The Ultimate Guide to Etihad Airways Inflight Entertainment

Long flights don’t have to be boring anymore. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has transformed your time in the air with its modern E-BOX entertainment system. It’s updated regularly, easy to use, and available on all Etihad aircraft, even the smaller A320 and A321. With award-winning movies, shows, music, and games, E-BOX makes sure everyone stays entertained throughout the journey.

Etihad earned "Best Inflight Entertainment" in World Travel Awards Middle East 2024 and a third consecutive Five-Star APEX rating in 2024 (covering entertainment).

What you can expect from Etihad in-flight entertainment (E-BOX)

Etihad’s in-flight entertainment system is known as E-BOX, your personal entertainment hub, offering hundreds of hours of movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, and games to enjoy in the sky. Here’s what it offers:

• Huge choice of entertainment: Watch the latest blockbusters, binge popular TV series, music playlists, podcasts and games via the E-BOX system.

• Wi-Fi and connectivity: Etihad Guest members get a free Chat package, while Surf and Unlimited internet plans are available to buy if you want full browsing access.

• Available in every cabin: On-demand entertainment in Economy, Business and First classes, meaning you can control what to watch and when, not just what is scheduled.

• Kid-friendly fun: Special content for young travellers, including cartoons, games, an easy-to-navigate interface and parental lock when relevant.

Note: Exact features can vary depending on the aircraft you’re flying on.

In short, E-BOX is designed to make time in the air feel shorter and far more enjoyable, so your adventure begins the moment you take your seat.

The Etihad Airways in-flight entertainment for each cabin

Economy Class:

Enjoy the strong entertainment value even in Economy class:

• On-demand entertainment via seatback screens or via the E-BOX app on shorter flights.

• Expect hundreds of hours of entertainment to choose from.

• For most flights, you have access to onboard WiFi, except for some A320/A321 aircraft where WiFi may not be installed.

• Extra comfort perks like device connectivity and optional extra-legroom seats.

• Kids are well taken care of with fun content and activity packs.

Tip: If you’re seated in Economy, bring your own device and headphones. On shorter hops or narrow-body aircraft, the entertainment may be via streaming rather than seat-back screens.

Business Class:

Step up into Business and you get more luxury, and the entertainment experience is elevated:

• Noise-cancelling headphones for a quieter viewing experience.

• Over 1,000 hours of TV shows, movies, playlists, podcasts, radio channels, and games.

• Bigger seat-integrated screens and a more refined cabin setup.

• Enhanced Wi-Fi and connectivity options are available throughout the flight.

First Class and The Residence:

If you want the most luxurious experience Etihad offers:

• Private suites with large personal screens and a fully tailored entertainment setup.

• Unlimited Wi-Fi is included for The Residence and premium connectivity in First Class.

• Total freedom to “dine anytime” and relax with E-BOX in complete privacy.

How to Access Etihad’s On-Board Entertainment

Getting connected to Etihad’s E-BOX entertainment system is simple, whether you’re streaming on your own device or using a seat-back screen.

Check how entertainment is provided on your aircraft:

• Most wide-body aircraft feature seat-back screens with full E-BOX access.

• On some A320/A321 services, entertainment may be streamed to your personal device instead. So confirm your aircraft type by reviewing your booking.

Using a seat-back screen:

• The E-BOX menu usually appears shortly after boarding.

• Browse on-demand movies, TV shows, music, games, and kids’ content using the touch screen or remote.

• Just select, press play, and enjoy the flight.

Streaming to your own device:

• After the seatbelt sign is switched off, enable Wi-Fi.

• Connect to the on-board network and follow the on-screen steps to access E-BOX.

• Bring your own headphones and keep your smartphone or tablet ready for streaming.

Staying online with Wi-Fi options:

• Free Chat plan available for many Etihad Guest members.

• Upgrade to Surf or Unlimited packages for full browsing or streaming.

• Payments accepted via credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal, Alipay, or Etihad Guest Miles.

Whether you watch on a personal screen or your own device, E-BOX is designed to keep you entertained from take-off to landing. 

Also read Etihad Cancellation Charges Guide

Why choose Etihad’s in-flight entertainment?

Etihad’s E-BOX stands out for several strong reasons that frequent flyers and travel experts appreciate:

• A broad and modern content library from new movie releases to international TV shows, music, podcasts, and games, there’s something for every taste and every age group.

• Everything is on demand, so you decide what to watch and when, no waiting for scheduled programming.

• With Wi-Fi options available on most flights, you can chat, browse, or stay connected to work and social apps while you travel.

• The experience scales up depending on your seat, larger screens and premium sound in Business and First, plus luxury exclusives in The Residence.

• Operating routes across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, Etihad ensures the same high-quality E-BOX experience across its network.

Things to keep in mind

Check your aircraft setup before flying:

Use “Manage my booking” to see if your flight has seat-back screens or streaming-only entertainment, as features can vary by aircraft.

Bring your own headphones:

Even though headphones may be provided, your own will usually offer better comfort and sound, especially if streaming.

Make use of kids’ features:

If you’re travelling with kids, look for the children’s menu of content like games and cartoons, and enable parental controls when needed.

Confirm Wi-Fi availability and pricing:

Wi-Fi isn’t always free and may not be available on some A320/A321 flights, so it’s smart to check if staying connected is important.

Plan your ‘must-watch’ list:

Long-haul routes offer hundreds of hours of content. Bookmarking a few favourites helps avoid scrolling through menus while onboard.

Always have a backup:

If you prefer offline entertainment, download shows or music to your device as a backup.

Also read Fly in Style with Etihad Airways Business Class Fully-Flat Beds and Premium Comfort

FAQs About Etihad Airways Entertainment

Q.1: Is in-flight entertainment free on Etihad Airways?

Yes, 100% free on every flight, including all movies, TV shows, music, and games.

Q.2: Can I use my own headphones?

Yes, all seats have standard 3.5 mm jacks, and newer 787-9/10 and A350 aircraft support Bluetooth headphones.

Q.3: Is there live TV on Etihad flights?

Yes, on all A380 and selected 787: BBC World News, Sport 24, Sport 24 Extra, CNBC, and Arabic channels.

Q.4: Do short-haul flights have entertainment?

Absolutely. A320/A321 flights offer full E-BOX via wireless streaming to your device (E-BOX STREAM).

Q.5: Can children watch age-appropriate content only?

Yes. Parents can activate KIDS mode and set a PIN to restrict access to adult content.

Q.6: Do I need the internet to use E-BOX?

No, the seatback system works offline. Wireless streaming on narrow-body aircraft uses the onboard server (free connection, no external internet needed).

Q.7: How new are the movies?

Etihad adds 40–60 brand-new or recent-release movies every single month, often including films still in cinemas in some countries.

Conclusion

The Etihad Airways in-flight entertainment ensures every journey is enjoyable with its E-BOX system packed with movies, TV, music, and games. This Etihad Airways in-flight entertainment adapts to your cabin from personal device streaming in Economy to private screens in premium cabins.

Whether you refer to it as Etihad in-flight entertainment or Etihad on board entertainment, the airline keeps you entertained and connected from take-off to landing. 

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