Last spring, American Airlines refreshed its long haul premium cabin soft product. Amenity kit contents became virtually indistinguishable between premium economy, business, and first class. They dropped pajamas from business class on ultra-long haul flights while adding slippers to short hops across the Atlantic and down to South America.
American First Class Amenity Kit
It was a surprising cutback. Previously American offered pajamas in business class on their longest flights like Sydney, Auckland, and Shanghai. And the pajamas were much cheaper than what they offered, say, a decade ago. Even their current Flagship First Class pajamas are greatly cheapened. On my Sydney – Los Angeles first class flight last month they had only a single size (small/medium) to offer.
American First Class Pajamas
Fortunately, American has decided to reverse course on pajamas. There will also be mattress pads. And they won’t be taking away the slippers to pay for it.
Later this summer, American will further enhance the Flagship® Business class experience on all widebody flights to East Asia, the Middle East, India, Australia and New Zealand with the introduction of pajamas and mattress pads, in addition to the slippers, dual-sided pillows and duvet that are already offered.
American has actually done a nice job with their bedding in first class, but that’s a product which is going away. We’ll see the improved soft product on flights between the U.S. and Australia (Sydney, Brisbane), New Zealand (Auckland), India (Delhi), Qatar (Doha), South Korea (Seoul), China (Shanghai) and Japan (Tokyo Narita and Haneda). That’s more generous than United’s 14-hour requirement for pajamas. Hoenstly, though, mattress pads should be added on transatlantic flights to and from Europe. That’s something Air France has finally just added.
We’re seeing a lot of improvement out of American across a number of dimensions. Their dense new premium heavy Boeing 787-9″P” business class and premium economy hard products are very good. Their new lounge aesthetic is genuinely gorgeous (Washington National E, Denver, Newark, Philadelphia A-West and Flagship). Wifi will be free on 90% of their aircraft next year, and high speed wifi is rolling out across their regional jets.
787-9 Business Class
And they’re improving several policies – like eliminating the practice of collecting noise cancelling headphones from business class passengers an hour prior to landing, and allowing all customers to get added to standby on domestic flights by airport agents (and not just self-serve on the website and through the mobile app).
Philadelphia Flagship Lounge
While I think there’s a long way to go along several dimensions, from inflight service to same-day confirmed change policies, I like the direction that the airline has been mostly heading since I was first to reveal their plans for a premium pivot back in January.
I don’t understand the stratification of the mattress pads. They are usually thin anyway. Seems annoying to have duvet bundles with and without them. Pajamas I get.
I’m much more concerned with the dynamic award pricing. Have not seen the 57.5k jfk-LHR business pricing lately. Or many BA flights for that matter through AA.
AAL has stated they wish to focus on their Premium product; however, what they mean is that they wish to received the higher sales price for a premium product, without providing the product. Their catering is awful and their staff just go through the motions, in my judgement. I wish they would stop collecting the headsets hours before landing so that their inflight staff can leave the aeroplane quickly. Would never happen on Lufthansa or Virgin Atlantic.
Just go for BASIC ECONOMY. Their product is barely basic.
I never understood the fascination with pajamas on planes. First of all I haven’t worn pajamas since I was a kid over 50 years ago. When I fly long haul it is joggers and a t shirt which is very comfortable. The last thing I want is to get handed pajamas and change into them in an airplane bathroom. Just seems odd and something no one in their right mind should have an obsession with. On the other hand it is Gary so that explains it.
A corporation admitting to a mistake? What is this… the Twilight Zone?!
Medium, please!
I am with AC on the pajamas.
They should also have mattress pads on long haul to South America.
@AC & @Woofie — Oof. Way to be a stick in the mud. Do you guy refuse the meals, champagne, and entertainment systems, too? Ya don’t have to ‘raw dog’ the flights, especially if you’re up-front. My goodness. Live a little, fellas!
I am with the “no PJs” crowd.
and I enjoy everything else.
Having a bunch of people needing to change 2X when the rest of the cabin just wants to pee is not good service.
Mattress pads matter. Alot.
Good lord Gary, these are NOT enhancements these are reversals of devaluations.
BIG difference!
@Tim Dunn — Oh, say it ain’t so! Against DL’s FA’s organizing, and now PJs… heartbreaking. Bah!
I haven’t warm PJs since I was a kid
Worn
Too little – too late on so many fronts
From what i am reading – the new 787 rollout is just “OK” – looks great until you realize that they haven’t increased the number of flight attendants for the 51Pax and there are only 3 downsized lavs….
Me, I am done. after 10MM BIS miles in the program since day 1, i only fly them when it makes sense as there are so many better products out there..
Maybe those retards at SkyView have learned something?
I’ve switched to women’s panties
I’m not concerned about pajamas nor amenity kits. However, having traveled twice on the new 787-9P twice in business class, the loss of one flight attendant is far more concerning. With nearly double the business class seats and now one fewer attendant the soft product may prove to be the deal-breaker.
I’ve never used the PJs or pad when available, but maybe I’ll try one or both on my DFW-AKL flight this winter. I return on BNE-DFW on the 78P. For now, the 8 bulkhead J suites, which will later be an upcharge (I hear), are free, so I snagged one.
@This comes to mind — What’s up with this ‘I don’t use/want it, so no one should get it’ attitude these days? Reminds me of the AA lack of IFE debates on here. Folks, having the amenity is better than not, even if you don’t use it. Sheesh!
@derek mcgillicuddy,
They don’t collect them to after landing now.
Pj’s are a joke. Better bedding, seat comfort and definitely get rid of AA owning the catering company doing the worst catering and food preparation ever! Talk cheap and by the penny!
Want better? Get new food and beverage people. Chefs and better wine selection. AA used to have great wines. Plus get the staff, flight attendants, back onboard. Quit reducing staff. You reduce staff, you get reduced service. What did they do with all those new hires flight attendants they have been hiring in the thousands each year? They put them on reserve and not on planes on long haul flights.
Upgrade the PJ quality to a Flagship Onezie.
@Eric — This guy gets it.
@Josh Gates — Good ideas, except, do all the above, and still keep the PJs. Yes, please hire, train, retain, support, and actually use your crews so that we, the passengers, get better service. Please.
My international business class experience with AA is limited to DFW to Europe. A few years ago I started questioning the value and after our last couple of trips, especially when compared with Air France/Delta, it’s just not worth the extra from premium economy. The hard product has declined and the customer service with it.
I am glad to see that things are improving in the pointy end, where I generally fly, but I wish the rest of the plane would get some relief from the awful findings of economy flight.
Mattress pads for trans-Atlantic would be great. Even BA gives that. I’m a pro PJ. I wear them on most flights longer than 9 hours. My routine (for night flights): I eat dinner in the lounge. Change into PJ’s on the ground once I’ve settled into my seat. I ask the FA to hold my dinner meal until later in the flight. Then, as the wheels retract on take-off, I put in earplugs & a sleep mask, recline the seat & generally sleep anywhere from 3-8 hours. It’s nice to arrive with fresh clothes — especially after flights like JFK-AKL, DOH-AKL, LHR-PER.
Vote with your dollar, plenty of other options.
Tim Done with the win. (July 2, 2025 at 5:36 pm)