Passengers can now check whether upcoming flights have high-speed satellite internet up to three days before departure.
United Airlines has launched a tracking tool on its website and mobile app that allows travelers to check if their upcoming flight is equipped with Starlink satellite internet. The airline introduced the feature to give passengers real-time visibility into whether their specific plane offers the high-speed connection.
According to Engadget, the airline reported that Starlink Wi-Fi is now active on nearly half of its daily departures. Sources differ slightly on the exact fleet total: TechRadar reported that 636 planes in United’s 1,492-aircraft fleet are equipped, while Engadget placed the count at 635 mainline and regional jets.
How the tracker works
The tracking system lets passengers search by entering their flight number and travel date starting three days before scheduled departure. It provides real-time updates on aircraft swaps and last-minute hardware changes. Plane assignments are usually finalized within 24 hours of takeoff.
In addition to the lookup tool, United flags equipped flights on its app status screen and sends flight updates via text message and email. The tool also provides network-wide statistics, displaying daily departures featuring Starlink, hub-by-hub availability, and fleet progress by aircraft model.
Passengers can see connectivity rates across hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The tracker also details installation progress as percentages for models including the Airbus A319, A320, and A321, as well as Boeing 737, 737 Max, 767, 777, and 787 jets. Planes where retrofits have not yet started, such as the Boeing 757, are labeled as coming soon.
Current fleet numbers and long-haul gaps
United’s current rollout includes 351 regional United Express jets, 280 mainline narrow-body planes, and five wide-body aircraft. Starlink is provided free of charge to members of United’s MileagePlus loyalty program, which is free to join.
The connection supports streaming services like Disney+ and Apple TV, audio platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, video browsing on YouTube, and faster email and text delivery compared to older systems.
Most of United’s longest routes have not received the upgrade yet. Those long-haul flights still rely on legacy Panasonic Wi-Fi systems. Travel newsletter author Zach Griff described that service as among the slowest and least reliable, writing, “On recent cross-country flights, I had multiple hours-long periods when I couldn’t establish a strong enough connection to send more than a text.”
Race to install satellite internet
United first announced its deal with SpaceX’s Starlink in September 2024 and began testing the hardware in January 2025 before starting fleet installations later that year. The airline is currently outfitting 20 aircraft per week, aiming to finish upgrading its entire fleet by the end of 2027.
According to data from Starlink Flights, United currently operates the highest number of Starlink-enabled flights. Other carriers providing Starlink internet include Air France, Alaska Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, SAS, and WestJet.
United’s rollout schedule places it ahead of its largest domestic rivals. American Airlines has also chosen Starlink, but its installations are scheduled to start in early 2027. Delta Air Lines selected Amazon Leo in March 2026 and does not plan to begin installations until 2028.
United is also using its Wi-Fi rollout to compete directly for rival flyers. Following reported remarks about Starlink and Elon Musk by Delta CEO Ed Bastian, United launched a status-match promotion aimed at Delta and American loyalty members. That offer, running through October 22, allows eligible travelers to gain United Premier status through January 2028 by flying United within 90 days and spending between $1,500 and $7,000, even as United raises requirements to retain status in 2027.