For decades, trying to get quality sleep on a plane—even in first class—has seemed like a unattainable dream for many passengers and crew members. Through a new collaboration, American Airlines and Casper are trying to prove that it is possible to sleep like a baby, even in an airplane seat.
Casper sleep products are now taking flight with American Airlines
Earlier this year, American Airlines announced that it would be partnering with startup turned sleep company giant Casper in order to create a new standard for its customers in terms of the in-flight sleep experience. The collaboration is now live, and customers in certain cabins on long-haul international, transatlantic, and some domestic flights now have access to a variety of different Casper products during the flight.
Some of the Casper products that are now featured on these flights include mattress pads, pillows, blankets, duvet covers, and pajamas. Not all products will be available on all flights, as AA and Casper are customizing the offerings for specific routes.
AA has been testing the Casper products on several of their longest routes in service, including LAX to AKL, and executives noted that the response from passengers and crew members has been overwhelmingly positive. They believe that partnerships such as the one with Casper will continue to give them a competitive edge in an environment where frequent fliers with status and first class passengers expect unique amenities that enhance the in-flight experience.
Casper and AA are bringing tech innovation and added comfort to the in-flight experience
Casper may be a consumer sleep products company, but it shares much of its DNA with many of the innovative tech companies that have made splashes in the last decade by disrupting markets that were ripe for change. The Casper founders first noticed that the traditional experience of buying a mattress was an unpleasant chore for most consumers, and they originally set out to create an entirely new model that was built around redefining the customer experience.
Casper then transitioned from disrupting the consumer mattress industry to creating an entirely new industry that is built around the experience of sleeping. They brought the technology and science used in creating their sleep products into the aircraft cabin for their collaboration with AA, by rigorously testing products under a variety of conditions in order to optimize the experience for customers.
More airlines are seeking out innovative collaborations to help them stand out
The partnership between Casper and AA is only the latest example in a series of collaborations between airline carriers and consumer brands to feature branded in-flight products. The in-flight bedding category has proven to be one of the most fruitful areas for these relationships, as this deal follows on the heels of Delta’s introduction of Westin Heavenly blankets for first class customers, and United’s partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue for in-flight sleep products.
Many of the legacy airline carriers are realizing that they can benefit by introducing additional amenities for premium customers and frequent fliers, but also that they don’t necessarily have to incur the expense of developing and testing these products themselves. Collaborations such as these indicate a willingness on behalf of the airlines to use the inherent advantages provided by established and innovative brands in order to enhance the in-flight experience for their customers.
