United lets passengers use their own Spotify account on seatback screens

United is introducing personal Spotify playlists, podcasts and videos on seatback screens aboard suitable Starlink-equipped aircraft.

United Airlines passengers can now sign into their own Spotify account on the seatback screen on eligible flights. This gives them access to saved music, podcasts, audiobooks and personal recommendations instead of relying solely on a preselected entertainment library.

United and Spotify announced the feature on 5 November. The service uses the aircraft’s Starlink internet connection.

Sign in with a QR code

Passengers connect their phone to the United Wi-Fi network, open Spotify on the seatback screen and scan the displayed QR code.

Authentication takes place on the phone, so passengers do not need to type their login details into the aircraft screen.

Once signed in, passengers can listen to playlists, watch videos and save new titles. Their phone can also work as a remote control. Audio continues playing when the flight map is opened on the seatback screen.

Spotify automatically signs out after the flight, and passengers can also sign out manually.

Free and Premium accounts supported

The feature works with both free and paid Spotify accounts. The selection of music, videos and other features depends on the subscription and country.

Connecting to Spotify through the seatback screen does not require a paid United Wi-Fi pass or a MileagePlus login. The new option is not yet available across every United flight.

Rollout continues into 2027

United has begun bringing the feature to aircraft with Starlink and compatible seatback entertainment. The airline aims to offer Spotify account integration on approximately half its fleet by spring 2027.

Flights without account sign-in continue to offer the existing Spotify entertainment selection, which includes more than 450 hours of curated music, podcasts and audiobooks.

United expects to have more than 219,000 seatback screens in its fleet by the end of 2027 and to complete the fleet-wide installation of Starlink.

Credits

Sources
United Airlines — Spotify on seatback screens, 5 November 2026

Photo: S5A-0043 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.