Flying may shrink travel times, but those middle seat hours can feel eternal. While your trusty laptop or phone can offer some solace, their entertainment value hinges on battery life and pre-downloaded media. Thankfully, airlines have upped their game, offering diverse in-flight entertainment options on personal devices and seatback screens.
Who reigns supreme in onboard entertainment? We explored offerings from major airlines to help you choose your flight-time companion.
Top-Tier Entertainment:
JetBlue: Free Wi-Fi for all, a diverse seatback TV selection (including DirecTV on specific aircraft), and partnerships with Amazon Prime and Peacock elevate JetBlue’s entertainment game.
Delta: Following its February 2023 free Wi-Fi roll-out for most domestic mainline aircraft, Delta boasts an extensive on-demand library and seatback screens with up to 300 movies, TV shows, and live satellite TV.
Southwest: Affordable Wi-Fi ($8 per device, per flight), on-demand movies and TV shows, and iHeartRadio streaming make Southwest a budget-friendly entertainment champion.
Deep Dives into Specific Airlines:
American: Seatback screens and personal device options featuring movies, TV shows, and live TV vary based on aircraft. Complimentary inflight Wi-Fi for streaming American Airlines content sweetens the deal.
United: Seatback TV offers over 100 live TV channels on some 737s, while the United app provides a vast collection of movies and TV series for personal devices. Wi-Fi pricing varies by flight, but monthly and annual subscriptions are available.
Other Options:
Alaska: Most flights offer personal device entertainment through onboard Wi-Fi. Free in-flight texting is a bonus.
Frontier: Currently no Wi-Fi or other in-flight entertainment options.
Spirit: In-flight Wi-Fi with varying prices depending on route and plan.
British Airways: Seatback screens on select aircraft offer a vast library of movies, TV shows, music channels, podcasts, and even Headspace meditation programs. Newspapers and magazines through PressReader add to the mix. Wi-Fi available on 90% of flights.
Hawaiian: Free in-flight entertainment across the Pacific with seatback screens on A330s and tablets in the premium cabin, or streaming via the Hawaiian Airlines app on A321neo flights. High-speed Wi-Fi via Starlink partnership is coming soon.
Remember: This is just a snapshot. Entertainment options and Wi-Fi availability can change based on aircraft and route. Always check the airline’s website for the latest details before your flight.
Happy flying, and happy streaming!
