United Airlines has partnered with Spotify to let passengers access their personal Spotify accounts directly through inflight seatback screens. The integration allows travellers to stream music, podcasts, audiobooks and videos, as well as access personalised recommendations and saved playlists.
Passengers can connect their accounts by scanning a QR code displayed on the seatback screen. Once verified, they can access Spotify’s catalogue, which includes more than 100 million tracks and millions of podcasts, playlists, videos and albums. They can also resume content from where they last stopped and save new favourites to their libraries.
The integration uses United’s Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity and makes the airline the first to offer direct access to passengers’ personal Spotify accounts through seatback entertainment systems.
Passengers can also watch video content, including To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: Full Cast Graphic Adaptation by Jenny Han and On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Available content and features depend on the passenger’s Spotify plan and market.
United and Spotify Expand Personalised Inflight Entertainment
“Our customers are used to streaming entertainment that’s tailored to them, and that level of personalization shouldn’t stop when they board one of our planes,” said Andrew Nocella, Chief Commercial Officer at United Airlines.
“Now, thanks to Starlink, they can watch and listen to their own Spotify content right on their seatback screen and pick up their favorites right where they left off. From video podcasts and live performances to music and audiobooks, our collaboration with Spotify gives customers more of what they love onboard and is helping us create an elevated experience for everyone who chooses to fly United.”
Ian Geller, VP of Business Development at Spotify, said the integration creates another way for users to access their accounts while travelling.
“Bringing personal Spotify accounts to United seatback screens is a major milestone, creating a new way to experience Spotify in flight,” Geller said.
“With a quick QR code scan, passengers can bring their personalized Spotify experience to the screen in front of them — their recommendations, saved library, and favorite songs, podcasts, audiobooks, and videos — and enjoy it all on a big screen at 35,000 feet.”
Spotify Content Reaches More Than 2.3 Million Passengers
United first introduced a dedicated collection of Spotify content on its seatback screens in June 2025. The initial offering included more than 450 hours of audiobooks, video podcasts and music playlists.
Since its introduction, more than 2.3 million passengers have accessed Spotify content onboard, consuming more than 1.9 million hours.
The new integration builds on that offering by allowing passengers to use their own accounts. They can access saved playlists, personalised recommendations and other content without relying solely on United’s curated selection.
In addition to Spotify, United provides more than 2,500 hours of entertainment through providers including Apple TV, HBO Max, A24 and Peacock.
United Expands Starlink and Seatback Screen Installations
United is also expanding its Starlink Wi-Fi rollout across its fleet. The service is now available on more than half of the airline’s daily flights.
MileagePlus® members can use the connectivity to stream content, work, shop and access online services across multiple devices during flights. United expects to complete Starlink installations by the end of 2027.
Meanwhile, the airline currently operates more than 181,000 seatback screens across its fleet, covering approximately 85% of its mainline aircraft. United says this is more than any other major US airline.
It expects the total to exceed 219,000 screens by the end of 2027, bringing the systems to nearly its entire mainline fleet.
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How Passengers Can Access Spotify Onboard
Passengers on eligible United flights can open Spotify from the seatback entertainment screen and scan the displayed QR code using their phone’s camera.
Those already logged into Spotify on their phones can connect through a single-click verification process. Other passengers can securely sign in on their phones before accessing their personal libraries on the seatback screen.
The integration allows passengers to:
- Resume music, videos, audiobooks and playlists from where they stopped, and control playback.
- Browse their personal libraries and personalised recommendations.
- Save new favourites to their Spotify libraries.
- Stream Spotify content directly through the seatback screen.
- Use their phones as optional remote controls to browse content, select titles and adjust playback without reaching forward to touch the screen.
Passengers can log out at any time during the flight. The system will also automatically sign them out of their Spotify accounts at the end of the flight.
Available content and features vary according to Spotify plan and market.
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