Traveling for the holidays can be a beast, but occasionally, you’ll discover some perks that make your trip a little bit smoother. It’s always nice when airlines offer free in-flight WiFi, but some have also expanded their entertainment offerings, which will certainly keep you from getting bored while in the air. (Yes, you can download Netflix episodes beforehand if you want, but what if you forget?)
Many airlines are now offering access to major streaming and live TV platforms without a paid subscription: If you’re flying on JetBlue, United and American, you’ll have access to DirecTV. Flying Delta? It’s got DirecTV, too, and on top of that, you’ll get access to anime streaming service Crunchyroll and more.
Here’s a taste of what you can expect as part of your in-flight entertainment if you’re traveling this holiday season and, in a few cases, you might even be eligible for some free trials you can use well after you’ve arrived back at home.
Delta
On Delta, you can watch a diverse assortment of shows and movies on demand, including comforting classics like The Golden Girls and The Office and recent hits like The Gilded Age and What We Do In The Shadows. But there’s also an excellent lineup of other services including YouTube, Paramount Plus and Crunchyroll.
- Crunchyroll: A curated selection of Crunchyroll’s anime programming is available on every Delta flight, and SkyMiles Members can also sign up for a free 24-hour trial to stream Crunchyroll’s full catalog of over 2,000 titles after their flight.
- YouTube: Delta passengers now have ad-free access to a selection of popular YouTube creators, including Mr. Beast, Nick DiGiovanni, Michelle Khare and more, plus a selection of YouTube podcasts and music playlists.
- DirecTV: Watch live shows, sports, news and more with up to 16 live DirecTV channels, including ESPN, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox.
- Paramount Plus: Delta flights carry a large selection of Paramount Plus shows, from classic sitcoms like Cheers and I Love Lucy to Taylor Sheridan shows like Landman, 1923 and Tulsa King.
JetBlue
JetBlue was an early adopter when it came to offering live TV onboard its planes, and the airline still has a solid entertainment lineup that includes DirecTV, select Peacock shows and movies, SiriusXM and more.
- DirecTV: All JetBlue flights have seatback screens at every seat and at least 18 channels of free, live access to DirecTV.
- Peacock: Select Peacock original shows and movies are available on touchscreen-enabled flights (Here’s how to know whether your aircraft is touchscreen-enabled.)
- SiriusXM: Every JetBlue flight within the continental US offers free access to over 100 channels of SiriusXM Radio.
- Audible: Passengers can stream a selection of Audible titles across multiple genres in podcasts and audiobooks. JetBlue Customers are also eligible for two free months of Audible. (Here’s how to get that deal; must be a new Audible subscriber to sign up for free.)
American Airlines
American Airlines’ in-flight entertainment includes a pretty extensive, rotating list of free TV shows, movies and other entertainment on most flights, and you can also watch Apple TV, stream Apple Music, watch TikTok or listen to Audible audiobooks.
- Apple TV: Stream Apple Originals on your seatback screen, or via your Wi-Fi-connected phone, laptop or tablet.
- Apple Music: If your plane has Viasat Wi-Fi, then free access to Apple Music is included with your flight. You can also activate a free two-month trial to Apple Music in flight.
- TikTok: Watch up to 30 minutes of TikTok on select American Airlines flights (we know it’s not a streaming service, but you can still stream entertaining videos.)
- Lingokids: Starting Dec. 1, toddlers on up to age 8 will find 10 hours’ worth of content from the learning app that includes music, crafting and a little entertainment, too.
United
United Airlines is one of several airlines to offer DirecTV onboard. One bonus we love? You can pair your BlueTooth headphones to United’s seatback entertainment system to wirelessly connect. You can also watch a selection of HBO Max and Apple TV shows and movies through United Private Screening, the name for its free in-flight entertainment service.
- DirecTV: Most flights within the continental US are equipped with over 100 live channels. Check if your United flight offers DirecTV.
- HBO Max: A limited selection of current HBO original shows, movies and documentaries are available on every United flight.
- Apple TV: Select Apple TV series including The Studio, Severance and Ted Lasso are available to watch on demand.
- Spotify: United offers a curated selection of Spotify playlists, podcasts and audiobooks on every flight.
Air Canada
If you’re traveling in or around Canada, Air Canada is the only major Canadian airline to offer live TV (including loads of US and Canadian networks.) That’s in addition to Apple TV, Disney Plus and more.
- Disney Plus: Air Canada offers a curated selection of Disney-branded content, including Pixar animated films, the Star Wars franchise, Avatar and more.
- Apple TV: An assortment of Apple TV shows like Ted Lasso and The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Canada’s own Eugene Levy) are available on board Air Canada flights.
- Audible: An assortment of audiobooks, podcasts and family-friendly content is available for free via Audible on most Air Canada flights.
- Apple Fitness: If you’re flying Air Canada between now and Dec. 31, you can get two months of Apple Fitness for free. While there may not be enough legroom to enjoy an in-flight workout, you can take advantage of its meditations onboard and save the rest of its offerings for later. Here’s how to activate your free offer.
