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[edit] Inflight Entertainment
AA offers a variety of inflight entertainment, with details depending on the aircraft and route. For current information, see the AA.com Inflight Entertainment page.
[edit] General Information
Audio and/or video entertainment are available on most mainline aircraft. However, MD80 and regional aircraft do not have any A/V entertainment.
Audio entertainment (12 or 16 channels with looped content) is available throughout the flight and current selections are listed on AA.com here. Audio jacks at each seat accept standard 1/8” stereo headphone plugs. Audio quality may be poor and hissy, but is better on newer systems. Passengers can use their own headphones or purchase earbud-style headphones for $2 and keep them for future use.
Video entertainment on main cabin screens begins shortly after takeoff and current offerings are listed on AA.com here. NBC Universal provides prepackaged television content consisting of news, sports, and comedy. Feature-length movies are shown on flights of ~3.5 hours and longer. On domestic transcontinental flights, crews have been known supplement the IFE offering by playing a second movie, often a tape leftover from a preceding international flight (kudos!) Personal entertainment devices with audio/video on demand (AVOD) and noise-canceling headphones are provided in premium cabins on certain aircraft and routes as indicated below.
Airshow (live flight map) is available on inseat displays on 772 and 75L aircraft. It is also available on 763 aircraft when turned on by the crew and not conflicting with regular video programming.
Magazines. American Way magazine is provided on all aircraft and routes, and other AA magazines (Celebrated Living, Nexos, Latitudes) are available in certain cabins and markets. Current magazine content is also available on AA.com here. A selection of newspapers is offered in first and business class on flights to/from/outside North America.
[edit] Mainline Aircraft
[edit] MD80 - McDonnell Douglas MD-80 (S80, M80, M83, 'Mad Dog')
- These aircraft have no audio or video entertainment whatsoever, despite accounting for slightly more than half of AA's flights each day.
- Miscellaneous. In approximately May 2007, AA tested renting out personal entertainment devices on the LAX-ORD route, but that test was abandoned.
[edit] 738 - Boeing 737-823
- This aircraft has 1.33:1 LCD cabin screens centered over the aisle and also mounted on the bulkheads at the front of the First and Coach cabins.
- N.B.: New 738 (38D) aircraft are being delivered with 10.4” 1.33:1 LCD cabin screens mounted under the overhead bins on each side of the aircraft. Delivery began in March 2009 and production is estimated to be complete by October 2010.
[edit] 752 - Boeing 757-223 (North America & Caribbean)
- This aircraft has old-style 1.33:1 CRT cabin screens centered over the aisle in First and Coach and does not have bulkhead monitors.
- First (Transcontinental). As of June 1, 2009, on selected transcontinental routes (BOS-LAX, BOS-SFO), AA has begun distributing Archos personal entertainment devices and Bose QC3 noise-canceling headphones in First class. This program is in the test-market stage and may expand to other 757 transcontinental routes in the future.
- N.B.: Refurbishment of domestic configuration 757 aircraft with new 22" 16:9 LCD cabin screens centered over the aisle started in mid-2009. However, only a single aircraft with this configuration (N610AA) is expected to be in circulation until sometime in 2010. This work is expected to be completed by November 2015.
[edit] 75L - Boeing 757-223 (International)
- This aircraft has 1.78:1 LCD cabin screens centered over the aisle in Coach and two bulkhead screens in Business.
- Business. This cabin has two larger LCD bulkhead screens and built-in Panasonic 1.78:1 10.6" AVOD devices in each seatback/bulkhead. Passengers on an international itinerary are also provided with Bose noise-canceling headsets.
- N.B.: AA is currently retrofitting 18 of their existing 752 aircraft in this international configuration (75L), expected to be completed by December 2009. For domestic 757 routes using this configuration, see Domestic 75L Flights with Next Generation Business Class Seats
[edit] 762 - Boeing 767-223ER
- This aircraft has 1.78:1 LCD cabin screens on the bulkheads in all three cabins, and additional LCD screens over the aisle in Coach.
- First/Business. On select transcontinental flights (JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO, MIA-LAX), passengers in First and Business are provided with Archos personal entertainment devices (PED) and Bose QC3 noise-canceling headphones.
- N.B.: AA completed refurbishment of this aircraft in July 2009, replacing old-style projection screens at the center section bulkheads, old-style CRT screens over the aisles, and tiny LCD screens on the side bulkheads in Business.
[edit] 763 - Boeing 767-323ER
- This aircraft has 1.33:1 LCD cabin screens centered over the aisles and old-style projection screens on the center section bulkheads in Business and Coach.
- International Business. On flights to/from/outside North America, passengers in international Business are provided with Panasonic personal entertainment devices, which can be placed in the seatback bracket or used externally, and Bose QC3 noise-canceling headphones.
- Domestic First (i.e. business class sold as first). On selected transcontinental flights (JFK-SFO), passengers in domestic First are provided with Archos personal entertainment devices (PED) and Bose QC3 noise-canceling headphones.
[edit] 772 - Boeing 777-223ER
- This aircraft has individual LCD screens at every seat and 1.33:1 cabin LCD screens on the bulkheads showing Airshow.
- First. In-seat audio/video on demand (AVOD) entertainment with 8.4" low-resolution 1.33:1 LCD screens. The system is preloaded with a variety of movies, TV shows, 50 audio CDs, and 15 games. The system is made by Rockwell Collins and has no live feeds with the exception of the Airshow. First class seats also have a built-in individual Mini 8 tape player. For flights to/from/outside North America, AA offers a selection of 20 tapes to choose from for individual playing. The titles are not published in advance.
- Business. In-seat AVOD with 10.6" low-resolution 1.33:1 LCD screens built into the seatbacks and bulkheads. The system is preloaded with a variety of >20 movies, TV shows, 50 audio CDs, and 15 games. The system is made by Rockwell Collins and has no live feeds with the exception of the Airshow. (N.B.: It is often necessary to increase the contrast on these displays for optimal viewing.)
- Coach. In-seat cycling audio/video entertainment with small 1.33:1 LCD screens. Video entertainment runs in content cycles starting every 25 minutes. Audio entertainment runs the standard looped 12 channels.
[edit] American Eagle (regional affiliate) Aircraft
There is no entertainment provided on American Eagle flights.
[edit] Personal Entertainment Devices
AA provides two types of AVOD personal entertainment devices (PEDs) with noise-canceling headphones in premium cabins on certain aircraft and routes as indicated above. The systems are preloaded with a variety of movies, TV shows, audio CDs, and games. Airshow is not available on these devices. Current offerings are listed here.
[edit] Archos PED
The Archos 704 portable media player is a small unit with a 7" 1.78:1 TFT touchscreen (800 x 480 pixels). The unit is powered by the 15V DC socket but also has a battery.
[edit] Panasonic PED
The IMS Inflight PEA (personal entertainment appliance) is a 10.6” 1.78:1 unit that looks like a small laptop and can be used as a portable device or placed in the seatback bracket on 763 aircraft. It can be operated using both touchscreen and button controls. The unit is built on Panasonic hardware and Windows XP OS, and is powered by the 15V DC socket, but also has a battery.
[edit] Bose Quiet Comfort 3 Noise-Canceling Headphones
On flights to/from/outside North America and select transcontinental flights noted above, First and Business class passengers are provided with with noise-canceling headphones (Bose QuietComfort 3). These headphones and portable PEDs are logged by the flight attendants during distribution and are collected 45–60 minutes prior to landing.
