Actor John Barrowman Mistakes American First Class for Business, Complains About Missing Pajamas

Television personality John Barrowman sparked social media attention after posting—and subsequently removing—a video complaint about American Airlines service on a Los Angeles to London flight, according to a report. The 59-year-old actor, recognized for portraying Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood, misidentified the cabin class receiving premium amenities ahead of him.

Traveling with his husband Scott Gill and father aboard what was reportedly flight AA134, Barrowman recorded himself from his business class seat expressing frustration over what he characterized as selective service. He stated he had purchased three expensive full-fare Flagship tickets and expected comparable treatment to passengers in the forward cabin who were receiving pajamas—an amenity he believed his ticket class warranted.

The confusion stemmed from American's Boeing 777-300ER configuration on the route, which features eight Flagship First seats in rows one and two, followed by 52 Flagship Business seats beginning in row three. The pajamas Barrowman observed being distributed were first class amenities, not business class offerings withheld from select passengers. American applies the Flagship branding across its premium long-haul products, creating potential confusion for travelers unfamiliar with the carrier's cabin distinctions.

American's current business class soft product varies significantly by destination. The carrier reinstated pajamas for business class passengers traveling to East Asia, India, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand after initially eliminating them from ultra-long-haul routes in 2024. However, European and South American destinations remain excluded from pajama service regardless of flight duration. The Los Angeles-London routing operates for nearly eleven hours overnight but falls outside the geographic parameters for enhanced amenity packages, while a similar-length Los Angeles-Tokyo flight includes the sleepwear.

The airline has recently enhanced its business class offerings with mattress pads, upgraded pillows, duvets, and slippers across a broader network. The incident prompted numerous social media reactions after the video circulated, with observers noting the relatively minor nature of the service complaint. Barrowman also mentioned receiving an incorrect meal order during the flight.