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If you’re like us, you can appreciate fast, free Wi-Fi when flying United. Or any airline, for that matter.
Like several other carriers, United is on a mission to bring free Starlink Wi-Fi to its entire fleet. To deliver on that promise, the airline has outfitted the majority of its two-cabin regional fleet with high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi in recent months. The service is free for all United MileagePlus members and is currently available on 1,200 daily flights, which equates to more than a quarter of United’s departures.
By the end of 2026, more than 800 United aircraft are expected to be equipped with Starlink, with the full rollout slated to finish by the end of 2027.
Here are the latest details on the rollout timeline.
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What Starlink Wi-Fi Means for United MileagePlus Members
A division of SpaceX, Starlink launched in 2019 and now has roughly 9,500 satellites providing internet to reportedly over 10 million customers worldwide. With this new United partnership, the total number of aircraft served by Starlink Aviation increases to over 2,500 and will hit 10,000 by 2034.
Starlink Wi-Fi claims to offer download speeds of 100-250 Mbps and upload speeds of 8-25 Mbps on flights. The service also has a very low latency (time between source and destination) of less than 0.1 seconds. In other words, it's fast and strong Wi-Fi.
As Starlink is installed on United aircraft, all MileagePlus passengers, regardless of class, can access the Wi-Fi free of charge. Passengers can use Starlink Wi-Fi for streaming, gaming, productivity, etc. Just remember to bring your headphones.
If you are not already a MileagePlus member, you can join for free before your flight to access Starlink.
Current State of United Starlink Wi-Fi and Plans for Completion
On February 2, 2026, United made another announcement about its Starlink Wi-Fi rollout. The airline now has more than 300 two-cabin aircraft retrofitted with Starlink. That's most of the regional fleet. Free Starlink Wi-Fi is now available on roughly a quarter of United's daily flights.
By the end of 2026, United plans to have 500 more aircraft retrofitted with Starlink. That will bring the total to over 800 aircraft.
“United customers are loving the new Wi-Fi experience onboard our Starlink-equipped aircraft,” said United's VP of Digital Technology, Grant Milstead. “We're rolling out Starlink at an unprecedented speed and scale, and our milestone for our regional fleet is just the beginning – with more than 500 mainline aircraft expected to be equipped by the end of 2026. This is all part of our commitment to bring this innovative service to our entire fleet.”
United still needs FAA approval for Starlink installation on several aircraft models, including the Boeing 737-900ER, the Airbus A321 family, and Boeing 777s. However, the airline plans to have the entire fleet completed sometime in 2027.
How United's Starlink Wi-Fi Installation Has Progressed Over Time
United’s Starlink Wi-Fi installation has been moving quickly since plans were first announced in late 2024. For a walk down memory lane, here are the major milestones the airline has reached in the months since:
- September 13, 2024: United initially announced its new partnership with Starlink, though details were sparse at the time.
- January 2025: United announced an updated timeline at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
- February 2025: United began testing Starlink Wi-Fi on regional United Express Embraer E-175 aircraft.
- March 31, 2025: United posted an update on X/Twitter saying that the FAA had approved the first aircraft fitted with Starlink Wi-Fi. With this green light, the airline started outfitting more than 40 planes a month.
- May 2025: The first United passengers gained access to high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on regional flights.
- September 26, 2025: United announced the installation of Starlink Wi-Fi on its first Boeing 737-800.
- October 15, 2025: The first United mainline commercial flight with high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi will depart Newark (EWR).
- February 2, 2026: United announced that more than 300 two-cabin aircraft, representing most of its regional fleet, have been equipped with Starlink.
Existing United Wi-Fi Availability and Pricing
Until Starlink goes live across the rest of the United fleet, passengers can purchase Wi-Fi on most United flights. Availability depends on the route, aircraft, and service provider. Several flights outside the U.S. don't have coverage, so Starlink is a major upgrade.
For flights with Wi-Fi, passengers can purchase a day pass or a subscription using cash or points. United MileagePlus members can purchase a day pass for $8 or 1,600 miles on most flights. You can also purchase a monthly Wi-Fi subscription for $49 or 7,500 miles.
If you're not a MileagePlus member, your only option is to purchase a flight pass. This costs $10 for domestic and short-haul international flights, and more for long-haul flights, depending on the distance.
Day vouchers are valid for 24 hours, starting one hour before departure. If a flight is canceled, the aircraft is changed to one without Wi-Fi, or you have less than 50% connectivity on your flight, United will issue you a refund. The monthly subscription is non-refundable. Among other restrictions, the day pass and monthly subscription do not include streaming services.
Can you get free Wi-Fi on United flights?
While we wait for Starlink to go live across the rest of the fleet, some United flyers can already get free Wi-Fi on United flights. T-Mobile customers can get free and unlimited Wi-Fi, texting, and even streaming on both domestic and international United flights. Additionally, all United passengers receive complimentary messaging through various apps, including iMessage, WhatsApp, and Google Messages.
Otherwise, you'll currently need to pay for United Wi-Fi. Even top-tier MileagePlus Premier 1K elite members must pay for a day pass or a monthly subscription.
While it's not free, you can at least get a 25% discount with any of its Chase-issued United MileagePlus credit cards. Yes, that even includes the no-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card (Rates & Fees).
- Earn 30,000 bonus miles
- 0% intro APR for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases & no annual fee.
- 2x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
- Earn 2 checked bags after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year
- Member FDIC
- 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Our Take
United’s move to offer free, fast Starlink Wi-Fi is a major win for flyers — especially on regional routes where coverage has historically been hit or miss.
And installation is nearly complete on the regional fleet, with over 300 aircraft now with Starlink. That means roughly a quarter of United's daily departures offer free Starlink Wi-Fi to MileagePlus passengers. By the end of 2026, 500 more aircraft will get Starlink, and the entire fleet should have Starlink sometime in 2027.
We'll keep this post updated as the rollout expands to more aircraft by the end of 2026 and beyond.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: United Gateway℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
