Last Updated on January 9, 2025 by ETC Team
For those keeping tabs on the topic of airline Wi-Fi reliability, we have an update for you. United Airlines is fast-tracking its plans to bring Starlink—the world’s speediest and most dependable Wi-Fi in the sky—to its air travel customers. The company is now set to bring its cutting-edge inflight connectivity to passengers sooner than originally anticipated. For MilagePlus loyalty members, United Airlines Starlink Wi-Fi is coming this spring.
Starting next month, United will begin testing the technology. The first commercial flight equipped with United Airlines Starlink Wi-Fi is expected to take off this spring aboard an Embraer E-175. Furthermore, United plans to outfit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of the year and have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air before the end of 2025.
The ultimate goal for United Airlines Starlink rollout will see the airline add Starlink to its entire fleet.
Access will be free for all MileagePlus customers and “includes game-changing inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more.”
United Airlines Starlink Wi-Fi Free For Mileage Plus Members
United Airlines to offer Starlink Wi-Fi on board (Image Credit: United Airlines)
Membership to MileagePlus is also free and United even set up a dedicated web page for people to sign up for MileagePlus using the promise of free Starlink-powered inflight Wi-Fi access as the incentive.
“We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year and adding Starlink to as many planes as we can – as quickly as we can – is at the center of it all,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus.
“It’s not only going to revolutionize the experience of flying United, but it’s also going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.”
Last September, United entered the industry’s largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its entire fleet. As a result, starting in a few months, the airline’s MileagePlus customers will enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air that they enjoy on the ground.
The United Airlines Starlink Wi-Fi partnership will offer gate-to-gate connectivity. This should provide welcome entertainment relief for those passengers who grapple with timing their arrival to the airport for a trip. Additionally, the airline hopes this will enable experiences in the sky at a scale that no other major U.S. airline provides, on seat-back screens and personal devices simultaneously.
The demand for inflight connectivity has increased tremendously as travelers expect the same level of internet access in the air as they enjoy on the ground. Passengers are continuously searching for ways to reduce the stress that accompanies a trip. Thus adding such a perk could check a big box for travelers. Coupled with the trend of mobile devices becoming indispensable for streaming, work, and communication, airlines are under pressure to deliver faster, more reliable Wi-Fi.
