Spotify Brings Personalized In-Flight Streaming to United Airlines

Spotify users will soon be able to access their personal accounts on seatbacks aboard Starlink-equipped United Airlines aircraft. The initiative builds on Spotify’s existing partnership with the airline, which in 2025 introduced a dedicated Spotify channel featuring 450 hours of curated playlists, podcasts and audiobooks available for free on seatback screens.

How it works:

• Passengers can scan a QR code to securely connect their Spotify account while flying, unlocking their personalized Home feed, saved playlists, library, and features such as DJ and music videos.

• A small on-screen player allows users to control playback via the seatback touch display.

• Spotify audio continues playing while passengers browse other seatback features such as the flight map.

• Login details are never entered on the seatback screen. Passengers are automatically logged out at the end of the flight, and the screen is reset before the next passengers board.

Roll out:

• The functionality is now rolling out across United’s Starlink-equipped aircraft, and will expand to additional aircraft through 2027.

• Spotify Free and Premium listeners can use the app, with playback options and features depending on their plan and market.

What they said:

• Ian Geller, VP of Business Development at Spotify: “Bringing personal Spotify accounts to United seatback screens is a major milestone, creating a new way to experience Spotify in flight. 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.”