Jan 25, 2017, 11:54 am
Last edit by: JDiver
AA IFE Free WiFi Streaming to App on Personal Devices
AA announced on 24 Jan 2017 that, as 90% of passengers are flying with personal devices with screens capable of WiFi use, free WiFi streaming of music and movies in some domestic / narrowbody aircraft mid-2016. This streaming is currently available on a subset of AA aircraft, and is being expanded.
As of the new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft due to arrive in 2017, seatback IFE will be substituted by free, streaming high-quality movies and music from an on board server.
As well, much of AA current GoGo based WiFi internet (using cellular telephony technology) will change to (paid) ViaSat satellite Ku band WiFi internet providing access speedy enough it will allow video streaming. This transition will be finished in 2019.
Both will be available from gate to gate.
Seatback IFE monitors will be retained on
- Airbus A321T three Class aircraft
- Airbus A330
- Airbus A350
- Boeing 777
- Boeing 787
"Other key things to remember:
- This year we take delivery of 40 current-generation Boeing 737 and Airbus A321 aircraft. They will arrive with seatback monitors and power at every seat
- By the summer of 2018 we will have completed installation of the faster satellite-based Wi-Fi on half of our narrowbodies, with all of them done by the end of 2019
- We expect 50 percent of our domestic narrowbody aircraft to be equipped with power at every seat by the end of 2018, and over 85 percent equipped by the end of 2020"
Free WiFi Streaming IFE on Personal Devices (with App) 08/2016, expansion
Jan 24, 2017, 3:13 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 577
Don't a huge percentage of the mainline fleet already have free streaming entertainment? My last 15 mainline flights were on LAA 737's (and I think an MD80) or LUS narrowbody Airbuses, and I streamed the free entertainment on all of them.
Don't get me wrong, I'd take seatback screens any day over my iPad, I'm not bothered by most of the underseat boxes, and the streaming menu is much smaller than the selection* on the newer 737's with the screens, but at least this is a model currently in place and not some abstract concept AA may never implement.
* = on the current GoGo setup, understood the new planes will have a different streaming platform with probably a better selection.
Don't get me wrong, I'd take seatback screens any day over my iPad, I'm not bothered by most of the underseat boxes, and the streaming menu is much smaller than the selection* on the newer 737's with the screens, but at least this is a model currently in place and not some abstract concept AA may never implement.
* = on the current GoGo setup, understood the new planes will have a different streaming platform with probably a better selection.
Jan 24, 2017, 3:17 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 577
This is a pAAthetic, cheAAp, and stupid decision. Though not at all surprising with Discount Dougie at the helm. When AA's service and reliability is totally sub-par, they should chomp at the bit at anything that gives them a competitive advantage. Thus, very little reason to remain loyal to this LCC.
Jan 24, 2017, 3:36 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,581
Said it before...will say it again.
I don't care about seatback AVOD on domestic flights. I don't use it.
I don't care about streaming IFE on domestic flights. I don't use it.
I bring a book.
I don't care about seatback AVOD on domestic flights. I don't use it.
I don't care about streaming IFE on domestic flights. I don't use it.
I bring a book.
Jan 24, 2017, 3:37 pm
#50
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
I am not surprised at all that airlines would be going down the route of removing fixed screens
The quantity of offerings is more something chosen by provider/airline rather than an issue with streaming.
Jan 24, 2017, 3:41 pm
#51
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,555
I too am surprised that people care about seatback IFE. It seems like a bridge technology that has outlived its usefulness. Or, perhaps not *all* of its usefulness - but outlived its value prop as a competitive advantage worth carrying and maintaining all of that equipment.
I'd rather have the footspace back. I'd love a USB port, but if I can't have one I carry enough power with me to get through long flights.
I'd rather have the footspace back. I'd love a USB port, but if I can't have one I carry enough power with me to get through long flights.
Jan 24, 2017, 3:43 pm
#52
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Why not just give customers options and a choice like Delta who is adding seat back entertainment to their older 737s, 757s etc. The less devices I can carry the better and watching movies on my iPhone is ridiculous.
Jan 24, 2017, 3:52 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,581
People buy airline tickets based on factors like cost, schedule, FFP, reliability, route network, coporate travel relationships.
It doesn't matter if I have a "choice" in seatback entertainment, if I don't consider that when making purchasing decisions...
Jan 24, 2017, 3:54 pm
#54
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: COU
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 499
My first reaction was "what the *&%$ are they thinking!?"
By the end of the article I thought "huh, this makes a fair bit of sense, and I'm willing to bet by 2018 I'll be hoping to be on one of these IFEless planes instead of the older IFEd ones."
I carry a laptop and iPad around everywhere I go anyway, and it appears pretty much everybody else does too (at least one or the other). I never pull them out on the flight because the wifi is unusable and there's a screen in front of me...but if those facts changed, I would, and it'd be just fine. If I'm trading the work of pulling that device out and connecting it for more footroom and a usable Internet connection, sign me up.
Also, it appears that most of the concerns in this thread are misplaced and/or answered in the article, at least with some easy inferences. Specifically:
1. Yes, there will be power at all the seats in these new planes; they aren't going to get to the % targets at the end of the article unless all the new planes coming online have power.
2. Concerns about wifi speed based on current experience are invalid. By all accounts the new satellite systems are miles ahead of what they're flying now. And the stuff that was previously available in the IFE will be available over wifi locally (i.e. without going over the sat link), so performance should be fine for that regardless of the Internet capability.
So hey guys, chin up! I realize it's a (not entirely unwarranted) knee-jerk reaction around here, but not every announcement amounts to AA screwing us...
By the end of the article I thought "huh, this makes a fair bit of sense, and I'm willing to bet by 2018 I'll be hoping to be on one of these IFEless planes instead of the older IFEd ones."
I carry a laptop and iPad around everywhere I go anyway, and it appears pretty much everybody else does too (at least one or the other). I never pull them out on the flight because the wifi is unusable and there's a screen in front of me...but if those facts changed, I would, and it'd be just fine. If I'm trading the work of pulling that device out and connecting it for more footroom and a usable Internet connection, sign me up.
Also, it appears that most of the concerns in this thread are misplaced and/or answered in the article, at least with some easy inferences. Specifically:
1. Yes, there will be power at all the seats in these new planes; they aren't going to get to the % targets at the end of the article unless all the new planes coming online have power.
2. Concerns about wifi speed based on current experience are invalid. By all accounts the new satellite systems are miles ahead of what they're flying now. And the stuff that was previously available in the IFE will be available over wifi locally (i.e. without going over the sat link), so performance should be fine for that regardless of the Internet capability.
So hey guys, chin up! I realize it's a (not entirely unwarranted) knee-jerk reaction around here, but not every announcement amounts to AA screwing us...
Jan 24, 2017, 3:55 pm
#55
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
Picture quality will be much better on personal devices, but it can be annoying to try and find someone where to set my device while half sleeping or during meal service - especially in cattle class.
Jan 24, 2017, 3:59 pm
#56
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,555
Jan 24, 2017, 4:34 pm
#57
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA EXP, AA LT Gold, SPG Plat 75
Posts: 889
Jan 24, 2017, 4:51 pm
#58
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
It's just indicative of a cheap company taking the cheapest route possible, whenever possible.....just look at the 75L refurbishment project....totally ridiculous.
Jan 24, 2017, 5:24 pm
#59
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,982
Jan 24, 2017, 5:27 pm
#60
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
Or, given two airlines that you like equally, how much more would you be willing to pay one way for the IFE? $10? $20 More?
I prefer planes with the seatback screen, but it would be a very tiny factor in my airline choice. I think AA is probably making the right decision.