Yesterday, I noted that T-Mobile has quietly updated its airline Wi-Fi page to remove American Airlines and United Airlines. That corroborated several reports of the T-Mobile option dissapearing as a Wi-Fi option on United flights. We still do not definitively know the reason why, but we do have a cryptic message from T-Mobile and a denial from United that it directed this change.
Cryptic T-Mobile Message As Free Wi-Fi Disappears On United, Airline Denies Responsibility
The T-Mobile “In-Flight Connection” page was updated this week to remove United Airlines after American Airlines had been removed some weeks before.
United told Live And Let’s Fly:
This change is due to an update T-Mobile made to its customer benefit program. We’d encourage you to reach out to T-Mobile directly for additional information.
I did…and T-Mobile did not respond.
So what is going on?
> Read More: T-Mobile Free Inflight Wi-Fi Removed On American And United…United’s Timing Makes No Sense
T-Mobile did send this rather cryptic email out to certain customers: why not mention the carriers?
A Gradual Phaseout On United?
One reddit user claims that the reason some United flights are still offering a T-Mobile Wi-Fi option is because only Panasonic -equipped planes have been initially impacted. However, starting on July 13, 2026, aircraft with Thales and Viasat Wi-Fi will also no longer be supported. That data point has not been verified by Live And Let’s Fly.
Is T-Mobile upset that United is rapidly installing Starlink on its mainline aircraft and will reach a point in which T-Mobile is no longer needed? All I can do is speculate at this point, but T-Mobile must pay something to United to market Wi-Fi on United flights. Perhaps T-Mobile determined it was no longer getting its money worth as United has hyped Starlink (even airing a Super Bowl ad on it) and is no longer even mentioning T-Mobile?
I don’t know…I always considered this benefit more something that kept me loyal to T-Mobile and it really had nothing to do with United. And now T-Mobile Wi-Fi appears to be on its way out at United while only 10% of the mainline fleet has Starlink.
With subscriptions no longer offered and T-Mobile gone, I’ll be shelling out money on every United flight for Wi-Fi…which is quite annoying. Starlink cannot come fast enough…
I find in-flight Wi-Fi absolutely fundamental to domestic flying these days…but I guess I understand why United won’t give away Wi-Fi on Panasonic, Thales, or even Viasat-eqiipped aircraft ahead of Starlink. The bandwidth simply ins’t there.
In fact, JonNYC pointed out that bandwidth itself, particularly on the 787, may be a huge problem right now and even worse going forward:
Take that particular warning with a grain of salt, but it has been my experience too that Wi-Fi simply does not work well over the Pacific Ocean. I don’t think the T-Mobile update is linked to this poor coverage due to satiate saturation, but it also would not surprise me if we are to a point in which satellite bandwidth is also nearing its limits.
Interestingly, T-Mobile’s “T-Satellite” service is powered by Starlink.
In any case, it makes T-Mobile far less valuable to me…
CONCLUSION
For now, this remains a developing story and somewhat of a mystery. Without warning, T-Mobile pulled free in-flight Wi-Fi from United Airlines. Is it preemptive punishment for Starlink or was there something else going on?
For United flyers, it is bad news any way you slice it…
If T-Mobbile sends me a statement, I will update this story.
I used T-Mobile WiFi on the 14th on multiple flights. WiFi was down on the Elevated 787 (Panasonic) flight so I can’t confirm that portion
Seems like Tim’s comments that this is all United’s fault aged really well – well rather turned out to be false (like usual)
Yes the 787 Panasonic WiFi has been terrible since forever. The pilot memo was laughable, talk about preaching to the choir. It’s not a new development, it’s always been bad. Panasonic just can’t keep up.
United is just copying Delta, to offer the worst wifi available.
You are gonna pay for wifi on EVERY United flight? Why? You seriously cannot go 2-3 hours without wifi? I understand on longer flights, but really? The world may indeed end while you are disconnected, but what are you going to do about it from a metal tube at 35,000 feet?
United’s current $8 or 800 miles for WiFi is lame.
Why MUST you ask a bad question? Why SHOULD WE go WITHOUT internet. It is a GREAT tool! Just because YOU have no interest, STOP BELLITLI G us who USE IT.
“Interestingly, T-Mobile’s “T-Satellite” service is powered by Starlink.” THATS WHY THIS WHOLE THING DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE!!! They both support Starlink and have previously been partners, and now they choose to break off? How does that work?
Just as with its plans, tax being included, etc., I think T-Mobile is putting the squeeze to customers for more profit and inflight WIFI is just another example of that.
