I flew business class for the first time, and one of my favorite perks was a free goodie bag. Here's everything it had inside.

21.07.2023 - 13:15 / insider.com / Monica Humphries

Growing up, every time my father came home from a business trip, a fight between my brother and me was bound to break out.

And it was always over the complimentary bag of toiletries my dad brought home from his flights. More specifically, who got what in the little bag of free goodies. 

Fast forward two decades, and I was boarding my very first business-class flight. As I found my seat and spotted a black-and-purple bag, the memories flooded in. But this time, I didn't have to share.

Like many airlines, Air New Zealand gives its business-class passengers a bag of toiletries. I had come prepared with my own supplies to survive the long-haul flight, but I was shocked that I ended up using almost everything in the bag.

The first thing I grabbed from the bag was a pair of purple-and-black striped socks. 

As far as plane etiquette goes, I wasn't planning to take off my shoes, but as I looked around, it seemed like everyone around me already had theirs off.

And the socks indicated that I, too, could be shoeless on the flight. At first, the socks seemed pointless since I was already wearing my own, but I realized that they were a handy barrier to keep my personal socks clean when I got up to use the restroom or walk around the cabin.

Next up, I was thrilled to spot a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash. I almost always remember to pack a toothbrush for my flight. Brushing my teeth on flights keeps me feeling refreshed, and it helps me maintain part of my daily routine, which makes it easier for me to fall asleep.

But for this flight, I had mistakenly left it buried deep in my carry-on suitcase. So instead of needing to dig through all my belongings, I could use the complimentary one. Plus, having mouthwash was a perk I didn't plan on having. 

I was also glad to spot a pair of earplugs. The main draw of a business-class seat is the seat itself. On Air New Zealand, every business seat converts into a lie-flat bed, ideal for napping. And while I had noise-canceling headphones to help drown out the chatter of passengers around me, by hour four of the 12-hour flight, my ears had started to ache from the tightness of the headphones. Luckily, I had the earplugs, which kept me snoozing.

My favorite items in the bag, though, were tubes of lotion and lip balm from Ashley & Co. I always forget how dry airplane cabins can get, so I was delighted to have two items keeping me hydrated. Plus, the tubes were large enough that I used them throughout my entire two-week trip.

And when I got home, I missed the scents so much, I bought them myself. The Ashley & Co. Lip Punch retails for $15, and the brand's Soothe Tube lotion costs $25. 

The last item I found handy was a pen. When it came time to fill out declaration forms,