American Airlines Spent Years Ripping Out Seatback Screens. Now It’s Putting Them Back

I fly American Airlines a lot. I’ve been one of their top-tier elite frequent flyers for more than a decade and I’m also a Million Miler, so I’m very familiar with American’s planes and onboard experience.

Unfortunately, if you’re flying domestically, unless you happen to be on one of American’s specially configured transcontinental aircraft, chances are you’re not going to find a seatback entertainment screen in front of you.

That’s because American spent years ripping them out. The airline made a calculated bet that passengers would increasingly bring their own phones, tablets and laptops onboard and wouldn’t need a screen built into the seat. Removing the systems also reduced weight, which saves fuel and therefore money. In fact, American has previously cited removing seatback entertainment systems as one of its weight-reduction measures.

I could understand the reasoning. Even when we’re flying an airline with a great inflight entertainment system (photo above is from LAX-NAN on Fiji Airways), my wife and kids rarely use it. They prefer their iPads, which we preload with movies and shows before leaving home.

The only time that strategy has backfired is when one of their devices has run out of juice, but these days we travel with a bunch of portable chargers so that rarely happens.

I’m different. I actually like seatback entertainment. I use it to track our flight on the moving map, watch live TV, especially sports when it’s available, and catch up on recent movies. And I like being able to do all of that without draining my phone or iPad battery.

Apparently, American has finally come around to that way of thinking too.

American Airlines is bringing seatback screens back

Today, August 18, American announced a massive overhaul of its narrowbody fleet that will eventually put seatback entertainment screens at every seat. And these aren’t going to be the old screens American ripped out years ago.

The new systems will feature 4K displays, Bluetooth connectivity so passengers can pair their own wireless headphones or earbuds, USB-C fast charging and enhanced interactive flight maps. American also says the system will offer personalized movie and TV recommendations, real-time flight information and expanded entertainment content.

The screens will also be among the largest offered on narrowbody aircraft in North America, according to American, though the airline hasn’t yet revealed their exact size.

This is a huge about-face for an airline that spent years arguing passengers didn’t need screens because they had their own devices. And I think it’s the right call.

Don’t expect screens on your next American flight

There is one big catch: This is going to take a long time. New Airbus and Boeing aircraft delivered to American will begin arriving with the new screens in 2028. Existing aircraft that are being retrofitted will also get them, but American says the entire rollout isn’t expected to be completed until the early 2030s.

So don’t board your American flight next week expecting to find a shiny new 4K TV waiting for you. It’s actually kind of ironic that American is announcing the return of seatback screens just as it finishes removing some of the last ones from its domestic narrowbody fleet. But better late than never.

American has been playing catch-up

American has taken plenty of flak over the years for removing seatback entertainment, especially as competitors like Delta and United went in the opposite direction and doubled down on it.

That difference has become increasingly noticeable as the big airlines battle for higher-paying premium passengers. Walk onto a newer Delta or United aircraft and the seatback screens immediately give the cabin a more polished, premium feel. Walk onto many American narrowbody aircraft today and the experience can feel noticeably more bare-bones.

That’s a problem when American is increasingly positioning itself as a premium airline. So is this too little, too late? I don’t think so. I think it’s absolutely the right move. I just think American should have made it years ago.

American is adding a lot more premium seats too

The screens were the part of today’s announcement that grabbed my attention, but there’s another major change coming. American says approximately 25% of the seats on its narrowbody departures today are premium seats, including First Class and Main Cabin Extra. Over the coming years, the airline plans to increase that figure to approximately 40%. That’s a substantial shift.

American is already retrofitting its Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft with an additional row of First Class. Its future Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft will have 24 First Class seats and the airline also plans to reconfigure its A321neo fleet with additional First Class seating.

American also says the majority of its narrowbody fleet will receive more Main Cabin Extra seats, which offer additional legroom, earlier boarding, dedicated overhead bin space and a complimentary alcoholic beverage.

For elite frequent flyers, that could be almost as important as the screens. More First Class seats means more opportunities for upgrades, while additional Main Cabin Extra seats should make it easier for elites to snag extra-legroom seats.

Starlink Wi-Fi is coming too

All of this will be paired with another significant upgrade: American plans to begin installing high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on its narrowbody aircraft in 2027. That’s a pretty significant transformation.

For years, American bet that seatback entertainment was becoming obsolete because everyone travels with a screen in their pocket or backpack. Technically, they weren’t wrong. Most of us do. But I think they underestimated something important: Passengers like having both options. I certainly do.

I can watch a movie on the seatback screen while checking email on my phone or working on my laptop. I can keep the flight map up throughout the trip. I can watch live sports without worrying about my device’s battery. And if my kids’ iPads ever die, there’s an instant backup.

More importantly, seatback screens have become part of what passengers expect from a premium airline, particularly when competitors are offering them. American seems to have finally gotten that message. It’s just unfortunate we’ll have to wait until 2028 to really start seeing the changes and potentially until the early 2030s before screens are everywhere.

Still, as someone who flies American frequently, I’m glad they’re finally reversing course. Better late than never.