Welcome aboard travelers! As we soar to cruising altitude, let's elevate your flying experience with a touch of luxury that goes beyond seat class. While first-class tickets promise indulgence, there’s a secret to enjoying a premium experience regardless of your seat assignment. Crafting your own bespoke in-flight amenity kit can turn even the most cramped economy seat into a pampering retreat. Here’s how to assemble an in-flight amenity kit that will have you feeling fresh and rejuvenated from takeoff to landing.
The Essentials for Your DIY Kit
The Bag
Creating your in-flight sanctuary starts with selecting the perfect bag to house your essentials. Think sleek and functional, like the amenity bags found in top-tier cabins. The complimentary makeup bags that are often offered by makeup brands as part of a promotion make great bags to use. If purchasing your own bag take inspiration from these airline amenity kits.
Stock your kit with essentials to ensure comfort throughout the journey.
Socks
You’re going to want to remove your shoes for ultimate comfort during the flight, and with the cold air conditioning, you will need cozy socks to keep your feet warm. Choose socks that will delight you, we recommend cashmere for superior warmth with no tightness. If you prefer compression socks for the in-flight benefits, then pack those in your kit.
Moisturizer, Hand Cream and Lip Balm
The humidity in airplane cabins is far lower than we’re accustomed to in our day-to-day lives. As such we need to keep hydrated and that includes our skin and lips. Choose a favorite face moisturizer, hand cream, and lip balm for your kit. The gift with purchase travel-sized toiletries that are sometimes offered by brands as part of a promotion are great for this. Alternatively, you can buy empty travel-sized toiletry bottles and fill them with the full-sized toiletries you have on hand.
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Brushing your teeth helps so much with feeling fresh when you get off the plane. Pack a toothbrush and travel-sized toothpaste – the kits you receive from your dentist after a visit are perfect for this.
Eye Mask
A necessary instrument for sleeping on a plane, with the glow of other passenger's entertainment screens and the floor lighting so people can see where they’re walking, it can be difficult to sleep otherwise. We recommend a cashmere eye mask, which is incredibly light and luxurious feeling. It’s fancier than those given out at the front of the cabin!
Ear Plugs
While some like the white noise of a plane engine, for most people they’ll sleep better with less noise. Either earplugs in your amenity kit or noise-canceling headphones will do the trick.
Hand Sanitizer or Wipes
For cleaning your hands, tray table, screen, and seat arms.
Tissues
If you tend to get sniffles from the colder air conditioning, then pack tissues.
Medication and Pain Relievers
Remember to pack any medication that you will need in-flight and having pain relievers on hand is always a good plan.
Pen
Pack a pen just in case there are any customs or immigration forms to fill in on the plane.
Water Bottle
While this won’t fit in your kit, it’s essential to bring it. Drink plenty of water at the airport and then fill up the water bottle again before boarding the flight. While airlines do hand out water at certain points during the flight, it’s much better to have your own at hand to stay extra hydrated.
Luxurious Extras to Consider
Essential Oils in Wipe or Roll-on Form
Certain essential oils help with sleeping, alertness, and anxiety. For example, lavender can help with sleep, peppermint can help with alertness and lemon balm can help with anxiety. You can buy specially formulated wipes or travel-sized roll-ons to include in your kit. Here are some examples.
Carry-On Cocktail Kit
To feel like you're in business or first class, bring your carry-on cocktail kit on board and whip yourself up a cocktail. These kits come with everything you need to create the cocktail minus the alcohol which you will need to procure on the plane, as airlines do not allow you to bring alcohol onboard.
While this won’t fit in your amenity kit, consider a cashmere travel wrap an essential for making your flight more comfortable and luxurious. Wear it as a wrap or scarf at the airport to save space in your carry-on, and then when you're on the plane transform it into a blanket, trust us!
Hydrating Facial Spray
Pack a facial spray formulated for hydration during your flight. Spray as needed and feel glamorous while doing it. Evian has a travel-sized version, and Air Repair has a spritz specifically formulated for flying.
Facial Cleansing Towelettes and Make-Up
For a truly refreshed feel both on and off the plane, cleanse your face before you go to sleep and again when you wake up. Also having a freshly made-up face goes a long way to feeling human after a long-haul flight.
Jet Lag Remedies
There are certain types of jet lag remedies you can consume while on a plane and after your flight. Some examples are herbal tea formulated to help with sleep and alertness and drinks that come in tablet or powder form to replace essential minerals, etc.
Preparing for Takeoff at the Gate
Before boarding, initiate your pre-flight ritual for optimal comfort. Hydration is key, so ensure you have a large water bottle to sip from. Aim to consume at least 32 oz before boarding, as recommended by experts to combat the effects of low cabin humidity.
In-Flight Comfort and Care
Once airborne, indulge in the comforts of your DIY amenity kit. Use refreshing towelettes to cleanse your face and keep your skin hydrated with moisturizer or a facial spray. Don't forget to pamper your lips, hands, and eyes to combat dryness. If you brought onboard a cocktail kit or jet lag remedy now's the time to indulge in those.
Stay cozy with warm socks and wrap up to ward off chilly cabin air. Rest your head with a supportive pillow and block out distractions with an eye mask and noise-canceling headphones or earplugs.
Post-Meal Rituals and Preparation for Landing
After enjoying your in-flight meal, refresh with a final skincare routine. Use facial wipes and sprays to revive your complexion, followed by moisturizer application. Touch up your appearance with any makeup essentials you brought with you and treat your mouth to that fresh feeling by brushing your teeth.
To make your DIY amenity kit even more luxurious, consider investing in new items to add a sense of indulgence to your flight experience. Treat yourself to a new lip balm or a pair of socks to open for the first time on the plane, adding a touch of excitement to your journey.
To get a head start on creating a luxurious amenity kit, you can buy airline amenity kits on eBay from travelers who haven’t used theirs, and then stock it with the extras that are going to make your flight even more luxurious. Jet&Bo also sells a pre-prepared luxury amenity kit that includes cashmere socks, a mulberry silk eye mask, a carry-on cocktail kit, and hydrating facial spray.
Don’t forget to take advantage of pre-flight amenities such as drinking plenty of water and doing a skincare routine to ensure you feel refreshed and pampered throughout the journey. And remember, the key to a successful DIY amenity kit is customization – tailor your kit to suit your preferences and travel habits, ensuring you have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable flight. Happy travels!
