United reveals exciting update about free Starlink Wi-Fi
United Airlines has one final Christmas present for flyers: Free Wi-Fi is coming sooner than originally promised.
The Chicago-based carrier announced Sunday that it will start installing Starlink Wi-Fi across its two-cabin regional fleet in the coming weeks.
The first aircraft to receive Starlink Wi-Fi, an Embraer E175 regional jet, will be outfitted with a Starlink radome in February and will reenter scheduled commercial service in the spring.
Furthermore, United now plans to outfit its entire fleet of two-cabin regional jets by the end of 2025 and have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air before the end of this year.
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United has committed to installing Starlink across its fleet of more than 1,000 jets — a feat that's sure to take at least a few years. (United isn't providing a timeline for when it expects these Wi-Fi upgrades to be fully completed.)
In addition to a faster rollout schedule, United emphasized once again that internet access will be free for all United MileagePlus customers.
Additionally, the airline will debut a new landing and entertainment page for Starlink-enabled aircraft. This upgraded experience will offer access to streaming services, shopping, gaming and more.
In September, United shocked the industry when it announced that it would add free fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi.
For years, United has offered a subpar inflight connectivity experience. It has partnered with four different Wi-Fi providers, each offering varying speeds and reliability.
This mishmash of providers has left some loyal flyers wondering if the Wi-Fi service will work on their flight or if they can stream their favorite shows or browse data-heavy social media apps.
The good news is that the first provider that United has chosen to replace with Starlink is its most outdated: Wi-Fi Onboard (formerly known as Gogo), which offers excruciatingly slow air-to-ground connectivity across the regional fleet.
Starlink, an arm of Elon Musk's SpaceX, provides satellite internet access in more than 100 countries worldwide. While the company's customers range from individual homeowners to the U.S. military, perhaps the most exciting development for travelers is Starlink's deployment on commercial airplanes.
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The satellite internet provider offers download speeds of up to 350 Mbps per second — fast enough to support gaming, VPN access, streaming and much more. (Inflight calling still won't be allowed, per Federal Aviation Administration rules.)
Once the rollout is complete, United will go from offering a subpar connectivity experience to providing one of the best in the sky.
While Delta Air Lines and JetBlue both offer free Wi-Fi in the U.S., both carriers partner with Viasat for internet access. Viasat generally offers streaming speeds, but Starlink's low latency means that data should load even faster.
In addition to United, Starlink is either installed or being installed on seven carriers worldwide. They include JSX, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, Zipair, Qatar Airways and Air New Zealand.
“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. 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," Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus, said in a statement.
United's Starlink rollout schedule
| Aircraft | Current provider | Starlink timeline |
|---|---|---|
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | Panasonic | Unknown |
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Panasonic | Unknown |
Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner | Panasonic | Unknown |
Boeing 777-200 | Panasonic | Unknown |
Boeing 777-300 | Panasonic | Unknown |
Boeing 767-300 | Panasonic | Unknown |
Boeing 767-400 | Panasonic | Unknown |
Boeing 757-200 | Panasonic | Unknown |
Boeing 757-300 | Panasonic, Thales and Viasat | Unknown |
Boeing 737-700 | Thales and Viasat | Unknown |
Boeing 737-800 | Thales and Viasat | Unknown |
Boeing 737 MAX 8 | Viasat | Unknown |
Boeing 737-900 | Thales and Viasat | Unknown |
Boeing 737 MAX 9 | Viasat | Unknown |
Airbus A319 | Panasonic and Viasat | Unknown |
Airbus A320 | Panasonic | Unknown |
Airbus A321neo | Viasat | Unknown |
Bombardier CRJ-200 | None | Not receiving |
Bombardier CRJ-550 | Wi-Fi Onboard (Gogo) | By the end of 2025 |
Bombardier CRJ-700 | Wi-Fi Onboard (Gogo) | By the end of 2025 |
Bombardier CRJ-900 | Wi-Fi Onboard (Gogo) | By the end of 2025 |
Embraer E170 | Wi-Fi Onboard (Gogo) | By the end of 2025 |
Embraer E175 | Wi-Fi Onboard (Gogo) | By the end of 2025 |
Embraer E145 | None | Not receiving |
Related reading:
- United Airlines MileagePlus: Guide to earning and redeeming miles, elite status and more
- Best United Airlines credit cards
- United Premier status: How to earn it — and is it worth it?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- United basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.