Tech Desk 
Jun 06, 2025
United Airlines travellers now have access to free audiobooks, playlists, and video podcasts on their flights, and there is no Spotify account needed to unlock this content.
This new offering is on more than 130,000 seatback screens on United flights throughout the world.
United Airlines adds Spotify features
Spotify is a music and podcast streaming service that is offering this kind of content on an aeroplane for the very first time.
In total, there are over 450 hours of content available with this new offering. Some items available for viewing mid-flight include Good Hang with Amy Poehler, The Dave Chang Show, and The Comment Section with Drew Afualo.
“Spotify has a great audience, and people enjoy the breadth of content,” said MileagePlus CEO Richard Nunn in the official announcement. “And now our customers can experience it all in a simple and easy way, at 35,000 feet.”
This upgrade is part of United's ongoing focus to enhance customer experience with digital entertainment. And there's even more to come.
United has indicated they are working on a feature that would allow customers to log into their own Spotify accounts while mid-air by using their personal devices.
The option is expected to launch in 2026 and will let users resume their playlists, podcasts, or audiobooks right where they left off.
For those flying on United’s Starlink Wi-Fi-equipped planes, Spotify and other streaming services like YouTube and Apple Music are already available on personal devices.
This high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi, introduced in March, is free to use for those logged into the MileagePlus programme and supports gate-to-gate streaming.
