Here’s a policy that many people don’t realize exists, so I figure it’s worth covering, minor as it may be…
In this post:
The amenities airlines usually do & don’t let you take home
When you travel in first or business class, it’s common to be offered all kinds of amenities. I know there’s sometimes confusion about which of the amenities are for onboard use, and which can be taken home.
As a general rule of thumb, bedding and headphones have to stay on the plane, while amenity kits and pajamas can be taken off the plane. That’s logical enough, because amenity kits and pajamas wouldn’t be reused between passengers, while bedding and headphones absolutely are.
What’s interesting is that airlines typically don’t specifically announce what can and can’t be taken, as they just assume people know. I’ve certainly seen some people cram all the bedding into their bags while deplaning, and I’m sure they get away with it. I’ve also seen someone ask a flight attendant if they can take the headphones with them (and politely being told no).
The one airline that lets you take pillows home
As far as I know, there’s one airline that lets certain passengers take specific pillows off the plane with them. If you’re flying Qatar Airways business class, you’ll typically find that the bedding includes at least two sets of pillows, and one of those pillows has a quote on it.
That pillow with a quote can be taken off the plane, as a memory and gift. It’s odd, because the airline doesn’t publicly promote this, but it is the official policy (at least last I heard), and if you ask a crew member, they’ll tell you that you can take them. In the interest of being thorough, let me mention that the other pillow and the blanket can’t be taken.
Now, I’m sort of convinced that they make the quotes on the pillows so cringe that you don’t actually want to take them with you, but that’s a different story. 😉 It’s funny, because I find Qatar Airways to be such an elegant airline, yet these pillows have strong “Live, Laugh, Love” vibes. I dunno, if you have a tween or teen daughter, maybe it makes for a good gift?
Anyway, if you find yourself flying Qatar Airways business class and want an extra pillow, now you know…
Bottom line
Qatar Airways is the only airline I know of that lets passengers take some of the bedding with them. Specifically, the pillow with the quote can be taken off the plane, in what’s certainly an unconventional policy. The other bedding isn’t supposed to be removed from the plane. While the airline doesn’t announce this policy, it is the official rule.
Have you ever taken a pillow off a Qatar Airways plane (or another airline, for that matter)?
The pillow would be so much better without the writing. Looks like something from an old lady’s Etsy store.
LOL ! you are right !
Great timing to hear this, flying QSuites for the first time on Friday. I'll certainly take the pillow as a keepsake, let's just hope the quote isn't too cringe.
OMG, I'll flying QR in the summer for the first time. I'll definitely be asking (or maybe not, lol) if I can take a pillow with me.
Hope it's Q-Suite, because it's one of the best!
I seriously need to know who manufactures the blanket. It’s just such a good quality.
For. Real. Dawg. #1.
I am (slightly?) embarrassed to say that I have close to a dozen of these pillows.
Subtle humblebrag, that one. Well done
We have a collection of the Qatar small pillow cases with the different city names. The flight crew had told us it was fine to take. But, we did not want/need the actual pillows.
Was told to take the smaller pillows from Qsuites on our last Qatar flight by the flight attendants, but wasn't sure if it was because it was for our 2 kids. Good to know it's official policy. The little one uses it all the time as her travel pillow now.
Did they change the pillows from having world cities to having quotes now??
They had world cities on the two flights I took a month ago. The flight to London had London on it for me :)
I have kept the pillow from my first ever Qsuites flight over 7 years ago. Since then, I took the pillowcase from subsequent QR J flights because I normally only travel with a small backpack on QR and don't have space for the pillow after putting in my PJs and amenity kit :)
The pillow itself isn't anything substantial. I think it is the same one they have in Economy (same material at least).
I had no idea this was a policy of theirs! I feel like it would be cool to collect them though it would take more space in one's home than ducks or Delft houses...
I love my delft blue houses; which airline is doing ducks?