Originally Posted by
abaheti
And, yes, this is is all truly a first world problem. Comfort matters but for me it is more about keeping clothes fresh.
For me? Depending what I need to do when I land, I prefer to keep my street clothes fresh as I rarely have access to an arrivals lounge. Flying 10+ hours, then layover, connecting flight is a long time in the same clothes, particularly slept in. If the rest of my day after landing is to a meeting (business or friends/family), prefer to land and have fresh clothes. If the rest of my day after landing is getting into a car or train or touring a city because I've landed in the morning, prefer fresh clothes. There are lots of reasons why I just prefer it. If I have enough time connecting after a 10+ hour flight and have access, I'll utilize the lounge shower even. I could bring spare clothes and change when I land, sure, but wearing PJs on the plane just is easier for me and saves me opening my main carry-on bag as PJs fit in my small pack.
As an aside, I've also spent enough time on planes and in airports near people who have clearly been traveling in the same clothes for 24+ hours who I wish had changed... :-)
As they say, YMMV.
Years ago when there were more PJ's available on planes (and for some reason slept way better on planes) I was flying ORD - FRA and they literally woke me up with only a few minutes to landing -- with no chance to change into my street clothes. Of course we came in to a bus gate -- and of course for once the bus was waiting and the stairs were on the plane just as the seatbelt sign turned off.... So I put on my dress shoes and had to wear the PJ's and my winter coat all the way to the terminal -- the walk of shame....
I was surprised that no one seemed to care -- I guess everyone was quite tired... Thankfully there was a mens room post bus trip -- but boy that was embarrassing and I re-evaluated the "Should I wake you for breakfast" standard response of no.... As you can tell I am not a change in the seat person -- and IIRC this was pre-Polaris so much less privacy....