United Airlines could join the growing ranks of airlines offering pyjamas to business class passengers on international flights.
The 'sleep suits' are under consideration part of an exhaustive review of United's business class service, ahead of the debut of new business class seats on the airline's forthcoming Boeing 777-300ER jets from late 2016.
Read: Next-gen business class for United's new Boeing 777-300ERs
"We're doing a nose to tail review of our business class" confirmed Sandra Pineau-Boddison, Senior Vice-President for the airline's Customers division, "we're looking at duvet covers and pyjamas and what adds the most value."
"It's a pretty comprehensive review" Pineau-Boddison told Australian Business Traveller during a media briefing at United's headquarters in Chicago.
She added that pyjamas are "luxury items when travelling on business and it's highly likely they are going to get a lot of consideration."
Arch competitor American Airlines will supply pyjamas to business class travellers for the first time on the new Sydney-Los Angeles route.
Kurt Stache, AA’s Senior Vice President for International Strategic Alliances previously told Australian Business Traveller that Sydney-LAX would be a litmus test “with the thought of eventually rolling these out on other longer-haul flights” such as Dallas-Hong Kong and the Auckland-Los Angeles route launching in June 2016.
AA's business class PJs will be the same as offered in first class, being black with a red collar delivered in a red drawstring bag.
Read: American Airlines to offer pyjamas in business class
Delta Airlines is tipped to begin handing out pyjamas to first and business class passengers on its flights from Los Angeles to Sydney and Shanghai later this month.
Also read: New Qantas business, first class pyjamas from Martin Grant
The writer travelled to Chicago as a guest of United Airlines and Star Alliance
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
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.
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
Speaking generally it looks like the competition from the Middle East 3 (who often don't even offer Business Class PJs) is really forcing the US carriers to up their game.
That's very good to see.
If United are doing this, I expect Air NZ to do the same.
05 Oct 2011
Total posts 195
It is not my intention to belittle you for this one BUT how can this possibly be a story?
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
We may well remember the Qantas First class PJ's story, or rather the lack of them on a A380 LAX - SYD flight, the two first Class passengers refused to travel on the flight as Qantas had run out of First Class PJ's and refused a pair of Busines class PJ's instead, so if your paying heaps of money to travel First Class I guess every single trapping is important. I got a pair of them the other day at my local Op Shop for $3.00...Long distance First Class should offer PJ's.
20 May 2015
Total posts 579
Because PJs greatly improve the comfort of flying. Therefore we like it when airlines introduce the amenity.
05 Oct 2011
Total posts 195
My point was "they are thinking"...... I reckon they are thinking of hundreds of things, the vast majority of which will never see the light of day.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 44
United should really consider more attention to keeping their toilets clean because there's no way I'm getting changed into a pair of pjs in one of those bathrooms!
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