Inflight PJs have joined the cutlist on Etihad Airways, with the Gulf airline no longer handing out free sleep suits to business class passengers.
After hearing a series of anecdotal reports from readers Australian Business Traveller contacted Etihad Airways, with a spokesman for the airline confirming that "Etihad Airways no longer provides complementary loungewear, previously available only on ultra-long haul flights, in business class."
But all is not only if you're in the very pointy end, as "loungewear will continue and remain exclusive to The Residence and first class only.”
Pyjamas are the latest casualty at the belt-tightening airline, which has also axed its free chauffeur drive service for business class and first class passengers; imposed data limits on inflight Internet plans, and closed its Six Senses airport lounge spa at London's Heathrow Airport.
The airline also tightened up its Etihad Guest frequent flyer scheme this week, although Gold-grade members gained access to the Abu Dhabi business class lounges.
As previously reported, Etihad has also joined a move by Emirates to ope the doors of its 'premium' airport lounges, with travellers now able to buy their way into everything from the flagship first class and business class lounges at Abu Dhabi to most other airport lounges including Sydney and Melbourne at rates ranging from A$72 to A$266 depending on the lounge and your original class of travel.
Etihad Airways is also reeling from failed investments in Alitalia, Air Berlin and the Swiss-based Etihad Regional, and in May reported a US$1.9 billion loss for its 2017 fiscal year.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 213
Memo to self: Pack a pair of other airline PJs from the stash if doing Etihad J (preferably First Class ones).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
Myopic thinking from an airline that should know better.
12 Aug 2017
Total posts 75
Worrying cutbacks. Not so much because of what they are but because these are the obvious and visible savings.
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 182
Good Point! We worry about losing PJ's but what is the bigger picture in cut backs. The airline industry is new to the region when compared to the competing legacy airlines, so will be interesting to see the actual adjustments and cost savings being manoeuvred behind closed doors and their future plans if the price of oil does not rise. The airline is an adolescent when compared to the majors and will be quick with knee jerk changes believing customers will stay, but they are wrong. Will be an interesting 12 months ahead for them.
04 May 2015
Total posts 261
All these ongoing cuts are just sad, really. If you'd asked me a couple of years ago which words come to mind when you say Etihad, I'd have said "luxury, service, five-star".
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 174
Losing PJs in business class in itself isn't a big thing for me, but the cumulative effect of these rolling cutbacks is a concern. Etihad's massive relaunch built around the A380 was "flying re-imagined" and their model was more a boutique hotel than an airline. The business class seats and amenities, the A380's lobby lounge, the amazing first class 'apartments' which still impress, the lounges and amenities and a la carte dining in business class lounges all added up to a "world's best" experience. All those positive changes quickly made them my international airline of choice. Now this is being whittled away, bit by bit, as the harsh reality of business sets in and Etihad risks becoming by and large for business travellers 'just another airline'. Very sad.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Mar 2013
Total posts 171
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
10 Jan 2014
Total posts 2
Great news!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Oct 2014
Total posts 691
Now .. perhaps, we can say ... "the Emperor has no clothes" ..
25 Feb 2012
Total posts 77
Yes I confirmed this last week and informed fellow members in another post . Some didn't believe me . I will hunt out my Pjs from first class upgrade ! Lol!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Mar 2014
Total posts 131
The world certainly is a changing place...
China Southern Airlines - Sky Pearl Club
30 Sep 2013
Total posts 11
It seems Abu Dhabi is bleeding dry, as their Midfield Terminal is also delayed by a year and they are making up the losses by cutting amenities in Etihad.
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 49
Was on Qatar in J overnight long haul international flight. No PJs even though the route was listed with PJ amenity. When asked about them, the cabin attendant just shrugged it off. Standards? Yeah, right. The big 3 over extended themselves and all are on a transparent or stealth cost cutting binge.
30 Jun 2011
Total posts 49
Such a shame as the EY PJs were some of the nicest around.
Qantas Platinum
04 Dec 2012
Total posts 48
They were a bit ugly anyway
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Jul 2016
Total posts 56
And on down the slippery slope it goes...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
I don't fly Etihad but to me this sounds like penny pinching.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
27 Nov 2012
Total posts 45
We seem to forget that the "late" CEO purchased bad Airlines, and made bad investments in the industry, that even the original countries could'nt bail out.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Sep 2014
Total posts 7
Flying re-imagined?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Etihad drops business class pyjamas