American Airlines Introduces Sustainable Pajamas

Sustainability is a big focus for airlines nowadays, and at American Airlines that’s extending to first class pajamas…

American’s new pajamas are made of plastic bottles

@xJonNYC flags that American Airlines will be introducing new pajamas for international first class passengers as of January 10, 2022:

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• These are designed by RECLINER, which I’ve never heard of
• The focus is on sustainability, and the pajamas are made of recycled plastic bottles, blended with cotton, “to deliver soft, breathable, sustainable pajamas”
• This program will result in daily saving of 4,821 bottles from landfills, resulting in 33 tons annually
• There will also be new slippers, which will be wrapped in recycled paper rather than plastic wrapping

I’m kind of intrigued. We’ve seen different sustainability measures from airlines, from Alaska Airlines serving boxed water, to Virgin Atlantic having fully recycled amenity kits, to American Airlines serving meat and cheese not fit for human consumption (okay, I made up that last one). But clothing made largely of recycled plastic bottles? That’s something I don’t think we’ve seen from an airline before.

I’m curious if the quality of the new pajamas is as good as the old ones, or if this is a downgrade in the name of sustainability. If the latter is the case, then I’d argue this doesn’t do a whole lot to help the environment at all — if they’re low quality, people are unlikely to take the pajamas home and reuse them.

Meanwhile Emirates claims that its pajamas are “moisturizing,” though I’ve yet to figure out what that means, even after having picked up several pairs.

American’s new “Big Sur After Rain” scent

Also as of January 10, 2022, American Airlines will introduce a new aircraft soap and scent spray. Wait a second, American has an aircraft scent spray?! Anyway, the new scent will be “Big Sur After Rain,” and it will align with the D.S. & Durga scents featured in lounges and amenity kits. The “Big Sur After Rain” scent is described as featuring:

• Top notes of coastal rain and eucalyptus shoots
• Hearty notes of magnolia and pacific spray
• Base notes of eucalyptus wet leaf and wet wood

Yeah, I’m sure I’ll pick up on all of those on my next American Airlines flight. 😉

But in all honesty, have I been living under a rock, or since when does American have an aircraft scent spray? Is this actually sprayed in the cabins, or is this just something they use in place of a coffee grounds after someone abuses the lavatory?

Bottom line

American Airlines will shortly be introducing new first class pajamas, made largely of recycled bottles. I’m curious to put on a pair some day, and wonder if they’re actually as comfortable as the old ones. If so, awesome. If not, single use pajamas don’t seem terribly “sustainable” to me.

Anyone have any guesses as to how American’s new pajamas will be?