United preps its in-flight Starlink Wi-Fi for takeoff - and it'll be free

In September 2024, United Airlines announced its partnership with SpaceX to offer faster, more reliable, and free access to Wi-Fi for all MileagePlus members sometime this year. Now, it appears the airline is fast-tracking its program, targeting the second quarter of 2025 to mark its debut for customers.

Testing begins next month

In fact, United plans to begin testing the service next month, with the first commercial flight on an Embraer E-175 expected sometime between March and June. By the end of the year, the airline aims to equip its entire regional fleet with Starlink technology. Regional flights typically seat fewer than 100 passengers and have inferior amenities compared to "mainline" aircraft, which carry more than 100 people and have longer-haul flights between major cities and international destinations.

Also: I just experienced actual high-speed internet on a plane - for free, thanks to Starlink

United claims at least one mainline aircraft will also offer the new service within the same timeframe. The goal is to eventually equip all of United Airlines' more than 1,000 aircraft with Starlink. Currently, United's Wi-Fi service varies by aircraft and is not free. This new partnership will standardize the service across the fleet, offering a breakthrough upgrade for many flyers.

'Living room in the sky'

Grant Milstead, United VP of Digital Technology, described Starlink's capabilities as enabling a "living room in the sky" experience. The service will allow passengers to perform tasks like accessing work documents, checking home security cameras, and playing games with low latency, marking a substantial improvement over its current capabilities. United promises to roll out seatback screens across all its mainline aircraft, which will, of course, be integrated into the new Wi-Fi system.

Further, the new Wi-Fi system will be available gate-to-gate, meaning robust connectivity will be accessible from the moment passengers board the plane until they disembark. Could Starlink potentially render Airplane Mode on smartphones obsolete? At least for United (for now), maybe.

New, streamlined interface

Anyone can sign up to be a MileagePlus member for free, and when you do, United says you'll be able to access the service through a new, streamlined interface. United's efforts to enhance the in-flight customer experience extend beyond Wi-Fi, though, such as their recent iPhone innovations like Dynamic Island and AirTag luggage tracking. United Airlines is also improving its app with a Terminal Guide feature to assist passengers in making on-time connections between flights in busy, sprawling airports.

Also: T-Mobile users can try Starlink's satellite service for free - here's how

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 connectivity that is being phased out, will be the first to receive the new service. According to Milstead, over 200 aircraft are set to 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.