I have heard that British Airways give passangers boarding international flights some items for the long trip... like toothbrush, eye shades to sleep,... does anyone know if American Airlines does this also. Does AA have screens on all seatbacks for movies?? I will be leaving from ORD to FCO

if you're flying first or business class on AA then you get those items, but not in coach. If you're flying on a 777 you have screens on the seatbacks but we didn't have them on the 767 we rode most recently.

Aircraft is 763, which is the same as 767 I quess

British does not give that stuff to coach passengers, either -- at least, they've never given it to me!

Maybe the rules are different from one city to the next, but I always got the little bag of goodies from BA, even in coach. Of course, the bag of goodies in business class is a lot better, and when they misdirect your luggage, you get some really nice stuff when you file your claim.

You are lucky if American gives you water. The service, and I use the term loosely, is about as bad as you can imagine. It's starting to make Aeroflot look good.

Funny, metellus. I have noticed the stingy food portions on AA since 9/11. I understand the need for cost-cutting, but those "meals" s/b called snacks. That's why I always bring along munchies when flying AA. No need for that on BA.

As for making Aeroflot look good,,,,,hmmmmm,,,,,I'll give that some thought.

I stand corrected -- I guess I mis-remembered.

I thought all airlines gave you a few items for international flights going from US to Europe at night when you'd have to sleep, even in coach. I think all the airlines I have flown def. have (including Virgin). I don't remember about BA, but I don't think they necessarily give you those things returning as it's not night time.

AA is lucky to get you there. I always use my own toothbrush which is in my carryon anyway, and have about a dozen eye shades saved from various flights, so always pack one of those also in my carryon. The toothbrush you get isn't a regular fullsize toothbrush, you are going to want to have your own for the trip, not just count on getting one free from the airline.

Message:. . ."Of course, the bag of goodies in business class is a lot better, and when they misdirect your luggage, you get some really nice stuff when you file your claim."

Gee, were we supposed to know that? Although flying business class, when BA lost all our luggage (4 of us just between Heathrow and Amsterdam) we didn't get so much as an apology. Although they did manage to find it and bring it to our hotel about 16 hours later. What sort of nice stuff didn't we get?

What you got, Patrick, was the opportunity to be gracious after riding on an airline that lost your luggage...I think I'd be glad to give up the toothbrush in exchange for having my own clothing upon arrival.

The most fun part of the experience was going into the office near the luggage carousel to file the claim and standing in line with the dozens of other people who also lost their luggage. One of the girls with us was really upset and got a rather rude treatment from the girl in the office who kept saying, it's no big deal, it happens constantly. In fact she couldn't seem to understand why we were even concerned about the missing luggage, because as she put it "most of the time we find it."
Yea, that instilled confidence in BA.

Christina - I don't think any US airline give you any amenities "kit" when flying US-Europe in coach. Not even the longer US-Asia flights.

If I remember correctly, CO handed out eyeshades for IAH-CDG to me last year, but that's about it. Nothing for EWR-HKG or NRT-IAH. I have flown NW and UA across the Pacific multiple times, and I have not received anything either.

And it's not limited to US airlines. Can't remember getting anything from KLM on IAH-AMS. Or Air Canada YVR-HKG.

I am pretty sure about these things because I generally keep them. Never flown BA, and Virgin Atlantic is the airline to fly if you treasure things like this. Last time I got a little plastic backpack with note pads, postcards, pencil, along with the toothbrush/paste, eye shades, ear plugs, etc... It was funny as it seemed like half the people at Gatwick had a VS backpack on their back.

Patrick, the bag of goodies for lost luggage contains different stuff for men and women. I know this because I saw bags marked male/female. I don't know what men get, but I got the following (I hope I'm remembering everything): Shampoo, conditioner, skin lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, chapstick, make-up remover, Q-tips, bath soap, a pair of underwear, and a British Airways T-shirt. I was very surprised that the underwear fit. Maybe they secretly notice your size, so my bag was coded "petite female."

FYI--I've had misdirected luggage 7 times by 7 different airlines, and BA was the only one to give me any kind of toiletries to get me through my day without luggage.

you may well by right rkkwan, I don't like US airlines going to Europe so rarely fly them. When I have, it's usually been coming back for various reasons, not going. I don't personally treasure these things or care about them, as I said, although other people may. I bring my own stuff. I know Virgin does because I did fly them in the last couple of years. I have flown BA in the last few years, also, but truly don't recall as it's not important to me. Air France doesn't give you a toothbrush, but an eyeshade and earplugs (which are a very good idea).

I have gotten goodies from Air France just because my baggage was delayed a couple hours in delivery, not even officially "lost". I thought it was interesting that the AF goody bag included perfume -- a real necessity, of course.

Take your own toothbrush. The one I got in BA left half of its bristles in my mouth.

Bill

KLM coach sure doesn't pass anything out. However one time flying from Ameserdam to Venice in business class the TA gave me 2 regular size bottles of Australian wine which was very nice of her.

But I thought "Australian?". When we were landing in Italy. However my friends in Veneto loved it, and it was good.

I just pack my own little travel kit for flights, so really do not even want anything from the airlines, except to get to the destination. And do rather like to have my luggage on the same flight that I am on, LOL.

We have flown on Air France, American and Aer Lingus in coach. (Someday....)The only goodie bag we ever got was on Air France: eye mask, ear plugs, headphones and handi-wipe!

We were quite surprised -- flew cattle class on Virgin Atlantic (Continental code share) from London to Newark and was very impressed with the goodie bag they gave out, along with the 777 personal screens at the same time.

Any goodies flying transatlantic on Lufthansa?