Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 2 hrs ago
Spotify is coming to United seatback screens on Starlink-equipped planes
Spotify is coming to seatback screens on United flights that have Starlink satellite internet.
The service will offer its full library of music, podcasts and audiobooks, along with passengers’ profiles and playlists.
To sign in, passengers must connect their phone to United’s inflight Wi-Fi and scan a QR code on the seatback screen.
Spotify access over Wi-Fi will be free, so passengers will not need to buy an internet pass for this feature.
Using the seatback screen can make it easier to watch video podcasts and music videos, and passengers may not need to download content before flying.
Nearly half of United’s daily departures already offer Starlink, and passengers can check whether a flight has it using the airline’s Starlink Wi-Fi Tracker.
The Spotify feature is expected to arrive soon, but no specific launch date is given.
United is bringing a custom Spotify app to seatback screens on planes equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi.
Passengers can log in to personal Spotify accounts and stream music, playlists and video podcasts.
To access a personal library, passengers connect their phones to United’s inflight Wi-Fi and scan a QR code on the seatback screen.
Spotify access through the Wi-Fi is free, and passengers do not need to buy an internet pass.
United says Starlink is being installed across its fleet, and nearly half of its daily departures already offer Starlink internet.
- Who
- United Airlines and Spotify. The feature is for United passengers on Starlink-equipped planes.
- What
- A custom Spotify app is coming to United seatback screens, allowing passengers to stream content from their accounts.
- When
- Announced on November 5, 2026. The sources do not state when it will become available.
- Where
- On United Airlines planes equipped with Starlink satellite Wi-Fi.
- Why
- United chose a personalized streaming experience so passengers can use their own Spotify accounts. Starlink connectivity makes streaming on seatback screens possible, according to United executives.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
United announced a partnership with Spotify to explore preloading music content on seatback displays.
United began testing Starlink on flights.
United and Spotify announced the seatback-screen integration, powered by Starlink Wi-Fi.
- Airline
- United Airlines
- Streaming service
- Spotify
- Connectivity provider
- Starlink satellite Wi-Fi
- Access method
- Connect a phone to United inflight Wi-Fi and scan the seatback screen’s QR code
- Wi-Fi cost for Spotify
- Free; no inflight internet pass is needed
- Starlink coverage
- Nearly half of United’s daily departures offer Starlink internet
2 sources
What people are saying
Without Starlink, we couldn’t generate that living-room-in-the-sky experience.
You know, for us, having fast, low-latency connectivity has been the enabler.
One of the reasons that we chose Starlink is for the global connectivity, even in the poles for some of our transatlantic and transpacific flights
It’s supreme, perfect personalization in that it’s that customer’s actual account, all of their material available there