13 Of The Coolest Airplane Amenities In The World, From Hello Kitty To Urinals

It’s amazing to think how far aviation has come in just a bit over a century. 120+ years ago, the Wright Brothers set a record by flying 852 feet in just under a minute, and today we have double decker planes that can fly virtually anywhere in the world nonstop with some really awesome amenities.

I thought it would be fun to make a post with some of the airplane amenities that I like the most. This list is by no means comprehensive, but I figured I’d share 13 of my favorite airplane amenities… or perhaps some of them are “gimmicks,” more accurately. These are features that some airlines have which aren’t necessarily the most practical, but sure are cool and unique!

Here we go, in no particular order…

Singapore Airlines A380 Suites double bed

While there are a lot of amazing first class products nowadays, there’s something really special about having a double bed on a commercial plane. In Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 Suites you can have exactly that. Of the six first class seats, two sets of them can be combined to form a double bed. How cool is that?!

Now, in fairness, there’s still a small gap between the beds, so spooning isn’t going to be super comfortable. But still, it’s as close as you’ll get in first class!

Emirates A380 first class shower suite

I don’t usually get excited about taking a shower… except when flying on Emirates. Emirates Airbus A380 first class has two individual shower suites, so that passengers can take showers inflight. I’ve been fortunate to shower on the A380 many times, yet each time I still get giddy, as showering at 35,000 feet never gets old.

While Etihad’s A380 first class also offers a shower suite, it’s not nearly as spacious or over-the-top as the one on Emirates.

Emirates 777 first class virtual windows

Emirates’ new Boeing 777 first class (still only available on nine aircraft) features what I consider to be among the world’s best first class product, as the cabin has six fully enclosed first class suites. In terms of amenities, I think the coolest and most ridiculous aspect of these seats must be that the two center suites have virtual windows.

That’s right, they don’t have real windows (since they’re in the middle of the cabin), but rather have virtual windows. What’s shown through the virtual windows is identical to what you’d see through the real windows, as outside cameras are used to generate these views.

I hate to say it, but I actually think I prefer virtual windows to real windows. Partly for the novelty, and partly because there are some other benefits to them (less glare, being able to make the suite 100% dark, etc.).

Emirates 777 first class video room service

Admittedly Emirates is getting a lot of love here, but I guess Emirates just does amenities and gimmicks really well. In first class you should expect good service, but Emirates takes it to the next level when it comes to ordering stuff.

While most airplanes have call buttons at each seat, Emirates’ new Boeing 777 first class gives passengers the option to order room service via their tablet. Not only can you voice call the crew in the galley, but you can even video call the crew.

Qatar Airways A380 business class bar

Qatar Airways’ Airbus A380s have a gorgeous bar on the upper deck, available to business class and first class customers. Here you can enjoy cocktails, mocktails, wine, soft drinks, etc., all while mingling with fellow passengers.

For what it’s worth, Emirates also has a bar on its A380s, though I figured I should spread the love a bit, and mention Qatar Airways’ offering, in this case.

Korean Air A380 business class lounge

While several airlines have onboard bars, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air takes a different approach with its Celestial Bar. There’s a big lounge area in the back of the Korean Air A380 business class cabin, which features quite a bit of seating and lots of bright lights.

While I love the concept of this, unfortunately the execution is just kind of sad nowadays. Back in the day, the airline would serve some signature cocktails here, in partnership with Absolut. However, nowadays it has basically turned into a grab & go space, so you can just pick up a snack or soft drink. That’s a shame, but either way, it’s nice to have a space to stretch your legs.

American 777 first class swiveling seats

Okay, you’re probably surprised to see me include a US airline on the list, but there is one thing I love about the American 777 first class seats. One of the cool things is that you can swivel your seats 90 degrees, and then have them face the windows. There’s even a little desk that can be extended. If you’re going to need to work during your flight, this is a pretty unbeatable view!

This also works great if you’re sitting in the center seats and are traveling with someone, as you can then swivel your seats to face one another, and dine face-to-face.

Japan Airlines A350 headrest speakers

Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 is one of the swankiest planes in commercial service. In particular, the carrier’s A350 first class and business class are among the best in the industry. One unique feature is that in first and business class you’ll find headrest speakers. That’s right, you can watch entertainment or listen to music without even putting on headphones, as the sound will play directly in your headrest.

This works surprisingly well, and others shouldn’t be disrupted if you use this feature. It’s funny that a Japanese airline is the first to introduce something like this, given the extent to which Japan values not inconveniencing others.

Etihad A380 The Residence private bedroom

Etihad’s A380 is a pretty swanky plane, and I love the First Class Apartments. However, the “crown jewel” of this jet is The Residence, which is a three-room suite, with a private living room, bedroom, and bathroom (including shower). Having a true, private bedroom on a plane, is simply on a completely different level than anything else in commercial aviation.

EVA Air Hello Kitty flights

I love when a company chooses a theme and sticks to it, and there’s no greater example of that in the airline industry than EVA Air’s Hello Kitty flights, operating select frequencies in some markets. No, it’s not just that these planes are painted in special Hello Kitty liveries, but quite literally everything about the experience is Hello Kitty themed, from the flight attendant uniforms, to the food, to the toilet paper.

Lufthansa A380 first class urinals

You’ll find the world’s only urinal on a commercial aircraft in Lufthansa’s A380 first class. Each of the two huge lavatories at the front of first class has a urinal hidden behind a panel. I know this might sound silly, but you’ve gotta respect how while designing the aircraft’s interior, one person said “hey, how about we install urinals in first class as well?”

ANA & JAL bidet toilets

Both All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airline (JAL) have bidet-style toilets on most of their long haul planes. This isn’t just in first and business class, but also in economy. Aside from Emirates A380 first class, this is as close as you’ll get to showering on a plane. 😉

In fairness, given the general disgustingness of airplane lavatories, I struggle to get too excited here. It’s also worth noting that a few other airlines have bidets in their lavatories, ranging from Gulf Air to Oman Air.

Saudia 777 prayer room

I’m not sure I’d call this a “cool” amenity, per se, but it is a unique amenity that sets Saudia apart from other airlines. Some of Saudia’s Boeing 777s have a prayer room at the very back of the cabin. With airlines constantly trying to maximize how efficiently space is utilized, this is a not-insignificant investment from the airline.

Bottom line

The airline experience sure has come a long way, and nowadays there are some amenities that would have seemed inconceivable a few decades back. From bars, to showers, to double beds, to bidet-style toilets, that are some cool experiences that can be had in the air.

What’s your favorite airplane amenity?