United’s free Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi is now rolling out sooner than we expected
In September 2024, United Airlines announced a partnership with SpaceX to provide faster, more reliable and free Wi-Fi access to all MileagePlus members this year. Now, it appears the airline is accelerating its program, targeting Q2 2025 to mark its first customer launch.
The trial begins next month
In fact, United plans to begin testing the service next month, with the first commercial flight on the Embraer E-175 expected to take place sometime between March and June. By the end This year, the airline aims to equip its entire regional fleet with the devices Starlink technology. Regional flights typically have fewer than 100 passengers and have less amenities than “mainstream” planes, which carry more than 100 people and have long-haul flights between major cities and international destinations .
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United announced at least one mainline aircraft will also offer the new service during the same timeframe. The ultimate goal is to equip more than 1,000 United Airlines aircraft with Starlink. Currently, United’s Wi-Fi service varies by plane and is not free. This new partnership will standardize services across the fleet, bringing a groundbreaking upgrade to many passengers.
‘Living room in the sky’
Grant Milstead, United’s VP of Digital Technology, described Starlink’s capabilities as delivering a “living room in the sky” experience. The service will allow passengers to perform tasks such as accessing work documents, checking home security cameras and playing games with low latency, marking a significant improvement over current capabilities. of service. United promises to deploy seatback screens on all of its mainline aircraft, which will, of course, be integrated into the new Wi-Fi system.
Furthermore, the new Wi-Fi system will be available from gate to gate, meaning strong connectivity will be accessible from the moment passengers board until the moment they deplane. Is Starlink likely to make Airplane Mode on smartphones obsolete? At least for United (for now), maybe.
New, reasonable interface
Anyone can sign up for a free MileagePlus membership, and when you do, United says you’ll be able to access the service through a new, more streamlined interface. United’s efforts to enhance the in-flight customer experience go beyond Wi-Fi, however, such as its recent iPhone innovations like Dynamic Island and AirTag baggage tracking. United Airlines is also enhancing its app with a Terminal Guide feature to help passengers make on-time connections between flights at large, crowded airports.
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Milstead emphasized that the partnership with Starlink was a strategic choice, citing the company’s extensive network of low Earth orbit satellites and reliable coverage. United’s regional jets, which currently use air-to-ground connections and are due to be phased out, will be the first to receive the new service. According to Milstead, more than 200 aircraft will be equipped with Starlink by the end of 2025.
The airline expects the installation and testing process, which will begin in February, to proceed more quickly and efficiently than previous Wi-Fi upgrades.
