Business Class Comfort: The Return of Pajamas & Mattress Pads

Remember when flying wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B, but also about the journey itself? Well, American Airlines is on a mission to remind us of those good old days. In their latest episode of ‘How to Make Flying Less Miserable,’ they’ve decided to bring back a beloved business class perk.

American Ups the Ante on Business Class Perks

Drumroll, please—pajamas and mattress pads are making a comeback in American’s business class on select long-haul routes. Starting this weekend (July 26-27, 2025), passengers heading to and from East Asia, the Middle East, India, Australia, and New Zealand will once again be treated to these cozy goodies. Made by Nest, the pajamas come in the ever-inclusive sizes of S/M or L/XL.

So which lucky souls get to enjoy these sleeping aids? Flights to Auckland, Brisbane, Delhi, Doha, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, and the Tokyo twins—Haneda and Narita—are all on the list. Out of where, you ask? Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia.

And if you’re thinking that pajamas are all they’ve got up their sleeve, think again. They’re throwing in slippers, dual-sided pillows, and duvets, just to sweeten the deal. American seems to be taking feedback seriously, crafting an experience that they hope aligns nicely with what folks actually want.

The Timing: No Coincidence

This reintroduction is like a soft blanket of goodwill—to go along with the hard product upgrade of new business class seats they’re rolling out. But here’s the kicker: these new amenities aren’t picky about your seat model; you get them with both the shiny new and the classic seats.

Why All This? Well, It’s About Time

It seems American’s been waking up to a bit of a reality check. They’ve been the lagging sibling when you line them up against Delta and United in the financial family photo. But, newly appointed Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden seems determined to give them a makeover.

We’ve seen a slew of changes recently, mainly doing a U-turn on some past blunders. For instance, last spring, they axed these very amenities. But thanks to some soul-searching, they’re back—about a year later.

Sure, they’re not breaking new ground here. Many airlines hand out pajamas to their business class patrons. United’s been doing it on flights over 14 hours and they’ve got some rather comfy bedding, to boot. Still, American’s new pajama policy might even outdo them; they’re offering it on shorter routes like Tokyo to Los Angeles.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

Pajamas and mattress pads in business class—oh how far we’ve come, or gone back, rather. As these comforts make their reentrance, American reminds us of its ambition to turn itself around. Whether it’s permanently turning the chapter or momentarily scapegoating the past is yet to be seen.

So, what’s your take on this latest move by American Airlines?

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