The Mail put the amenity kits handed out by the world’s best airlines to the test

The free amenity kit that awaits business and first-class airline passengers is a high point of the journey.

At least, that’s the theory.

Here we investigate the various goody bags handed out by airlines that rank among the world’s top 20, as determined by the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023, to see if they’re worthy of the thousands that the tickets cost.

Here’s our verdict on the cases, which contain everything from designer fragrances to ‘luxury’ socks. Scroll to the very bottom for the kit that takes the top prize… 

ANA, ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS

MailOnline Travel tested out the business class amenity kit offered by Japanese airline ANA, All Nippon Airways

Airline ranking: Third worldwide.

Price of a plane ticket: A business class ticket from London to Tokyo with the Japanese airline is priced from around £3,974 ($5,105) one-way.

We tested: The business class amenity kit.

The bag: A little suitcase-shaped case from the British luxury luggage brand Globe-Trotter, which launched in 1897.

The contents: A ‘travel-friendly’ face mist (10ml) and a lip balm – made using yuzu, a type of citrus – by the Japanese cosmetics brand Shiro. It’s £50 ($64) for a 120ml face mist. ‘These high-end cosmetics will appeal to the growing number of passengers interested in sampling Japanese cosmetics,’ says the airline. 

Overall verdict: This is definitely the most fun design of all the kits tested. It’s a real keepsake for travel lovers. The elasticated compartments inside the case are also reminiscent of old-school luggage. Shiro products are of fantastic quality too, made using natural ingredients. One drawback – the case is a little stiff to open.

Star rating: ****

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES

Above is the Singapore Airlines’ business-class amenity kit, which was developed in collaboration with British perfumers Penhaligon’s

Airline ranking: Number one in the world. 

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Singapore with the Singaporean airline is priced from around £2,386 ($3,065) one way.

Amenity kit tested: The business-class amenity kit. 

The bag: An easy-to-reuse taupe ‘folio-style’ zip-open bag. 

The contents: As the kit was developed in collaboration with British perfumers Penhaligon’s, there are three Penhaligon’s ‘Luna’ products inside – hand lotion, lip balm and facial mist. They have a ‘specially curated’ floral and citrus scent. You get 30ml of the hand lotion – it retails at around £24 ($31) for 75ml.

Overall verdict: The Penhaligon’s detailing is charming – the lining is patterned with perfume-themed illustrations and the zipper pull is a miniature Penhaligon’s perfume bottle. 

It loses points, however, for the limited selection inside. Passengers can request other amenities such as shaving tools, a dental kit and eyeshades during their flight, but it’s a pity they’re not worked into the kits. Plus, it’s a shame there’s no eau de toilette included from Penhaligon’s. 

Star rating: ** 

JAPAN AIRLINES

Japan Airlines’ business-class kit is a faux leather case designed in collaboration with the French-Japanese fashion house Maison Kitsune. The leather is stamped with a gold fox – the brand’s logo

The Maison Kitsune case could easily be reused as a clutch or a purse after the flight

Airline ranking: Fifth worldwide.

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Tokyo with the Japanese airline is priced from around £3,791 ($4,870) one-way.

We tested: The business-class amenity kits.

The bag: A faux leather case designed in collaboration with the French-Japanese fashion house Maison Kitsune. The ‘leather’ is stamped with a gold fox – the fashion brand’s logo – with the fox theme continuing in the boldly patterned lining. 

The contents: A toothbrush, ear plugs, eye mask, a packet of tissues and a moisturising face mask.

Overall verdict: Very elegant. You can imagine people using them as a clutch or a purse long after their flight. It’s also the only kit to have a ‘moisture mask’ for your skin, though it loses marks for the general lack of toiletries inside. 

Star rating: ***

TURKISH AIRLINES 

Turkish Airlines business-class passengers get a leather case designed by the luxury Italian brand Salvatore Ferragamo

Airline ranking: Sixth worldwide, top in Europe. 

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from New York to Istanbul with the Turkish carrier is priced from around £3,217 ($4,132) one-way.

We tested: The business-class amenity kit.

The bag: A leather case designed by the luxury Italian brand Salvatore Ferragamo. Turkish Airlines says: ‘The chic and functional design of the bags, available in different colours throughout the year, makes them attractive for use even after the journey.’ 

The contents: Toiletries by Salvatore Ferragamo – facial mist, body lotion and lip balm. Plus, there are ‘luxury’ soft socks, earplugs made from recycled plastic and a toothbrush made from wheat straw. 

Overall verdict: The case itself is the best quality of all of those tested. There’s a soft, buttery feel to the leather, and it’s a generous size. Socks are super fluffy and soft. It’s the only kit that contains a hair tie – a little detail that proves very handy when flying. 

Star rating: ****

AIR FRANCE

Air France’s business-class kit features a ‘stylish herringbone pattern’ and is made from 96 per cent recyclable material

Airline ranking: Seventh worldwide.

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from New York to Paris with the French carrier is priced from around £1,497 ($1,923) one-way. 

We tested: The business-class amenity kits.

