Handing out hot or cold towels gives passengers a chance to cleanse themselves during their flight, to wipe their eyes after a nap, refresh their face and neck and most importantly to clean their hands without leaving their seats before a meal is served.

The tradition of handing out a wet towel (often a hot or cold Oshibori) on flights serves a dual purpose: physical hygiene and psychological comfort. In terms of hygiene, it allows passengers to sanitize their hands before a meal is served or to refresh their face and neck after a long period in the dry, recirculated air of the cabin. From a psychological standpoint, it is a "soft service" designed to signal a transition in the flight experience—usually moving from the hectic boarding process into the relaxation phase of the journey. In First and Business Class, the towels are typically thick cotton and scented with essential oils like lemon or lavender to provide a spa-like sensory experience. In Economy, they are often disposable, but they still provide a much-needed "reset" for the skin, which can become dehydrated and oily at high altitudes. It is a small but effective luxury that elevates the perceived quality of the airline's hospitality.