American Airlines is preparing a long-awaited cabin upgrade that will bring its onboard experience closer to rivals United and Delta — and many frequent flyers are welcoming the change.
The major US carrier plans to add seatback entertainment screens to both new aircraft and parts of its existing fleet, ending its reliance on passengers using personal phones, tablets or laptops to stream movies and shows in flight.
Travelers in every cabin are expected to eventually benefit from the rollout, which is also set to include modern tech features such as Bluetooth audio connectivity and USB-C charging ports.
American had reportedly been seriously weighing the move for several months before deciding to push ahead with the in-flight entertainment upgrade.
For years, airline leaders argued that installing screens was not worth the added expense, equipment requirements and aircraft weight, instead betting that customers would prefer to use their own devices onboard.
Competitors United Airlines and Delta Air Lines already offer seatback entertainment on many routes, though aviation analysts note Delta has moved further ahead. United has screens on most of its widebody international aircraft, but a number of older domestic narrowbody jets still do not have them.
‘The technology has advanced so much from when we made this decision more than a decade ago,’ Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said in an interview with CNBC. ‘Ultimately, when you have customer preference and customer satisfaction improvements, that also generates revenue.’
The upgraded seatback screens are expected to feature 4K displays and will begin arriving on new Boeing and Airbus aircraft deliveries in 2028. Other customer-focused changes, including frequent flyer program updates, are already being introduced.
American Airlines is bringing seatback TV screens to its narrowbody fleet, reversing a decision from several years ago
With these new changes, American is trying to convince travelers that it can offer the kind of premium experience that has helped Delta and United become competitors -while still maintaining its reputation for domestic flights.
But these airlines aren’t an extra swap for one another.
According to Visual Capitalist, American Airlines has the most annual passengers at over 220 million. It also has the highest daily flight frequency and scheduled departures of the three.
While American’s revenue reached a record $16.7 billion last quarter, the airline made just $71 million in net income. By comparison, Delta made about $1.6 billion and United made about $805 million in the same time period.
American is betting that passengers will help change that equation. Its premium business is already showing promise, with premium passenger unit revenue rising 13.4 percent last quarter.
The airline is also preparing to bring Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi to its fleet beginning in 2027.
‘We’re making one of the most significant investments in the onboard experience in our history,’ American Airlines said.
‘From next-generation seatback entertainment at every seat to substantially more premium seating options, these enhancements will give our customers more ways to relax, stay connected and enjoy their journey.’
American is one of the largest airlines operating in the US, serving over two million passengers annually
One Reddit user pointed out that in an era of smartphones, having a seatback screen isn’t a necessity.
‘Why spend money on this and not the myriad other areas American needs to improve,’ they asked.
‘Like people were avoiding American over having a phone holder instead of a screen?’
‘I kind of agree but I think people in general perceive an interior without setback screens as cheap and inferior to Delta and United,’ another Reddit user replied.
‘The perception of having a cabin with no screens is huge,’ one Reddit user wrote.
‘I get asked all the time from passengers, if the plane we are on is old, because when passengers see a plane with no screens they automatically assume it is old.’