The bag: A zip-up case in a ‘stylish herringbone pattern’, made from 96 per cent recyclable material. 

The contents: Travel-size products by the premium French brand Clarins – the rejuvenating hand cream (£26/$33 for 100ml) and the moisturising, cooling face gel (£76/$98 for 100ml). A toothbrush and a pen made from maize straw and a soft eye mask are among the other contents. 

Overall verdict: Wholeheartedly chic. It’s presented in a sophisticated style, channelling the airline’s colours in a muted way. Clarins products are known for their quality, too.  

Star rating: ****

CATHAY PACIFIC

Cathay Pacific’s business-class kit was created in collaboration with luxury British skincare brand Bamford

Airline ranking: Eighth worldwide. 

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Hong Kong with Hong Kong’s flag carrier is priced from around £4,864 ($6,248) one-way.

We tested: The business-class amenity kit.

The bag: A beige mock leather case created in collaboration with luxury British skincare brand Bamford. 

The contents: It features three products by Bamford – a ‘botanic’ lip balm, a hydrating face mist and a hand and body lotion. An eye mask, ear plugs, a toothbrush and toothpaste and a handy tub of mouthwash complete the set. 

Overall verdict: The case revolves around getting a good night’s sleep – a card outlines a ‘three-step ritual’ to undertake, ‘preparing the body for sleep’ by applying the lotion on ‘areas that carry tension such as the neck, arms and hands’, followed by a ‘calming’ spritz of the face mist and the application of the lip balm to ‘restore softness while you sleep’. Perhaps a little unexciting overall but would certainly help you to feel rested.

Star rating: ***

QANTAS AIRWAYS

Of all the kits, the business-class amenity kit by Qantas Airways has the most creative design

Toiletries in the Qantas kit are by Australian skincare brand Li’Tya and feature Australian eucalyptus

Airline ranking: Seventeenth worldwide, top in Australia. 

Price of a plane ticket: With the Australian carrier, a business-class ticket from London to Sydney, with one stop, is priced from around £4,698 ($6,035) one-way.

We tested: The business-class amenity kit.

The bag: The blue-and-white case is designed by Aboriginal artist Kevin Wilson, and is embellished with illustrations of whale sharks and kangaroos to combine ‘the elements of Western Australia’s ancient tracks, waterways and animals’. 

The contents: There’s a card inside that tells you about the artist and introduces you to hotspots in Western Australia, such as the Ningaloo Reef World Heritage Site. Toiletries – face cream, lip balm and hand cream – are by Australian skincare brand Li’Tya and feature Australian eucalyptus. 

Overall verdict: Of all the kits, this has the most creative design. Graphic and original, it showcases the wildlife and cultural experiences that await you on a trip to Australia. What’s more, it’s designed to be reused – Qantas says that its customers ‘repurpose them as wallets, or for storing makeup or keys’. There’s a sustainable bent too, with a bamboo toothbrush, fully compostable packaging and recycled plastic skincare tubes.

Star rating: ****

BRITISH AIRWAYS

British Airways’ first-class amenity kits are designed by British fashion designer Alice Temperley and come in a male and female variety 

The male first-class amenity kit for BA, which contains shaving gel and a comb, among other items. The case’s patterned Alice Temperley lining is pictured on the right  

Image two shows British Airways’ amenity kit by luxury lifestyle brand The White Company, which is handed out to business-class passengers

Airline ranking: Eighteenth worldwide, top in the UK. 

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to New York with the British carrier is priced from around £8,035 ($10,321) one-way. A first-class ticket for the same route is £10,900 ($14,001).

We tested: First-class amenity kits and the amenity kit by lifestyle brand The White Company for business-class (Club World) passengers.

The bag: The first-class sets are designed by British designer Alice Temperley – the female kits have a slightly intense pattern on the outside, whereas the male versions look more sophisticated, wrapped black or aubergine. The White Company set sits in a neat little black case. 

The contents: In the Alice Temperley kits, you get an Elemis cleansing micellar facial wipe, a fortitude deodorant, a pro-collagen rose facial mist, a lip balm, a moisturiser and eye cream. It’s a real treat, as Elemis moisturisers can cost as much as £150 ($193) retail. Male sets also include shave gel. 

In The White Company set, there’s a moisturiser (with geranium and neroli), a lip balm and a ‘pulse point’ (with lavender and peppermint) that you use to massage your skin. They’re all from the brand’s ‘Restore & Relax Spa Collection’ and are supposed to ‘counteract the effects of long haul air travel’ and give you a ‘relaxing boost’. 

Overall verdict: All in all, they’re very generous kits that are packed to the brim with products. 

The quality of the Elemis toiletries is excellent and it’s thoughtful to include shaving gel and deodorant. The mirror and comb are another clever addition, though the mirror is a bit stiff to open. The Alice Temperley print on the bags likely isn’t to everyone’s taste, but it’s nice to see that BA has worked with a British designer. 

Star rating: ****

DELTA AIR LINES

Delta Air Lines partnered with Mexican apparel brand Someone Somewhere to create its business-class kits

Airline ranking: Twentieth worldwide, top in the U.S. 

