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
Why marathon runners love Qantas business class pyjamas

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.

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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!? 

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. 

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 66

qantas pjs are terrible quality made in S.E asia junk

ji
ji

14 Jan 2013

Total posts 19

Still wearing my Virgin Australia pjs with pride from many trips across the Pacific. 

j13
j13

13 Jan 2021

Total posts 8

qantas pj's good for cleaning bike chains


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