It all began in 2006 with Air Canada winning Gold in the inaugural TravelPlus Airline Amenity Awards.
Below we compiled extracts from the issue of TravelPlus Magazine that announced the Awards back in May 2006
In-flight amenity kits may only seem a token gesture when they are handed out by cabin crew. But they are clearly one of the ways that TravelPlus readers measure the amount of care that an airline gives its passengers.
Readers clearly reveal that the bag’s contents and presentation affect their overall impression of the quality of the flight. When it comes to in-flight kits, one size does not necessarily fit all. Several carriers now offer men’s and women’s options today now standard in first class.
In 2006 the readers said that the three most important items a bag should contain were a good quality eye mask, earplugs, and a full-size toothbrush and paste
Air Canada won the very first TravelPlus Airline Amenity Gold Award with its Executive First amenity kit. The kit contained Deserving Thyme products, refreshing facial mist, hand and body lotion, foot spray and lip balm. Included also was a dental kit, ear plugs, eye mask, flannel, mints, shoe horn, socks plus “do not disturb” sign and a 25% discount voucher for online shoppers at deservingthyme.com
Robert Atkinson and Margaret Skinner – Air Canada receiving the Gold Award from Simon Ward, Editor in Chief – TravelPlus
Gold winning amenity kit by Air Canada crammed with Canadian-made Deserving Thyme body-care products
Silver was awarded to Bmi who had cleverly included a mirror on the inside of its bag, which also contained a useful notebook and pen.
The Silver winner to Bmi
Moisturising products – a big hit with TravelPlus readers – are now provided in most of the top bags. many airlines opt for major brands like Molton Brown, SoMo, Temple Spa, and Dermalogica.
Iberia won the Bronze with their Business Plus kit
The Ozwald Boateng kit designed for Virgin Atlantic was also rated highly by readers. it includes a pen, luggage tag and doubles up as a high-quality document wallet
Some bags continue to disappoint. Business travelers are well aware that amenity kits are not freebies they are made out to be. As part of airlines overhead, the cost of the kit is included in the price of the ticket. So isn’t it time that all kits were good enough to be award winners.
The Awards were announced in May 2006 issue of TravelPlus
The Ozwald Boateng kit designed for Virgin Atlantic
Air Canada’s “check-in” magazine Summer 2006
Page 3 of “check-in” promotes winning Gold
JRS Amenities first to use Awards Gold Seal to promote suppling Air Canada
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