The flights attendants will use the smartphone-tablet Notes device to record meal and beverage preferences, and to access some customer information -- such as a person's name, seat number and whether he or she needs special assistance. The airline will begin rolling out the devices later this year, and expects to continue distributing them through mid-2013, the airline said in a statement.

Notes was chosen following a pilot program in which several devices were tested. Feedback from the 40 flight attendants in the pilot led to the selection of the Samsung device, according to a video posted on the American Airlines website.

American said the Galaxy Note was selected for its thin design, security features, and its 5.3-in. HD display that provides easy readability. Attendants liked that they could hold the device in one hand, and also can slip it into a pocket -- which is not always possible with a larger tablet.

A flight attendant manual and other features will be rolled out to the Notes devices, wich will eliminate the need for attendants to carry paper manuals.

While Samsung calls the Note a smartphone with tablet features, American Airlines refers to it as a tablet due to its size. While the Note is equipped with a digital stylus, called the S-Pen, airline officials appearing in the video used a finger to touch the display to make commands.