LAS VEGAS – United Airlines is fast-tracking its rollout of Starlink, an in-flight internet service, and currently plans to offer the connectivity on all its planes by the end of 2025. Starting this spring, the airline will begin testing Starlink with its first commercial flight, marking a new era of inflight entertainment and connectivity for travelers.
The announcement was made at the 2025 CES tech conference in Las Vegas, where United unveiled its plans to outfit its entire regional fleet with Starlink’s high-speed internet by the end of this year. By the end of 2025, United plans to extend this service across its entire fleet, including mainline aircraft, with the first Starlink-enabled mainline plane set to take off before the year’s end.
Starlink, developed by SpaceX, offers a low-latency internet service that is to transform the inflight experience for United’s passengers. For MileagePlus® members, the service will be entirely free, giving them access to streaming services, shopping, gaming, and more during their flights. MileagePlus membership, which is free to join, and travelers can sign up now at united.com/starlink.
“This is just the beginning,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus. “We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year, and adding Starlink to as many planes as possible, as quickly as possible, is at the center of it all. This technology isn’t just going to revolutionize flying with United, but it’s also going to unlock new partnerships and benefits for our members that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.”
United’s Starlink service will allow passengers to enjoy the same high-speed internet they use on the ground, but now while in the air. The service will offer gate-to-gate connectivity on both seatback screens and personal devices, setting United apart from other U.S. airlines.
This move comes after United Airlines signed an industry-leading agreement with SpaceX in September 2024 to bring Starlink to its entire fleet, a deal that to ebale the airline’s inflight entertainment offerings and improve the overall passenger experience. United is the first major U.S. airline to offer this type of service at scale.
The MileagePlus loyalty program, which was recently ranked the best airline loyalty program globally, continues to offer unparalleled value for frequent travelers. Members can earn miles without worrying about expiration dates and use miles for everything from seats to Wi-Fi, snacks, and more. The program’s free-to-join structure and its extensive range of redemption options make it one of the most attractive loyalty programs in the airline industry.
“United has always been a leader in customer loyalty, and our continued focus on delivering world-class benefits and experiences for MileagePlus members is central to that mission,” said Nunn. “With Starlink, our members will experience more connectivity, convenience, and entertainment than ever before.”
In addition to the Starlink initiative, MileagePlus members will enjoy travel benefits, including the ability to pool miles with family and friends into a joint account—a first for a major U.S. airline. For more information on MileagePlus and to sign up for free, visit united.com/starlink.
