Starlink allows for gate-to-gate internet
service and unlocks game-changing inflight entertainment
experiences like access to live TV and streaming services,
shopping, gaming and more, on seatback screens and
personal devices simultaneously
Starlink's low Earth orbit satellites deliver
reliable, high-speed, low-latency internet and boost
reliability over oceans and other remote
areas previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi
signals
Industry's largest agreement includes more
than 1,000 aircraft
Testing begins in early 2025 with the first
passenger flights expected later next year; United's culture
of innovation again delivers big benefits to customers
CHICAGO, Sept. 13,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- United today set a new standard
of inflight connectivity by signing the industry's largest
agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink's fast,
reliable Wi-Fi service to the airline's mainline and regional
aircraft fleet, for free.
United customers will soon enjoy the same high-speed,
low-latency internet service in the air that they enjoy on the
ground. The new, gate-to-gate connectivity will unlock
game-changing experiences in the sky at scale that no other major
U.S. airline provides like access to live TV and streaming
services, social media, shopping, gaming and more, on seatback
screens and personal devices simultaneously.
United expects to have Starlink on all United aircraft – more
than 1,000 planes – over the next several years. Testing begins in
early 2025 with the first passenger flights expected later that
year.
Starlink service on United aircraft will be free.
Leveraging advanced satellites with its deep experience in both
spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink is engineered by
SpaceX and delivers internet access around the world, including
over oceans, polar regions and other remote locations previously
unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals. United is the
largest airline across both the Atlantic and Pacific and will be
the first carrier in the world to commit to offering Starlink
service at this scale.
"Everything you can do on the ground, you'll soon be able to do
onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the
world," said United CEO Scott Kirby.
"This connectivity opens the door for an even better inflight
entertainment experience, in every seatback – more content, that's
more personalized. United's culture of innovation is, once again,
delivering big for our customers."
"We're excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the
inflight experience," said Gwynne
Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX.
"With Starlink onboard your United flight, you'll have access to
the world's most advanced high-speed internet from gate to gate,
and all the miles in between."
United's new Starlink Wi-Fi service will include experiences
like:
- Live streaming: access personal streaming services and
watch live TV, shows and movies without buffering, lag or the need
to download content in advance.
- Workplace productivity: download/upload documents
and edit shared files in real-time.
- Gaming: play live games and follow along on live gaming
streaming services.
- E-Commerce: shop online, schedule grocery delivery and
make restaurant and travel reservations all from the comfort of
your seat.
- Multiple devices: connect multiple devices at once,
under one user.
- Live support with the United app: download the
United app while inflight to get real-time info about connections
and access customer support from a real agent through Agent on
Demand.
In addition to using Starlink connectivity on personal devices,
United customers also will have access on their seatback screens.
United has nearly 100,000 seatback screens across its fleet, with
plans to grow these numbers as the airline continues to take
delivery of new airplanes and retrofit existing aircraft with its
new United signature interiors. The inflight content is available
in more than 20 different languages. The new United signature
interiors include 16-inch HD touch screens in each United Polaris®
business class seat, 13-inch screens in every United First Class
seat and 10-inch screens in every United Economy seat. In addition
to seatback screens in every seat, United's new signature interior
also includes Bluetooth connectivity, power in every seat, larger
overhead bins with room for everyone's rollaboard and LED
lighting.
The new service will also benefit United's frontline employees –
United pilots, flight attendants, technicians and gate agents all
use mobile devices to help run the operation and serve customers.
As United rolls out the Starlink more broadly, it will give those
teams the same rich capabilities in the air, as they have on the
ground including when working in remote location or when
traditional services might be impacted like during power outages or
natural disasters.
United's Industry-Leading Innovations
United is recognized as one of the most innovative companies in
the world and has recently launched a series of policies, products
and services that are industry-leading:
- Mobile app with live activities: United has the world's
most downloaded airline mobile app and is the only U.S. airline
with Live Activities that gives customers real-time access to their
boarding pass, gate and seat number and countdown clock to
departure on the home screens of their phone.
- ConnectionSaver: United is the only airline that uses
proprietary technology to determine the best time to hold a flight
a few extra minutes so more people can make their connection.
- Stuck in a middle seat?: United is the only airline
where customers can log their seat preference in the app and move
to a better seat - for free - if it opens up before departure.
- Free family seating: United is the first and only
airline to offer a digital, dynamic seat map that allows children
under 12 to be seated next to an adult in their party for free at
time of booking. Since launching the feature last year, United has
helped hundreds of thousands of families book seats together for
free.
- Real-time text updates: Using AI tools, United
sends travelers text messages that provide personalized trip
updates on everything from gate changes and boarding times to more
specifics like aircraft swaps and weather events, now even
including live radar maps.
- Automatic rebooking assistance: Instead of waiting
in line to talk to an agent or search for new options, United's
self-service tools automatically present travelers personalized
re-booking options, bag tracking information and meal and hotel
vouchers when eligible if their flight is delayed or canceled.
- Wheelchair booking tool: United launched a new digital
sizing tool that helps customers determine the right aircraft for
their wheelchair.
- Agent on Demand: United's virtual, on-demand customer
service tool is patented and lets customers video chat, text or
call a customer service representative instead of waiting in line
at the airport.
- Miles pooling: United became the first major U.S.
airline to allow members of its loyalty program, MileagePlus, to
pool their miles with family and friends into a joint account.
About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los
Angeles, New
York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most
comprehensive global route network among North American carriers
and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by
available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team,
please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the
company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the
parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq
under the symbol "UAL".
About Starlink
Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all
over the world. As the world's first and largest satellite
constellation using a low Earth orbit, Starlink delivers broadband
internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video
calls and more. Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX. As
the world's leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is
leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit
operations to deploy the world's most advanced broadband internet
system.
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SOURCE United Airlines