Finally matching certain competitors, American expands free inflight entertainment selection for Main Cabin guests. This announcement, of course, come hot on the heals of a similar announcement made by Delta a couple months ago. Both airlines, in fact, will offer free in-flight entertainment in all cabins, on all domestic flights with equipped aircraft. Content will be available via seat back entertainment and/or streaming over WiFi.
This is definitely positive news. That being said, American (unlike Delta) has many jets that do not feature either seat back entertainment or WiFi streaming. They are working to add these features to more aircraft, but it'll take some time. What's more, it is a little ironic that the airlines are expanding their free inflight entertainment options in an age when most passengers bring their own devices loaded with content. What would be more important to me would be ample access to power to every passenger on every flight. Fast, reliable WiFi would be great too... And free would be totally amazing, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that.
Of course the expanded inflight entertainment options come in addition to the return of complimentary snacks in Main Cabin. Both Delta and American small bites like pretzels, cookies, or peanuts (selection varies by airline). Both airlines also offer complimentary meals in Main Cabin on select flights to Hawaii. This, of course, leaves United as the only one of the big 3 that doesn't have completely free inflight entertainment or snacks on domestic flights. To their credit, though, United does offer a decent size selection of complimentary entertainment and even has live TV via DirectTV on certain aircraft.
For me, personally, these changes all provide compelling reasons to fly American or Delta on certain flights to/from Hawaii. On their long-haul Hawaii flights, American and Delta both offer more than Hawaiian. While Hawaiian does offer complimentary meals on all flights to/from Hawaii, inflight entertainment isn't free. At all. Not even one episode. And the airline has no power points (just USB ports that barely charges an iPhone 6 Plus) or WiFi.