Does American Airlines Have TVs

Have you ever wondered if American Airlines has TVs on its flights? Then you’re not alone. This is something you need to know to avoid taking your own device just to watch a movie at 30,000 feet. It doesn’t matter if you are a regular flyer or a first timer. Understanding how in flight entertainment works is something you can’t miss. This can make your journey on American Airlines more enjoyable than ever. 

In this guide, we’ll give you the answer to “Does American Airlines have TVs?” This blog explains where you get it and how streaming even works. 

Quick Stats: TVs and Entertainment on American Flights

Here’s the real picture:

It is interesting to think about how entertainment works in American Airlines. The airline equipped about 300 aircraft with seatback entertainment systems historically. This is where passengers could watch movies directly from the seat screen. Source: American Airlines Newsroom

But the airline is not phasing out the traditional TVs on most dramatic narrow body aircraft. It is shifting toward a bring your own device streaming model. Source: VisaVerge

So, Does American Airlines Have TVs?

Yes, but keep in mind that it actually depends on the aircraft and route. You get three main types of in flight entertainment today with American Airlines. 

Seatback TVs on Larger Aircraft

Some wide body jets are where you do get built in seatback screens. Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner are some of them.

These are the most common on:

• International long haul flights
• Premium transcontinental routes

On these flights, you’ll find a full library of entertainment. This includes movies, TV shows, music, and more. These are all available directly from the screen in from of you. 

Streaming to Your Own Device

Seatback TVs are actually being removed on most domestic flights. These are especially on narrow body jets like the Airbus A320, A321, and Boeing 737. Keep in mind that they are already gone in many cases. If you’re a passenger here, don’t worry about missing on entertainment. You can still stream it all on your phones, tablets and laptops. The American Airlines onboard entertainment portal allows you this. 

This model is called the BYOD here. It’s actually becoming the standard for domestic travel with AA. 

Legacy or Special Configurations

There are infact a small number of older narrow body aircraft. These include Airbus A319s, which temporarily had seatback TVs. Those are being removed as part of a retrofit program. 

Why Some American Airlines Flights No Longer Have TVs

Passengers Prefer Their Own Devices

Most travellers today come with their own smartphones, tablets or even laptops. So that’s where they stream the content they chose. So naturally, the built-in screen becomes way less valuable.

Weight and Fuel Savings

Removing screens reduces weight on the plane. This cuts fuel use and operating costs. 

Lower Maintenance

Well, seatback entertainment systems are just not that expensive to maintain. Streaming over WIFI avoids hardware issues. 

How to Stream American Airlines Entertainment

Don’t worry if your flight doesn’t have a seatback TV. You can still watch movies and TV for free by just using your device. 

• Turn on airplane mode once onboard.
• Connect to the “AA-Inflight” Wi-Fi network.
• Visit the official website of American Airlines 
• Browse movies, TV shows, music, and more.

The content you then see is actually updated regularly. It includes a mix of features, series and sometimes even Apple TV+ content. This depends on the flight’s Wi Fi system.

What You’ll See on Different Routes

International & Long-Haul Flights

• Almost always equipped with seatback screens
• Full library of movies and TV
• Sometimes even live TV options

Domestic Flight

• Mostly narrow body aircrafr do not have built in TVs
• Entertainment can be accessed through streaming on your own device

Regional or Short Flights

• Smaller regional jets mostly do not have any entertainment systems
• You’ll want to bring your own downloaded content

Is the Entertainment Free?

Yes! Access to movies, TV shows and other content through the AA entertainment portal is free. That is even if your flight doesn’t have a built in screen.

Note: If you want to browse the web or use messaging apps, then charges are applied for internet access. But the entertainment library itself mostly doesn’t cost extra.

Tips for Best In-Flight Entertainment

• Charge your device before boarding
• It’s for the best if you just download content in advance. This saves you if the WIFI is slow or isn’t working. 
• For the best viewing experience, just bring headphones.
• Connect to WIFI early after takeoff.

This is how you stay prepared seatback screen or not.

Conclusion

It actually just depends on the aircraft and route whether American Airlines has TV or not. But you’ll almost always have some way to watch movies. You get the classic seatback entertainment screen on international trips. You enjoy yourself with your own smartphone on most domestic flights. Knowing what to expect can help you pack smart.