Update: The Starlink match offer for American and Delta elites ends today!

Originally posted on 10/15:

Starlink is a real game-changer in the skies, offering low-latency, high-speed internet that allows for real productivity and streaming in-flight like never before.

Airlines that add it have seen their Net Promoter Scores double. For now, airlines that have it have a competitive advantage, but pretty soon, airlines without it will find themselves left behind as passengers book away from them.

United has created a very cool Starlink tracker site, where you can watch the progress as it outfits its fleet with free high-speed WiFi. You can also check if your upcoming flight will have Starlink within a few days of travel. As of today, some 47% of United’s departures have Starlink, though that skews heavily towards regional and narrowbody fleets. The airline plans to complete the fleetwide installation in 2027.

Someone vibe-coded a Delta Starlink tracker to troll that airline, which chose to go with Amazon Leo over Starlink. That service doesn’t yet exist.

There has been anger about that on social media, with Elon Musk suggesting that Delta CEO Ed Bastian would eventually lose his job over that decision. That came after reports alleged that Mr. Bastian said he wouldn’t do any business with Mr. Musk, a claim Mr. Bastian denied, pointing to his own personal Tesla.

United has also launched a special elite status match challenge to capture disgruntled American and Delta elites. There are pros and cons of this challenge versus the regular United challenge.

You have to apply for the Starlink challenge by 10/22. You’ll have your status matched for 90 days and can earn status through 1/31/28 if you complete the challenge. Your status will be updated within 1-3 business days of approval.

Best of all, while United only allows for a challenge every 3 years, this challenge is an exception and will work even if you have done a recent challenge and even if you are currently enrolled in another challenge!

• AA Gold and Delta Silver will match to United Silver. You’ll need to spend $1,500 and fly on United flights within 90 days to keep the status through 1/31/28.
• AA Platinum and Delta Gold will match to United Gold. You’ll need to spend $3,000 and fly on United flights within 90 days to keep the status through 1/31/28.
• AA Platinum Pro and Delta Platinum will match to United Platinum. You’ll need to spend $4,500 and fly on United flights within 90 days to keep the status through 1/31/28.
• AA Executive Platinum or Concierge Key and Delta Diamond or 360 will match to United 1K. You’ll need to spend $7,000 and fly on United flights within 90 days to keep the status through 1/31/28.

Note that only flights will count. Other purchases like travel add-ons, as well as taxes and fees for purchased flights, do not count toward spend.

You can track your status on mystatus.united.com.

It’s worth comparing this offer to the regular United status match challenge, which has a higher spending and a minimum flight segment requirement, but with 120 days to earn them. The regular challenge also works with many more airlines than AA or Delta. With the regular challenge, your status will be good through 1/31/28 if you complete it in 2026, but if you wait to complete the requirements until 2027, your status will last through 1/31/29. You can only take this challenge once every 3 years.

Have you flown on United flights with Starlink? Will you take United up on the Starlink status match challenge?