Travel on holidays Can be a beast, but sometimes, you’ll find a few perks that make your trip a little smoother. It’s always nice when airlines offer free in-flight WiFi, but some have also expanded their entertainment offerings, which are sure to keep you from getting bored while in the air. (Yes, you can Download Netflix Episode before if you want, but if you forgot?)
Flying for the Holidays
Many airlines now offer access to major streaming and live TV platforms without a paid subscription: If you’re on a JetBlue, United, and American flight, you’ll have access to DirecTV. Flying Delta? It also has DirecTV, and on top of that, you get access to anime “Flying for the Holidays” streaming services 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 some cases, you may even be eligible for some free trials that you can put to good use once you’re back home.
Delta
Flying for the Holidays
On Delta, you can watch a diverse collection of shows and movies on demand, including comforting classics like The Golden Girls and The Office and recent “Flying for the Holidays” hits like The Gilded Age and What We Do in the Shadows. But there’s also a great 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 sign up for a free 24-hour trial to stream Crunchyroll’s full catalog of more than 2,000 titles after their flight.
- YouTube: Delta passengers now have ad-free access to favorites from 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 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 on its planes, and the airline still has a solid entertainment lineup that includes DirecTV, select Peacock shows and movies, SiriusXM and more.
- DirecTV: Every seat on all JetBlue flights has seatback “Flying for the Holidays” screens and DirecTV has at least 18 channels with free, live access.
- Peacock: Peacock original shows and movies available on touchscreen-enabled flights (here’s how to know if your plane 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 audio titles across multiple genres to podcasts and audiobooks. JetBlue customers are also eligible for two free months of Audible. (Here’s how to get this 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 watch Apple TV, stream Apple Music, watch TikTok or listen to Audible audiobooks.
- Apple TV: Stream Apple Originals on your seatback screen or through your Wi-Fi-connected phone, laptop or tablet.
- Apple Music: If your plane has Viasat Wi-Fi, free access to Apple Music is included with your flight. You can activate a free two-month trial for Apple Music on the flight.
- TikTok: Watch up to 30 minutes of TikTok on select “Flying for the Holidays”American Airlines flights (We know this isn’t a streaming service, but you can still stream entertaining videos.)
- LingoKids: Starting Dec. 1, kids as young as 8 will find 10 hours worth of content from the learning app, including music, crafts and a little entertainment.
United
United Airlines is one of several airlines to have DirectTV onboard. One bonus we love? You can pair your Bluetooth headphones with United’s seatback entertainment system to connect wirelessly. You can also view a selection HBO Max and Apple TV shows and movies “Flying for the Holidays” through United Private Screening, the name of 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 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 is an offer Curated selection 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 that offers live TV (with loads of US and Canadian networks). This is in addition to Apple TV, Disney Plus and more.
- Disney Plus: Air Canada offers a curated “Flying for the Holidays” selection of Disney-branded content, including Pixar animated films, the Star Wars franchise, Avatar and more.
- Apple TV: A collection of Apple TV shows such as The Reluctant Traveler with Ted Lasso and Eugene Levy (Canada’s own Eugene Levy) available on Air Canada flights.
- Audible: An assortment of audiobooks, podcasts and family-friendly content are available free of charge on most Air Canada flights through Audible.
- Apple Fitness: If you fly Air Canada between now and December 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 onboard meditation and save the rest of its offerings for later. here How to activate Your free offer.