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Atlanta, Georgia (the U.S airline’s hub), is priced from around £6,636 ($8,524) one-way.

We tested: The business-class amenity kits.

The bag: Delta partnered with Mexican apparel brand Someone Somewhere to create the kits, with the partnership creating jobs for ‘more than 250 people in five of Mexico’s most vulnerable states’. The bag is navy blue, envelope style and held together with an elastic strap.

The contents: Organic and cruelty-free toiletries – a vanilla and watermelon lip balm and an orange peel hand cream – are by Grown Alchemist, described as a ‘leading force in clean beauty’. It also includes a Someone Somewhere eye mask and a toothbrush by sustainable brand Humble Co.

Overall verdict: A lot of thought has been put into the ethos and eco-credentials behind the kit. A nice touch is a QR code that you can scan, introducing you to the Mexican craftswoman who designed the kit. Plus, the overall design is slick and contemporary. 

Star rating: ****

SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIR LINES

Swiss International Air Lines collaborated with Victorinox, the makers of the original Swiss army knife, for its business-class kit. The case can be transformed into a packing cube

Swiss International Air Lines takes the prize for the most practical amenity kit

Airline ranking: Twelfth worldwide.

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from New York to Zurich with the Swiss carrier is priced from around £729 ($936) one-way.

We tested: The business-class amenity kits.

The bag: Swiss International Air Lines distributes two different amenity kits depending on the route. Both are made by Victorinox – the makers of the original Swiss army knife, established in 1884. One is a pouch that can be unfolded into a packing cube to organise your luggage ‘perfectly’. The other is a rectangular tin box.

The contents: Both kits contain a toothbrush made of corn starch, toothpaste, earplugs, socks and an eyeshade.

Overall verdict: This takes the prize for the most practical amenity kit. The tin box is sturdy, light and doubles as a nifty pencil case, and the packing cube is equally reusable. The contents, however, are a bit disappointing – there’s not much beyond the basics. The bright red socks are a jazzy touch, however.

Star rating: ***

QATAR AIRWAYS

Qatar Airways offers its first and business passengers ‘luxurious bespoke gift boxes’, which come in two colourways 

The Qatar Airways kit contains a Diptyque eau de toilette – passengers either get a signature ‘34 Boulevard Saint Germain’ bottle or an ‘Eau Rose’ eau de toilette 

Airline ranking: Second worldwide.

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Doha with the Qatari airline is priced from around £3,121 ($4,009) one-way. A first-class ticket for the same route is from £6,630 ($8,515).

Amenity kits tested: Amenity kits for first and business class – passengers in both cabins receive the same goody bags – that were created in collaboration with the French fragrance brand Diptyque.

The bag: There are the Diptyque branded bags made from vegan leather and ‘luxurious bespoke gift boxes’. The gift boxes are striking, but as they’re made from card, they’re not hugely long-lasting. The zip-up case, on the other hand, is easily reusable.

The contents: You get one of two different 10ml bottles of eau de toilette – the signature ‘34 Boulevard Saint Germain’ (£98/$126 for a 50ml bottle) or ‘Eau Rose’ eau de toilette (£90/$116 for a 50ml bottle). The former is scented with a blend of amber, patchouli, cinnamon and rose while the latter is with damascene and centifolia roses. There’s also the brand’s ‘nourishing’ lip balm, an orange-blossom scented body lotion and a face cream made with prickly pear extract ‘to boost radiance’. 

Overall verdict: The most luxurious kit of all. 

The kits smell heavenly, creating a truly premium experience (though it might be a little overpowering if you don’t like Diptyque). The presentation means that opening them up feels like unwrapping a gift. The eau de toilette is the cherry on top, especially considering how much it costs to purchase. 

Star rating: ***** 

EMIRATES – THE BEST OVERALL 

Emirates partnered with Bulgari for these ‘exclusive’ kit bags for its business-class passengers.  The kits feature 5ml bottles of Bulgari eau de toilette

Airline ranking: Fourth worldwide.

Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Dubai with the UAE airline is priced from around £2,614 ($3,357) one-way. A first-class ticket for the same route is £4,546 ($5,838).

We tested: First class and business-class amenity kits.

The bag: Emirates partnered with Italian luxury fashion house Bulgari for these ‘exclusive’ kit bags, made from faux leather, which come in a range of colours for both men and women. ‘The bags have been designed for multipurpose uses after the flight to store headphones, makeup or jewellery,’ says Emirates.

The contents: They feature 5ml bottles of Bulgari eau de toilette – Omnia (£84/$108 for 65ml)  and Aqva (£65/$83 for 50ml). There’s also matching hydrating face emulsion, body lotion and lip balm, tissues, a shaving kit, a foldable brush, a pocket mirror and a dental kit. 

Overall verdict: This kit takes the top prize because Emirates has truly considered everything a business-class passenger might need during their flight and delivered it, with the Bulgari toiletries creating a little cocoon of luxury. And while the roll-on deodorant looks a little cheap, it’s the kind of thing you’d be grateful for five hours into a flight. 

Star rating: ***** 

Flight prices correct at the time of writing, based on Google Flights.