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.
TPG's picks: The most-exciting new airline routes for 2025
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The good news is that the first provider that United has chosen to replace with Starlink is its most outdated: Wi-Fi Onboard (formerly known as Gogo), which offers excruciatingly slow air-to-ground connectivity across the regional fleet.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.
Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
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
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.