It’s no secret that the “front of the plane” is where airlines love to pamper their top-paying customers. And with some fanfare—and after comprehensive research—the carrier proudly unveiled its new bedding and amenity kits, debuting later this month.
The upgrades are part of the carrier’s “Glowing Hearted” on-board service upgrades, highlighting “home-grown Canadian innovations.” The enhancements will be offered on medium and long-haul international services such as Transatlantic, Transpacific, and deep South America.
“These new products reflect two years of research,” Jackie Harkness, AC’s Managing Director of Products and Services, told a group of some 40 media and influencers at a launch breakfast at Toronto’s swanky Park Hyatt Hotel. “We asked our customers, ‘What makes you feel relaxed and more like yourself?’”
For the enhancements, the airline partnered with Canadian firms, including Hunter Amenities and Sahajan skincare products. Additionally, the carrier is focusing on more sustainability with less use of plastic and more products such as bamboo toothbrushes.
Economy and Premium Economy pax will also receive a new polar fleece blanket measuring 6’ in length – so you don’t have to decide whether to keep your top half or bottom half warm. “It’s not a blanket but a sleep product,” Scott O’Leary, AC’s Vice President of Loyalty and Product, told Open Jaw.
The new amenity kits for Premium Economy Class and Signature Class (formerly International Business Class) pax now comprise lip balm, hand lotion, noise-reducing earplugs, cozy cabin socks, a dental kit, and a new washable/reusable eye mask, itself the result of 54 trial models. “This is by far the best sleep mask – and we deal with airlines around the world,” said John Hunter of Burlington, Ont.-based Hunter Amenities, who provide the amenity kits.
The kits are contained in a reusable cotton string bag. “Most airline amenity kits feature a bag that’s branded but with contents that are all the same,” O’Leary told us. “We have flipped the script.”
As well as the comfort of a lie-flat bed, Signature class pax will enjoy longer, wider duvets and a new pillow designed for breathability and support.
Reflecting on the purpose of the enhancements, O’Leary told Open Jaw, “We are so proud to fly the Canadian flag, but know that we are competing on a global level.” And as Harkness told the guests, “We Canadians are known for being nice, and we bring that to the cabin.”
