Why marathon runners love Qantas business class pyjamas
The lightweight cotton PJs have found an unexpected following among runners…
By David Flynn, September 16 2024
Qantas is one of the few airlines in the world which issues pyjamas to business class passengers on international flights, and many travellers take them home to wear again, usually in the comfort of their own bed.
The lightweight unisex PJs are also a favourite of runners, which helps explain why many residents of North Sydney woke on Sunday morning to discover a mountain of Qantas business class pyjamas in the middle of North Sydney Oval.
That oval was the starting point for the annual Sydney Marathon, which saw a record field of 25,000 runners hit make their way across the Harbour Bridge and weave their way through the city and eastern suburbs before finishing at the Opera House.
But with the starter’s gun being fired at 6am and Sydney still in the grip of early spring, the morning of the marathon was a chilly 8.5° degrees with particularly strong winds.
So how do runners stay warm before setting out on the 42km course, which sees the winners cross the finish line in a little over two hours?
They typically use the cotton-rich Qantas business class pyjamas as an outer layer over their running kit, and then shed the PJs at the start of the race or along the route as they warm up.
Something similar happens at half-marathons and also the epic City to Surf fun run held in August across an iconic 14km course from the Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach.
Executive Traveller understands the pile of discarded Qantas pyjamas at North Sydney Oval was donated to the Salvation Army, which in turn makes them available to the city’s rough sleepers.
Stay informed: Click here to sign up to the free Executive Traveller newsletter
16 Sep 2024
Total posts 1
The Qantas PR team would also be running around protecting their brand should these pyjamas are on display by rough sleepers.
18 Sep 2024
Total posts 1
Are you suggesting the Qantas PR team should go around taking clothing off the homeless!?
24 Jul 2017
Total posts 9
Don't think folks are getting your humour here!!!
British Airways - Executive Club
06 Apr 2018
Total posts 13
Qantas is ‘one of the few airlines to offer Pyjamas in business class’???
Off the top of my head I can think of Emirates, Qatar, United, American… it feels like most airlines offer them these days… especially out of Australia.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 478
Qantas is still in the minority when it comes to business class PJs. LH gives you just a top (!) but no PJs from Cathay, SQ, Thai, Delta, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Etihad, China Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Turkish Airlines, any of the Chinese carriers, believe me, it's a much longer list of airlines which don't hand out PJs compared to those who do.
09 Feb 2021
Total posts 15
LH gives you just a top (!)
The Germans are famously relaxed about nudity, but that is taking it a bit too far!
Etihad - Etihad Guest
10 Apr 2019
Total posts 18
on a global scale, very view airlines offer them in Business.
23 Dec 2021
Total posts 4
Emirates only started offering this year for business. I got two pairs on my return flights to Europe and they are fantastic. much nicer than the Qantas ones.
They also have no logo's, i guess that is one way to avoid the rough sleeper problem
29 Aug 2017
Total posts 18
I was given a pair on my Swiss Air flight in June, frrm HK to Zurich, although that was in First Class!
04 Sep 2019
Total posts 68
qantas pjs are terrible quality made in S.E asia junk
14 Jan 2013
Total posts 19
Still wearing my Virgin Australia pjs with pride from many trips across the Pacific.
13 Jan 2021
Total posts 8
qantas pj's good for cleaning bike chains
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Why marathon runners love Qantas business class pyjamas