Airline to End Movie Fee; Vouchers Will Be Limited

American Airlines will eliminate its $5 charge for in-flight entertainment in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean starting Nov. 1. Instead, coach passengers will pay $2 to buy a personal headset that they can reuse. (Entertainment continues to be free for non-coach passengers on these flights and for all classes on international flights.) Spokesman Todd Burke said the move will save the cash-strapped airline about $6 million per year in labor and reprovisioning costs.

In another change, American has reduced vouchers to passengers who volunteer to give up their seats on overbooked flights. Such vouchers, formerly $100 to $1,000, are now capped at $300 in most cases, Burke said. Also, meal vouchers will not be given to those stranded by delayed or canceled flights unless an overnight stay is involved and “the reason for the delay is within our control,” Burke said. The previous policy varied by airport, he added.