Etihad to offer designer pyjamas to economy passengers (so what’s the catch?)

Until now, in-flight pyjamas have been a luxury reserved strictly for passengers who shell out for business or first class tickets. But as of next month, Etihad will be providing them for those in economy seating.

Not free of course, that would be ludicrous. No, a pair of these Christian Lacroix-designed jammies will set you back ￡26, but will allow you to lope around the back of the plane very much on-brand.

They’ll be available on “ultra long-haul flights” on all routes excluding the US market along with an array of other products previously only available free in business and first.

Christian Lacroix-branded amenity kits, featuring Omorovicza products - a Hungarian skincare brand - both for men and women, will be available for ￡16.

Etihad will also be serving Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut NV champagne in economy class at ￡6 a glass.  This is the exclusive champagne served at both The Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival, and currently retails for ￡30 a bottle at Sainsbury’s, in case you were wondering.

Finally, drumroll, economy passengers will be able to buy cold brewed coffee from Coffee Planet at ￡3 a cup on flights to and from London, Paris and Australia.

The interesting twist in this announcement is that Etihad will no longer be providing free pyjamas in business class, presumably in a cost-cutting exercise. They will only be available gratas for first class passengers and guests of the Residence, the lavish three-room aircraft suite on its A380s with one-way fares running into the tens of thousands.

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Etihad isn’t the only airline to be ramping up the perks in economy and placing less emphasis on its upper classes.

In a spirited attempt to lure passengers away from their cheap European rivals, Delta Air Lines, which recently announced new direct routes to European cities including Paris, Amsterdam and Lisbon for 2018, has started serving one glass of free Alessi prosecco to passengers in the main cabin on international routes. 

Free wine, beer and spirits are, of course, already complimentary on almost every major long-haul airline - but Delta hopes the addition of bubbles will make all the difference.

American Airlines, too, now doles out free ice cream to coach travellers on select international flights including their new Dallas to Rome service.

In an era which is seeing long-haul budget airlines taking over the skies, legacy airlines are going to ever greater lengths to pad out their offering. And for passengers, that can only be a good thing.

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