United is teasing Delta for not having Starlink on its planes, and trying to lure loyal customers with its fast WiFi

United Airlines recently installed Starlink high-speed internet on over 560 of its aircraft by mid-September, according to a source. In response to criticism over Delta's lack of Starlink service in their planes, United is currently offering to match travelers' loyalty status with Delta or American Airlines, in a bid to lure their loyal customers.

This offer is valid until October 15, and customers will have 90 days to utilize United's services to maintain their status until the end of January 2028. United was the first U.S. airline to partner with Elon Musk's Starlink service back in 2024, and plans to equip all its planes with the satellite WiFi by the end of next year.

While American Airlines also signed on with Starlink in May, the service is not yet operational as they plan to roll it out next year on narrow-body airplanes. American Airlines, too, has launched a loyalty-status match program for travelers with status from Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, and United, lasting for four months. However, for some travelers, switching airlines may not be feasible, especially when considering factors like the number of routes or the only available flights from their local airport.

Delta has been notably absent from the Starlink adoption race, preferring a partnership with Amazon Leo satellite internet service instead. Delta has threatened its CEO, Ed Bastian, with job loss over its decision to opt for Amazon Leo, which they claim offers better bandwidth and lower pricing. Elon Musk, on the other hand, has repeatedly criticized Delta's lack of Starlink, posting on social media about how Delta CEO Ed Bastian will "lose his job over this."