Just two months ago, Qatar Airways updated amenity kits for First Class passengers. The kits were Giorgio Armani branded, featured generous sizes of Armani products, and were inspired by the brand’s Winter 2016 – 2017 Collection. It was a continuation of Qatar’s partnership with Giorgio Armani, which had been ongoing for a while.
Well, it appears Qatar Airways is ending their partnership with Giorgio Armani. They have unveiled brand new amenity kits, in conjunction with the announcement of a new, 3-year partnership with BRIC’s and Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio.
The new First Class amenity kit will come in black, grey, burgundy, and white, presumably offered in rotation. The bags look like a miniature version of the BRIC’s Bellagio luggage, and will have a semi-hard shell, with full grain leather inserts. Inside, passengers will find olive oil-based products from Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, including the following:
- City Cream: Anti-Aging Moisturizer
- Night Anti-Aging Recovery Cream
- Hydrating Facial Mist
- Lip Balm
In addition to the skincare products, there will be a pair of earplugs, as well as luggage tag that bundles socks and eyeshades together. The kit for women will also include a hairbrush.
Qatar only offers First Class on their A380 product, which flies just a handful of routes. You can redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for flights on Qatar, and there are ways in which you can maximize a first class itinerary.
Qatar Airways’ new First Class Mens amenity kit by BRIC’s, with Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio products. Flickr/Qatar
Qatar Airways’ new First Class Womens amenity kit by BRIC’s, with Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio products. Flickr/Qatar
The Business Class amenity kits will also come in a BRIC’s bag, featuring similar color schemes, with Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio products (in smaller sizes). However, they will not include the luggage tags, the night anti-aging recovery cream, or the hairbrush.
Qatar Airways is said to be launching a “Super Business Class” product in early 2017, after a few delays. Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker said that the new product will be “a historic and revolutionary Business Class experience that no other airline can offer.” However, he also remarked that these new amenity kits will be a preview to what the “Super Business Class” approach will look like. Frankly, I’m not really wowed by the new amenity kits, and that doesn’t exactly bode well for the supposedly revolutionary Business Class…
Qatar Airways’ new Business Class Mens amenity kit by BRICS, with Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio products. Flickr/Qatar
Qatar Airways’ new Business Class Womens amenity kit by BRICS, with Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio products. Flickr/Qatar
What do you think of the new First and Business Class amenity kits from Qatar Airways?
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5 comments
Sure beats the crappy US airlines’ offering by a country mile.
Hate the Armani kits. Don’t understand why the male kits have after shave balm (a huge tube at that) but no hand lotion? Anything would be a welcome change after many years of these J kits. Looking forward to something different and new on my flights in mid-January though doubt these new Castelos will be handed out. More curious about what “super” business class will/can be given QR’s current product. Unless the 777s are reconfigured with 1-2-1 seating as on the 787s and A350s, hard product will not change.
I don’t mind change, however I find it more than odd that Armani kits are out just a few months after QR updated their first class kits. Prior to Armani it was Salvatore Ferragamo products and before that Molton Brown. These 3 brands are top shelf and instantly recognisable worldwide to the majority of passengers travelling in the premium cabins. Now I haven’t been living under a rock, but I’ve never heard of ‘Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio’, and I would suggest that name would draw a blank with the majority of passengers up the pointy end of the plane. Maybe they’re a boutique brand, but a quick check of their website reveals they’re also wine and olive oil producers. Interesting. Will QR be revising their First and Business wine lists to include the offering of Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio? No I don’t think so.
I suspect the motivation behind this change is the continued trimming of costs at QR over recent years insofar as it affects the First and Business product offering. Just a few examples include the removal of a la carte dining from the Al Moujarn Business Lounge in Doha or the removal of Krug Champagne from the Al Safwa First Lounge. Onboard, Laduree desserts are no longer offered in First or Business, Godiva chocolates are gone and replaced by Valrhona. I could write quite a list but I won’t. Now these changes will be wrapped up as ‘ongoing product enhancements’ by the PR gurus at QR.
Don’t get me wrong, QR still has a very strong product offering and they remain my carrier of choice for the moment. I do understand the need for cost control but ever so slowly QR are chipping away at their premium product offering. All 3 of the Middle Easter carriers are under financial pressure, and I have no doubt this recent change to the Amenity Kits will result in cost savings for QR. This new deal will have been brokered on a zero or minimal cost basis to QR, whereby they offer distribution of Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio products across the globe to premium passengers on a Skytrax 5 star rated airline. This offer of brand exposure for CMVV wouldn’t come along every day.
Having said all of that I look forward to trying the new kits on my flights with QR in 2017.
Merry Christmas to all, and safe travels over the holiday season.
I found Monte Vibiano in very upscale restaurants such BVLGARI, their olive oil has a remarkable quality, that’s the reason why only star Michelin restaurants use it. My wife ( Japanese ) uses their beauty products and she is very satisfied by the very high quality! Maybe Monte Vibiano hasn’t the marketing power of other brands but just because it is a “niche” product. First class passengers at QR can experience something unique rather than follow the herd !
Thanks for your comments Mark. I’ll get the chance to test the new QR products in 1st class next week. I’m looking forward to it.