Airline Distressed Traveler Kits: Lifesavers Or Useless?

Remarkable... On a the amenity kit.. Would like a small stick note with direct contact line to traced Baggage team . Or a link to tracing sites,

Interesting, i didn't know airlines (let alone United) offered those things. So the canned drink was or was not included? I was going to say a water bottle and food bar might be nice bonuses. A mini packet of baby wipes would be handy as well. Overall, though, a nice touch.

We got stranded overnight without our bags on New Years Eve at IAH when United was still continental and we were given distressed passenger amenity kits. That was the same year that because of one security scare or another, we weren't allowed to take any carry on bags, so we needed this stuff. Unfortunately, by time we got them, they only had two left for the six of us

I used the UA kit last year when my bag was delayed and it was incredibly useful - the laundry detergent and the oral care bits. Hotels provide shampoo so that's not really necessary.

Last year the Delta kit in Atlanta had a stretchy t-shirt that would be suitable to sleep in. Dental kit. Also had a bottle of water and a granola bar or some sort of trail mix.

I travel HLO only as much as possible for many reasons but when i have to check a bag (ie for longer trips) i ALWAYS still pack my in my hand luggage what i would need for a weekend away including a few changes of clothes and basic Toiletries. So if my luggage is delayed a few days its not a problem.
What are you taking in your hand luggage if you only have the clothes on your back??

While I think airlines should have a few "standard" items in kit like deodorant and detergent, they should also carry a stock of "as needed" items a passenger could request like:
Contact Case & Solution
Toiletries
Feminine Hygeine Products
Diaper & Wipes
Ibuprofen
Comb
Hand Sanitizer

Yesterday I was given one of these by Qatar Airways. It includes many of the same items mentioned as well as a pair of their business class pajamas. I thought the pajamas were a great idea.Even though Doha was my home port and I didn't need them in the end I felt they were still really useful and quite generous.

I remember Lufthansa losing my bag on a trip to Cairo. Lufthansa got the bag to Cairo a couple hours after I landed, and the ground staff promptly "lost" it again. It was on a GAdventures trip so we were staying in really basic hotels - a distressed traveler kit like this would've been great. The hotel didn't have any of those kinds of supplies.

A fresh change of clothes into pajamas would've been amazing.

By the next day, I still didn't hear if they found by bag yet - and we were taking an overnight train to Luxor that evening. I was getting nowhere with calling the lost luggage line in Egypt. After my tour guide called and offered them a good baksheesh (tip aka bribe), they magically found my bag and even got someone to drive it out to the train station - they showed up right as we were boarding the train.

That was not my year, out of about ~100 flights, my luggage got lost 3 times. Not once did I get one of these kits (BA, Lufthansa, and Turkish).

I think a t-shirt and socks would be great. You can buy toiletries at most airports and hotels, but clothing wears down quickly.

Maybe some destination specific items like cheap flip flops or mittens, or at least directions to a mall (or its equivalent) where one could buy replacement essentials.

Luke -- The drink was not included. I put it in the picture for a sense of scale.

Delta includes a shirt and a proper stick deodorant (not those wipes that UA includes). First thing I buy when UA delays a bag is deodorant. Delta's is also in a reusable zipper bag.

The laundry detergent is just a blatant attempt to minimize their liability to try to get people to buy fewer things and bill them for it.

When I was delayed because of weather, missed my trans-Atlantic, and had to overnight in Philly last year with AA, I got both the American and US Airways kits. Basically identical and contained hotel items, but it was entertaining to get two.

I got a "SkyTeam" kit in Rome once after Air France lost my bag. It had a cheap t-shirt which was nice for sleeping. But what I really wanted was reimbursement for necessary purchases when my bag was delayed 48hrs and that never happened.

Just had my bag delayed by Delta in LHR and no kit was offered. (I was way too flustered to remember to ask.)

Given my luck, I now always fly with one day's worth of essentials. I appreciate these kits because it is some reassurance that the airline recognizes the inconvenience they are causing you. Still, socks and a t-shirt should be required components.

AC provides a little container of hair gel which I have really appreciated whenever I've needed it. Some might laugh, but I feel a lot more presentable and ready to face the day when my hair is styled the way I like it.

Anyway, I do appreciate these kits which go beyond the basic hotel toiletries of soap, shampoo and toothbrush.

Tshirt to sleep in would be a nice addition! And real deodorant.

Yes, a t-shirt should be an essential part of every kit.

I remember a few years ago Air France gave me a kit with many many (much appreciated) items - including condoms. I guess AF was thinking of everything!

Hey, anyone know who makes the shampoo or bodywash? I just used them the other day and they smell awesome.