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Collectible Kitsch Airlines are turning to silk sleepwear, alcohol-filled ceramic vases and other limited-edition souvenirs to leave a lasting impression on their premium passengers. by Nadja Sayej
austrian airways klm Before disembarking from a business-class flight with KLM, passengers are given a “last drink on the house.” No bottle, however: It’s served in a miniature white Dutch house filled with their local gin, “genever.” Puncture the wax chimney seal to pour yourself a glass. A new design is added annually on KLM’s anniversary, so there are now 95 different houses. No purchase available; in-flight only.
When flying long-haul business, passengers are offered a grey wool bag called “A Little Piece of Austria.” Inside, the fabric is printed with old black-and-white photos of skiing Austrians. There are eight different bags to collect, showing the different regional costumes from the countryside. A definite keeper.
swissair
air france
qatar Their bathrooms are famously stocked with toothbrushes, toothpaste and shaving kits, while their snack bar offers Godiva chocolates. One take-home treasure is the scented Attimo Pour Homme hand cream from Salvatore Ferragamo, exclusive to business-class passengers, as is the lip balm. 44
december 2014 - january 2015
Passengers love the red wine and warm baguettes they serve, but the amenity kits on Air France are next level. Alongside a hypoallergenic feather pillow and cozy blankets, their “comfort and well-being” kits contain toiletries, including a highquality Clarins skin treatment. The best part is a “Do Not Disturb” sticker to put on your sleeping mask, so you can snooze sans interruptions.
As they board each flight, passengers are treated with Swiss chocolate – emblazoned with the airline’s logo. Wrapped in silver foil and red packaging, it reads, “Thank you for flying with Swiss.” They serve chocolate eggs at Easter and now have introduced lactoseand gluten-free food and beverages. Swissair has allergy-friendly cabins in business class, including synthetic pillows and fragrance-free soap.
Airline Passenger Experience Association