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 initially anticipated.
Testing of the advanced Wi-Fi service is scheduled to begin in February, with the first commercial flight equipped with Starlink set to fly this spring aboard an Embraer E-175 jet. The carrier plans to have Starlink installed across its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of 2025, as well as outfitting its first mainline aircraft outfitted with Starlink before the end of the year.
In the longer term, the airline plans to expand Starlink across its entire fleet. Access to the cutting-edge internet service will be complimentary for MileagePlus loyalty program members, enhancing such inflight entertainment options as streaming, gaming and online shopping. Membership to MileagePlus is free, and travelers can sign up at united.com/starlink.
"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," Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus, said in a statement. "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."
United's MileagePlus members will soon enjoy Starlink Wi-Fi aboard their flights for free. (Photo Credit: United Airlines)
This initiative builds upon a landmark agreement signed between United and SpaceX in September 2024—the largest of its kind in the airline industry. The collaboration will enable passengers to experience the same high-speed, low-latency internet capabilities at cruising altitude as they would on the ground. The service will offer gate-to-gate connectivity across personal devices and seatback screens, setting United apart from other major U.S. airlines.
MileagePlus, recently recognized as the world’s top airline loyalty program, offers several attractive features:
- Free to join for all travelers
- Miles never expire
- No blackout dates for reward travel
- Award seats available for any open seat on a flight
- Miles can be redeemed for nearly all purchases, including Wi-Fi, snacks and seat upgrades
- United is the first major U.S. airline to enable family and friends to pool their miles into a joint account
According to the airline, approximately 31,000 United passengers use their miles to board flights on any given day—enough to fill 100 Boeing 777 aircraft. Over three million MileagePlus members redeemed miles for flights during the summer of 2024 alone.
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