Originally Posted by
fastflyer
Do the legacy US Airbus 321s not have even audio channels? I always have my noise-cancelling headphones, but I don't always have my tablet.
I understand that there is no visual IFE on these aircraft because they never had the monitors installed like on most pmAA equipment, but I did think they had at least the audio IFE.
Short answer: No, there's no audio on them either.
Long answer: The 28 LUS (East) 321s delivered in 2001 had both audio and video IFE with LCD screens (similar to most LAA 738s). Post HP merger, in 2008 a decision was made to not only deactivate these systems, but remove them entirely, which also rendered the Empower in-seat power ports inactive too, as the IFE system was what supplied power to them.
The other 65 321s that were delivered to a mix of both US West and US East starting in 2009 and running through 2015 were delivered without any IFE of any kind.
However, all versions had wifi installed in 2011.