United Airlines has a new tool to check if your flight has Starlink Wi-Fi — and it’s about time
The satellite internet now active on more than 635 aircraft across its mainline and regional fleets.
United Airlines has introduced a tracking tool for its Starlink Wi-Fi service, which is now available on a significant portion of its fleet. As of now, 636 out of United's 1,492 aircraft are equipped with Starlink, and the airline aims to complete installations on the entire fleet by the end of 2027. This marks a notable improvement over competitors Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, which have not yet begun their Starlink installations.
To address customer frustration with inconsistent connectivity, United's digital team has created a Starlink tracker on its website and app. Passengers can check whether their upcoming flight has Starlink connectivity and see the progress of installations by aircraft type. The tracker also displays availability by hub, such as Newark, Chicago, and San Francisco. Current installations are available on 351 regional jets, 280 narrow-body mainline planes, and five wide-body aircraft.
Starlink offers free, fast Wi-Fi without the worry of unstable connections, providing a significant upgrade from Panasonic Wi-Fi, which is considered among the slowest and least reliable in the sky. United's Starlink service is currently free for MileagePlus members, who require an account to access the service. However, the service is not yet available on all United flights, with most long-haul routes still relying on Panasonic Wi-Fi.
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