United Airlines will introduce its Starlink-powered inflight WiFi service sometime this spring, but the service will only be free for MileagePlus members.
The service will debut on Embraer E-175 regional aircraft. United said it plans to complete installation across its regional fleet, excluding one-cabin 50-seat planes, by the end of the year. United also said its first Starlink-powered WiFi service will be operational on mainline aircraft before the end of the year.
The United announcement provides a bit more clarity on the carrier's timeline for rolling out free WiFi. Previously, United had said only that the first implementations would come sometime this year. United also had previously said only that once installed, the Starlink WiFi would be free. In clarifying that it will only be free to MileagePlus members, United has signaled its intent to follow the model used by Delta, which began offering free WiFi in 2023, but only for SkyMiles members.
Conversely, Hawaiian offers free WiFi to all passengers on its Starlink-connected aircraft. JetBlue also has long offered free WiFi.
United says that SpaceX's Starlink satellite service will enable the same high-speed connections that people experience on the ground.
The carrier eventually plans to outfit its entire fleet with the service, with free WiFi available to MileagePlus members. That process is expected to take several years.