Paul Thompson is an aviation & travel journalist, photographer, & airplane geek with over 25 years of experience at a large domestic US carrier. He is based in Denver, Colorado.
When the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was introduced over 20 years ago, self-dimming passenger windows were among its many innovative features. With the touch of a button, a passenger could make the light coming through their windows grow darker or brighter. This new feature replaced traditional flat shades that the seat occupant would raise or lower.
Since that time, the windows have become a headache for Boeing and its customer airlines. Passengers keep breaking the windows' dimming function because they misunderstand how to use it. As a result, 
American Airlines is reportedly choosing to replace the windows on its oldest Dreamliners.
Wear And Tear From Overuse
Wear and tear from overuse of the buttons used to dim and brighten the light coming through the windows is causing the problem. Some passengers don't realize that controlling the amount of light isn't instant, and they break the buttons by pressing them repeatedly in rapid succession.
The dimming function can also be controlled by the flight attendants, who may completely darken the windows during an overnight flight. Passengers aren't informed when the button's functionality is locked out, so they may press it even more, hoping it will respond. Replacing a window dimmer can cost $5,000 per window. The news of American's window replacement plan comes from aviation insider JonNYC.
SimpleFlying has reached out to American for details of the window replacement initiative, but was unable to receive an immediate response.
How Does The Window Dimming System Work?
The Boeing 787 has the largest passenger windows in the sky, measuring 10.7 inches wide by 18.4 inches high. Its windows consist of three panels: the structural outer hull glass, the center electrochromatic panel, and the interior plastic "dust cover." The center panel does the dimming magic.
The electrochromatic panel is made with a gel through which an electrical current is passed. The window darkens when a higher voltage is applied to the gel. When the windows were first introduced, they couldn't be completely darkened, but a technology update now allows a near-full blackout. In addition, the update reduced the time it takes for the windows to brighten or darken.
The windows can take over a minute to go from fully bright to dark. As a passenger, it's a nice option to block some direct sunlight while still being able to see outside. It can also help ease the debate between the blinds-open and blinds-closed crowd.
Will The 787 Be With All 5 Of The Top US Carriers?
American's 787 Dreamliner fleet consists of the 787-8 and 787-9 models. The carrier received the -8 first, beginning in early 2015, according to Airfleets.net data. American began taking deliveries of the -9 in May 2016. Combined, AA has 70 787s — 37 -8s and 33 -9s. Its most recently delivered Dreamliner was April 12, 2025 — a 787-9 registered N852ML. American has 19 additional 787s on order and is rumored to be considering more, while also evaluating adding the Airbus A330neo to the fleet.
American does not have any of the largest variant 787-10 in its fleet or on the order books at this time. US competitor 
United Airlinesoperates all three 787 variants. In January, 
Delta Air Lines placed a firm order for 30 787-10s, with options for an additional 30. 
Alaska Airlines began receiving 787-9s in 2025, and will be fitting brand new lie-flat business class suites to these planes.
Southwest Airlines is rumored to be considering the 787 for its first international long-haul flights. Without a 787 order, Southwest will remain the only US top-5 carrier without them. If you have ever experienced window dimmer problems while flying on a Boeing 787, please leave a comment below.