Japan Airlines premium cabins are a very pleasant experience. On my flight Chicago to Tokyo, I received this Heralbony amenity kit. Not a brand I was aware of beforehand, but the kits have a unique look. It is a bit unusual, in that there are no beauty products inside, just the standard dental kit, eyemask, and earplugs. Interestingly, the kit contains a smartphone stand and a lightning charging cable. Some skincare products including a face mask is provided separately onboard. More details on the JAL site here. Photos are mostly stock images from JAL.
Welcome to another installment of our amenity kit review series. As in past reviews, I will be reviewing this amenity kit on a scale from 1 to 5 (being the best) and will rate it based on five categories:
- Bag/container: design, quality and reusability/collectibility of the bag.
- Product: quality, size and variety of the facial and body products.
- Comfort items: eye masks, ear plugs, etc.
- Miscellaneous: pens, tissues and everything else.
- Extras: additional items that make your flight just a tad more comfortable including pajamas, slippers, etc.
JAL Heralbony Amenity Kit
Starting in December of 2023, JAL began giving out these new amenity kits. Here is some of the information in their press release:
Starting from December 2023, passengers in
international First Class and Business Class will receive original pouches featuring artwork by Heralbony’s contracted artists as inflight amenities. A total of 10 different pouch designs will be available (4 for First Class and 6 for Business Class).
[Service Overview]
Period: From the introduction of the Airbus A350-1000 (within this year)
Available routes: From Japan to Europe, the United States, and Australia
Artists featured: Koichi Tsuchiya / Atsuhito Fujiki / Tomohiro Watanabe / Keisuke Mori / Sanae Sasaki / Marina / GAMON
Bag/Container
Product
A toothbrush and tiny tube of toothpaste is included. The toothbrush is made from TEXa. I had to look it up:
TEXa® bio based compound consists of a minimum 25 wt% of renewable carbon, 14C as per ASTM D6866 definition. It is formulated from agricultural by-product which is not from edible resources. Production of TEXa® uses non-hazardous ingredients and reduces greenhouse gases emission. TEXa® Bio based compound can be used on its own or blended together with polypropylene and is ideal for various sustainable and durable applications.
I’m a scientist, and this stuff is interesting to me…Anyway, the toothbrush is fine, I’d probably use it once onboard i needed (I brought my own). I appreciate the sustainability, I suppose.
There is also so pocket tissue. Not even lotion, lip balm or anything else like this. Score: 2
Comfort Items
This is where JAL differs from most other carriers. No socks as are common in most kits. But there are nice slippers, as well as a cardigan to borrow. I didn’t find the cabin warm as JAL is sometimes known for, but I had no need for the cardigan. I used it to boost up my head when I took a nap. Not in the kit, but offered midflight was a “gentle steam eye mask”. A nice way to warm up and moisturize your face in the dry inflight air. The eyemask is better quality that some, with soft fabric touching the face, and satiny on the other side. Score: 3.5
Miscellaneous Items
Another unique offering here, there is a foldable and adjustable smartphone stand plus an phone charging cord (USB-A to lightning and USB-C). Although apparently these cables are going away. Additionally a shoehorn. The phone stand is unique, and the cable is nice, although I haven’t yet used either one as I already have many cables, and I don’t use a phone stand…yet. Score: 3.5
Extras
As mentioned slippers are provided but not socks as is common on other carriers. Thankfully I was offered a pair large enough to fit my feet, not always the case on some other carriers. Also some earplugs are included.Score: 3.5
Final thoughts on the JAL Heralbony Business Class Amenity kit
The container itself is decent quality, and reusable, but not sure I would use it as a toiletries case. A complete lack of skincare products included in the kit which is unusual. A face mask is provided, as well as other unique components are available either in the kit or on board. Nice eyemask, and slippers help boost the score a bit.
Using the same scoring system for other reports, subjective yes, but I do my best to be consistent across products, I rate this kit 3.0
Have you tried out this new kit from Japan Airlines?
I’m pretty geeky about these amenity kits, and always take them after flights. This means I have more than I need. For this reason, I make donations to a local shelter, where these items are really appreciated. If you have extras, I hope you do the same.
Other Amenity Kit Reviews
- Japan Airlines First Class
- ANA First Class
- British Airways First Class
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
- Qantas First Class
- Thai Airways First Class (Rimowa 2014)
- Japan Airlines Business Class
- Lufthansa First Class (Escada)
- Cathay Pacific Business Class (new Seventy-Eight Percent)
- United Airlines BusinessFirst (Cowshed Kit)
- United Airlines BusinessFirst
- American Airlines Transcon First Class (Reno Air Heritage Series)
- United Airlines BusinessFirst (new TEAM USA kit)
- Lufthansa Business Class (Bree)
- Etihad Business Class (LUXE)
- Qatar Airways Economy Class
- American Airlines Business Class (Cole Haan 2016)
- American Airlines Business Class (Cole Haan 2017)
- Austrian Airlines Business Class
- Delta One Domestic Tumi
- Air France La Premiére
- Qantas First Class Martin Grant
- American Airlines Business Class (Cole Haan 2018)
- Lufthansa Business Class (Reisenthel 2018)
- Swiss Business Class (Victorinox 2018)
- American Airlines Business Class (This is Ground 2019)
- American Airlines Premium Economy (STATE 2019)
- Cathay Pacific First Class (Male 2019)
- American Airlines First Class (2019)
- United Polaris Business Class (2021)
- Qatar Airways Business Class (2021)
- Qatar Airways Business Class Diptyque (2022
- Singapore Airlines First/Suites Class (Lalique 2022)
- Turkish Airlines Business Class (Hackett 2022)
