United is adding a Spotify app to its seatback screens, so passengers can log in and stream their own playlists and podcasts using Starlink Wi-Fi.
United Airlines is building a Spotify app into the screens on the back of its airplane seats. Passengers will be able to log into their own Spotify account and stream their libraries, playlists and video podcasts during a flight. The Verge reported the news on November 5, 2026.
Older in-flight systems were built on the idea that planes had no internet. Every movie and song had to be stored on the aircraft, which kept choices limited. United is now installing Starlink satellite Wi-Fi across its entire fleet. That lets the seatback screen stream live content, much like a TV at home. Passengers can also use Spotify on their own phones.
United announced a Spotify partnership a little over a year ago. The first idea was to preload some music onto seatback screens. The airline then decided that letting people use their own accounts was the logical next step.
Starlink has more than 11,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, according to the report. Because they are closer to the ground, the signal travels a shorter distance, which means less delay. Grant Milstead, United's VP for digital, called fast, low-latency Wi-Fi the enabler. He said coverage reaches even the poles on some transatlantic and transpacific flights, and that customers have streamed on seatback screens with no interruptions.
United is not alone. American, Qatar, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air France and British Airways also use Starlink. Delta is working with Amazon's LEO project, and JetBlue is staying with Fly-Fi from Viasat. Milstead admitted that Starlink being a differentiator for United is "a moment in time," and said the company hopes its apps and seatback screens will stand out once fast Wi-Fi is everywhere.
United plans to partner with other streaming apps. A United marketing executive said the Spotify deal will be the blueprint. The report does not say when the app will be on every plane, whether it costs extra, or whether a paid Spotify plan is required. Those details are not known yet.
Soon you may stream your own Spotify on a United seatback screen, but timing, cost and account requirements have not been shared yet.
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