Better Sleep at 30,000 Feet

In early April, the New York Times published an article, “Sleep is the New Status Symbol.” Citing the Centers for Disease Control, the article called sleeplessness a “public health concern.”

Whatever the effects sleepless may have on travelers, airlines are racing to roll out new and better ways for their premium customers to catch 40 winks while airborne.

American Airlines has become the latest to announce it is upping the in-flight sleep experience in a new partnership with sleep company Casper.

Starting in December, American’s first, business and premium economy class cabins on select flights will feature a whole new suite of Casper’s sleep products, including a mattress pad, duvet, pillow, day blanket, lumbar pillow, pajamas and slippers.

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To be sure, the partnership will turn American Airlines into a mobile showroom of sorts for Casper products. But Casper isn’t hitting the skies without some hard science behind their offerings. The company’s sleep engineers—experts in sleep research and sleep science—spent months studying the mechanics and challenges of in-flight sleep and have designed the new products specifically for air travelers.

For the onboard pillow alone, Casper developed more than a dozen versions. They then tested them with a variety of fibers to find the perfect intersection between support and breathability.

American then field tested these products on its longest flights—including the Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand route. It also turned to its own experts—the in-flight cabin crew—for their opinions on the product’s durability and comfort.

“Customers and crew members who tried Casper on our flights said they loved it,” said Kurt Stache, the senior vice president for Marketing, Loyalty & Sales with American Airlines. “Casper has set a new standard for premium sleep products and our new line showcases their attention to detail and design, and their commitment to providing the best rest possible for American Airlines customers.”

This is Casper’s first foray beyond home products into the world of travel.

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“Our mission has always been to create products that help people dream their way to a better life,” said Philip Krim, Casper co-founder and CEO. “In collaboration with American, we are now able to apply our expertise in sleep science to redefine comfort and sleep in flight.”

Casper products will be available on most traditional long-haul international flights as well as select transcontinental routes, including Boston to LAX, JFK to Seattle, Miami to SFO as well as mainland U.S. flights to Hawaii. Some flights to northern rim destinations in South America (MAR, MAO, BOG, CCS, CLO, GYE, LPB, MDE, UIO, VVI) will also feature the new bedding.

The American-Casper team up is the latest in a line of new partnerships targeted towards better in-flight bedding.

In October of last year, Delta Air Lines announced it was partnering with Westin Hotels & Resorts to roll out new Westin Heavenly in-flight blankets. In December, United Airlines followed suit with its new Polaris business class product, which includes custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue.

Luxury bedding isn’t limited to domestic carriers, either. Among the features in its much-anticipated new Qsuite product, Qatar Airways is showcasing new double beds.

For more information visit American Airlines or Casper.com.

Follow @MonicaPoling