air Canada amenity kit with small bottles that I would refill. Things I don’t need like shoe horn, face/body lotion and lip balm are replaced with Purell, nail clipper and razor. I also make sure I have sundry pills such as Imodium, Gravol and Tylenol. I just wish the kit is a bit bigger so I can squeeze more items in 🙂
Are those United’s eyeshades? I think I got similar ones in United Business on Australia flights a couple years back. Though they are pretty light-weight and compact, mine have held up surprisingly well for a number of trips and through the washing machine a few times (in a mesh laundry bag).
@BRC: Indeed they are United. I like them because they are very light and fit well.
I would add that I always have 2 sets of earplugs (having once dropped one on the floor – no way would I put it in my ear after that!) and I also include an eye gel, either Clinique, Lab Series, or Body Shop.
Great blog by the way!
@LondonNick: Thanks and good idea… I wouldn’t want to stick an earplug that hit the floor back in my ear, either!
I use the United Global First Amenity bag, and I have stocked it full of Malin + Goetz goodies
@Taylor: Since this post was published, I’ve now switched to the newer Global First bag, too. I like it for the multiple compartments and the ability to hang it.