United debuts all-new domestic amenity kits, replacing Away

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Out with the old, and in with the new for amenity kits on United Airlines.

The Chicago-based carrier debuted new amenity kits for domestic flights Wednesday, replacing the ones from Away that launched last summer.

There are two new pouches launching this month — one for premium transcontinental routes between Newark and both Los Angeles and San Francisco, and another for flights between the continental U.S. and Hawaii.

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The new premium transcon kit is designed in partnership with Asutra, the popular wellness brand backed by Venus Williams.

These new kits include an Asutra cleansing face towelette, nourishing lip balm and hand lotion, as well as a handful of staples, such as a bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste, an eye mask and earplugs.

All of these contents are kept in a reusable blue pouch that looks much more durable than the old Away pouch that it replaces.

Meanwhile, the new kits for Hawaii routes add a local touch even before you arrive on the islands. Designed in partnership with the Hawaiian brand Ua Body, you’ll find moisturizing lip balm, hand cream and a refreshing face mist with local Hawaii scents in these new pouches.

These skincare products are in addition to the eye mask, bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste and ear plugs you’ll find in the new Hawaii amenity kits.

These amenity kits come in four different designs from Christie Shinn, a local artist who depicts Hawaiian landscapes in her prints. There’s no telling which Hawaii routes will feature which design, so you’ll need to keep flying United to collect them all.

“We’re really proud of these amenity kits – fantastic new partners, exclusive products and high-end ingredients. Our customers are going to love them. These kits, customized for our transcontinental and Hawaii-bound travelers, are just the latest way we’re working to make the travel experience even better at United,” said Peter Wolkowski, United’s director of onboard product design, in a statement.

United distributes transcontinental and Hawaii amenity kits to approximately 65,000 total passengers each month.

While United’s current focus is on upgrading the domestic premium travel experience, there seems to be more to the story.

The airline is currently experiencing stock shortages on its long-haul amenity kits branded by Away and its pajamas on routes longer than 12 hours. Instead, United has been distributing premium economy amenity kits to Polaris business-class passengers in recent weeks.

The airline is expected to debut revamped long-haul amenity kits shortly, with a carrier spokesperson sharing that flyers should “stay tuned for potential updates on the Polaris and Premium Plus amenity kits.”

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