American Airlines: 787-9 P - Economy class Insights and IFEC Reliability Concerns
It does not matter how deep an airline’s content library runs or how many partnerships it secures if the in-flight entertainment system struggles to perform. A modern long-haul experience relies heavily on stable, responsive screens, and when even relatively new hardware is already showing defects, the passenger journey is compromised before it begins.
I flew on American Airlines’ 787-9P (N845MD) yesterday, choosing an exit-row economy seat after trying the new flagship suite earlier this summer. I wanted to understand the experience most passengers actually have and to compare the IFEC performance across cabins. On AA86, seat 23J suffered ongoing performance issues, and both 23J and 23L displayed clear hardware defects. For an aircraft of this age, that should raise concern. American Airlines may want to pull the logs for this flight to understand the root cause.
This is not a criticism of any single airline or vendor. It is a reflection of a broader truth: IFE performance is not optional. For travelers spending hours in an economy seat, especially on long-haul routes, reliable screens and responsive systems are fundamental. When they fail, the entire journey feels diminished, regardless of how much content is technically available. Performance is the product, and airlines that overlook this reality risk falling short where it matters most.
Disclaimer
This article reflects the personal views of the host and their individual experience as a paying passenger on a single American Airlines flight. It is not a comprehensive assessment of American Airlines or any other carrier. Service levels vary across routes, aircraft, crews, and operating conditions, and readers should consider their own circumstances when evaluating travel options. The examples shared here represent selected observations from the journey. They do not include every issue encountered, and there were additional details and experiences not covered in this summary. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as professional advice, nor does it represent the views of any employer, client, or industry organization with which we are affiliated. Any mention of companies, products, or services is for descriptive purposes only and should not be interpreted as endorsement, criticism, or comparison beyond this personal experience.