Think back to your last flight: Did you have an entertainment screen on the seat in front of you? With hundreds of movies and shows at your fingertips, seatback entertainment can make a long flight go by more quickly, but not every airline offers this amenity. In the past, some have even removed the screens to save on costs. One U.S. airline, however, recently announced a major reversal to that policy. Here’s what to expect. 

American Restores Seatback Entertainment

In August, American Airlines detailed a few big improvements to its passenger experience. The biggest news is that the airline will be equipping its entire narrow-body fleet (aircraft with one passenger aisle in between seats, as opposed to two) with seatback entertainment screens. In a press release, the company said the screens will be “among the largest displays offered on narrow-body aircraft in North America with large-format premium displays,” with 4K technology and Bluetooth connectivity for headphones.

The screens will be installed on all of American’s Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 narrow-body aircraft. Today, the vast majority of them offer only entertainment streamed to your personal device. American’s wide-body aircraft (the Boeing 777 and 787) — which mainly serve long-haul international routes — are already equipped with screens, but regional aircraft that operate under the American Eagle brand on shorter flights will not be getting screens.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a while to enjoy the new entertainment options on narrow-body flights. American said that new aircraft deliveries will have screens installed beginning in 2028, which is when the company will begin retrofitting screens to existing aircraft.

That will mark 10 years since the company previously began removing screens on its Airbus and Boeing planes. According to The New York Times, that “shift away from screens was a way to cut the cost of technology upgrades and the additional weight, which burns more fuel.”

In explaining the reversal, an American Airlines spokesperson interviewed by The Times said, “It has become increasingly clear that passengers, especially younger generations, value access to multiple devices and larger screens.”

Other Changes at American

Travel experts say that one of the major drivers in American’s screen pivot is an industry-wide effort to woo premium travelers. In that vein, as part of the August announcement, American said it was also “significantly increasing the number of premium and Main Cabin Extra seats across its narrow-body fleet by retrofitting existing aircraft and receiving new aircraft deliveries with premium configurations.”

The airline said that premium seats today make up 25% of its narrow-body fleet, but that number is expected to grow to approximately 40% once existing aircraft are retrofitted. In 2029, the airline will also add the Boeing 737-10 MAX to its fleet, with 24 first-class seats. Aircraft interiors will be refreshed, too, with redesigned seats, enhanced lighting, and more storage options. 

And in even more positive news for American flyers, the carrier will be installing high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi — touted as “the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky” — on narrow-body aircraft beginning in 2027. It will be free for all customers, regardless of the cabin flown, as long as they have a free AAdvantage loyalty account.

U.S. Airlines Compared

In light of American’s recent announcement, here’s a rundown of how the airline compares with its rivals for onboard connectivity and entertainment. 

• Alaska Airlines: Most aircraft do not offer screens, with the exception of Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s operated under the Hawaiian Airlines brand. However, you can stream entertainment to your personal device for free on most Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flights (except short interisland hops in Hawaii on the Boeing 717). Like American, the Alaska Air Group is rolling out free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi. On older planes, in-flight internet is available for a fee. 
  
• Allegiant: The budget carrier does not offer Wi-Fi or streaming entertainment. In 2026, Allegiant acquired Sun Country, which does offer streaming entertainment, but that may change as the airlines merge into a single brand. 
  
• Breeze Airways: Paid Wi-Fi is available in standard economy, and it’s free for upgraded fares. All passengers can stream entertainment to their own devices and message for free. 
  
• Delta Air Lines: Delta is way ahead of American when it comes to seatback screens. Around 90% of Delta’s mainline fleet is equipped with screens offering over 1,000 hours of free in-flight entertainment. However, the airline’s Boeing 717s and regional aircraft operated under the Delta Connection brand offer streaming entertainment only. Delta also offers fast, free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members on the majority of its aircraft, with the rollout expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
  
• Frontier Airlines: Passengers on the budget carrier don’t have access to Wi-Fi or streaming entertainment.  
  
• JetBlue: JetBlue is the only U.S. carrier that offers screens at every seat, and those screens also offer live TV. It was the first airline to offer complimentary high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi, too.  
  
• Southwest Airlines: Southwest doesn’t offer seatback entertainment screens, but passengers can access a free entertainment portal to stream movies and TV shows to their personal device. The airline also offers free Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members and is in the process of upgrading its fleet to ultrafast Starlink Wi-Fi. 
  
• United Airlines: The airline is ahead of American in rolling out seatback screens on its entire narrow-body fleet. Wide-body aircraft already have them, but regional aircraft under the United Express umbrella do not offer screens. United is also in the process of installing free Starlink internet; the carrier expects to offer it on more than 1,000 planes by the end of 2026.

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