A huge part of my loyalty to Tmo has been because of the inflight WIFI. Perhaps they now only care about short term profits?
as usual, Andy works overtime trying to find fault with what I say while failing to realize that it is INDEED UA’s failure to plan that is leaving UA in an even worse position with the FOURTH OUT OF FOUR WiFi equipped fleets.
UA had to know the relationship it had w/ T Mobile and that there was always the risk that T Mobile could pull the plug before this supposedly massive Starlink network would be turned on at UA.
and the real laugh comes from people who have absolutely dogged DL about its WiFi when UA itself acknowledges there isn’t the capacity over the Pacific – and it is apparenlty being turned off even on the newest aircraft.
The hubris and arrogance of the UA fan club knows no bounds.
But, thanks Andy, for confirming that it WAS UA’s fault that T Mobile acted. Even in the earlier conversation, it was acknowledged that AS offers T Mobile and is adding Starlink. Apparently AS thought things through better than UA did. We’ll wait for you to prove me wrong when T Mobile turns AS off.
and a big reason for T Mobile usage is the free international coverage = which is far more valuable than WiFi on a few remaining laggard carriers.
and T Mobile is a partner for DL’s high speed Viasat WiFi
I don’t think high speed and viasat belong in the same sentence. Starlink is simply by far the best product in the satellite internet market today. It remains to be seen whether amazon leo will be able to mount a credible challenge.
It’s not a question of whether Viasat and Starlink are comparable. Viasat says it is high speed and there are industry definitions about what that is.
and it really doesn’t matter how fast Starlink is if it doesn’t exist on 90% of UA’s mainline fleet. DL has had Viasat on 90% of its mainline fleet for several years.
The arrogance of the UA fan nut jobs is that they think that UA’s PROMISE of Starlink makes up for the fact that they are years behind DL and B6 and now AA has far more aircraft eqjuipped wiht high speed WiFi than UA does.
and the point of THIS article is that T Mobile pulled the plug on the first of what will certainly be the part of UA’s fleet that does not have Starlink and that will be half of the mainline fleet by the end of the year.
And even as the UA nut jobs talk about lack of coverage on DL’s Pacific network – although they do offer it for pay on WiFi equpped aircraft (most of them), UA’s own information says that UA’s Pacific coverage is horribly insufficient over the Pacific as well – including on brand new aircraft.
And Viasat is moving closer to launching its new satellite for the Pacific – and it will NOT serve UA.
and the question is still why AS has managed to not tick off T Mobile (at least for now) and has the T Mobile benefit even as they ALSO upgrade to Starlink.
and Amazon just bought GlobalStar as part of its plan to build out LEO of which DL is the only large customer.
Some people would do well to wait until they actually succeed at something before crowing. about what “they” have accomplished even while trashing others
This will ruin Tim Dunns day, but there are reports on Reddit of people getting free wifi on United flights starting today (non starlink planes). We’ll probably know very soon if this is for real
doesn’t ruin my day or night.
UA might be choosing to pay for the WiFi that T Mobile was once offering… that was probably T Mobile’s point – UA was so fixated on the Starlink that exists on 10% of UA’s that they dissed T Mobile that sponsored the crappy WiFI that is the norm on 90% of UA’s mainline fleet.
It is laughable the UA nut jobs that try to argue that Viasat isn’t hgh speed while touting the slow speed WiFi on 90% of UA’s mainline fleet that even UA isn’t willing to call high speed.
You can give last generation garbage away to anyone that appears to be UA’s strategy
You do know that United has viasat on many of their planes, don’t you?
the Viasat systems on AA and DL’s systems are not the same as the high speed systems on UA. If they were, then UA would call it high speed – but they do not while AA and DL rightfully do.
United’s viasat is streaming capable. It says so when you connect to it
you can stream on DSL If you want
Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate’s included international roaming is now much better than T-Mobile’s, so this is the nail in the coffin for T-Mobile for me.
For me too!
I agree that this is just a “nice to have” for T-Mobile rather than something that is worth staying (or leaving) the carrier for. However, the landscape has become much more competitive with the mobile virtual network operators. My partner has Spectrum Mobile which uses Verizon network domestically; but what surprised me most was the included international roaming which was much better than my own T-Mobile service.
So, yesterday I posted that the T-Mobile free wifi was available on my SAN-SFO flight. Currently, I’m on a SEA-DEN flight. When I clicked on the T-Mobile link, I instead was redirected and the page said all passengers get free wifi on this flight with no mention of Starlink like on the E175s that are so equipped. You could log in with your MP number or as a guest. I’m on what looks line a brand new 737-800.
Interesting data point.
Funny, in yesterday’s post I said UA should make it free until the Starlink rollout is complete. Someone there must be reading your blog.