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United has a real lead with Starlink and is smart to make as much noise about it as possible. Travel history suggests the lead won't last nearly as long as the enthusiasm around it.
United Airlines is offering status matches to American and Delta customers, inviting their best passengers to come over, try the Starlink Wi-Fi everyone is talking about, and see if they want to stay. More than 600 of its aircraft already have Starlink, with 1,000 targeted by the end of the year. American's rollout doesn't start until 2027. Delta went with Amazon Leo and is already catching grief for choosing a satellite network that hasn't been tested on commercial flights.
For the moment, United has the better story. And Starlink really is a big improvement. Anyone who has dealt with airline Wi-Fi that cuts out, crawls, or makes you log in five times understands why frequent travelers care. If you spend a lot of your life on airplanes, several uninterrupted hours of normal internet is a big deal. United got a
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Tags: american airlines , business travel , delta , per diem , starlink , united airlines