Sanitizer with your Stroopwafel? Many airlines are now providing cleaning supplies to passengers
The next time you fly, don't be surprised if your airline doles out a packet of hand sanitizer or some kind of disinfecting wipe to go along with your Biscoff cookies or tiny bag of Cheez-its.
As stay-at-home orders slowly lift around the country, airlines are looking for ways to woo passengers back to the skies. One of the newest efforts includes handing out personal cleaning supplies.
Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more airline news.
Carriers from American to Allegiant are making wipes and sanitizer available to every traveler, a move that comes after many have already modified their onboard service to reduce physical contact between passengers and crews.
Brett Snyder, who runs The Cranky Flier blog and Cranky Concierge service said providing these amenities to customers is a smart move for airlines.
Related: How to thoroughly disinfect your airplane seat.
“I think it’s actually quite effective," he said. “Having masks, encouraging cleanliness, those are the things that will have a real measurable impact on an airplane.”
In comparison, he said, social distancing practices like blocking middle seats are probably less effective.
Snyder doesn't expect cleaning supplies to be a regular fixture on planes forever, especially on short-haul flights. But, he said that he hopes some other parts of airlines' COVID-19 responses will become a more permanent part of the travel landscape.
Related: We got an inside look at how Delta is cleaning planes between every flight.
"Handing out individual kits, that’s pretty specific to a severe threat,” he said. "I hope that the stepped up cleaning procedures that airlines are using, I hope that that continues."
While Snyder suggested that such clean kits could fade away on short-haul flights over time, he said he thinks it's likely that hand sanitizer and other personal cleaning products could stick around longer as part of updated amenity kits on long-haul international routes.
For now, though, airlines have been adding cleaning and sanitizing items to their onboard lineup. The details vary by carrier, but read on to see what you can currently expect on U.S. airlines. Pictures are included for airlines that made them available:
Alaska
All passengers are required to wear masks while onboard, and the airline is handing out individually-packaged masks to travelers who do not have their own.
Allegiant
The airline is providing a kit that includes a single-use face mask, a pair of disposable non-latex gloves and two antibacterial cleaning wipes.
American
Supplies and how they are distributed vary by flight length. Customers are given hand sanitizer in their snack bags on flights between 900 and 2,199 miles. On longer flights with meal service, American is distributing hand sanitizer on most meal trays. Sanitizer will be distributed during beverage service on most longer flights that do not have meals.
Delta
Delta has clean kits available to passengers by request at ticket and gate counters and onboard. They will include a disposable face mask, Purell hand sanitizer gel pouches and an information card detailing the airline's cleaning protocols.
Frontier
The airline is not distributing cleaning supplies to passengers.
Hawaiian
The airline is not providing a kit, per se. But Hawaiian's flight attendants are distributing hand sanitizer as guests board, and the airline is making single-use masks available to customers who need one.
JetBlue
The airline is finalizing plans for clean kit distribution, so details are not yet available.
Southwest
The airline is distributing face masks and hand sanitizer to customers on request.
Spirit
TPG has reached out to Spirit for details about personal cleaning supplies and will update this post when we receive a response.
Sun Country
The airline is making hand sanitizer and wipes available at ticket and gate counters, and onboard.
United
The airline is combining its snack and clean kit bags on flights longer than 2 hours and 20 minutes. The package includes a wrapped sanitizer wipe, an 8.5 oz. bottled water, a Stroopwafel and a package of pretzels.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
6X | 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
Rewards Rate
6X | 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.Earn 125,000 points75,000 pointsAnnual Fee
$125Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.