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Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Smart With Points. I'm Jack, and today I've got some genuinely exciting news to share with you – the kind that might actually make you look forward to that eight-hour flight to Singapore a bit more. We're talking about in-flight WiFi, but not the soul-destroying, barely-loads-your-email kind. No, we're talking about proper, high-speed internet at thirty-five thousand feet. Lufthansa Group has just announced they're going all-in on Starlink, and when I say all-in, I mean really all-in. So grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let me tell you why this is such a big deal.
Right, let's get straight into it. Lufthansa Group has announced they're partnering with Starlink to bring free high-speed WiFi to all eight hundred and fifty-plus aircraft across every single one of its airlines. And when they say every single one, they really mean it. We're talking Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways, Air Dolomiti, and Edelweiss. The whole lot.
Now, if you've been following the aviation connectivity space recently, you'll know that Starlink has been absolutely dominating. We've already seen British Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, and Iberia all announce their Starlink plans. But Lufthansa Group's announcement is the biggest commitment of any European airline group. And they made it on quite the special day – Lufthansa's one hundredth anniversary. Quite the birthday present, wouldn't you say?
So let's break down what's actually been announced. The rollout begins in the second half of twenty twenty-six, with the full fleet completion expected by twenty twenty-nine. That's around eight hundred and fifty aircraft getting equipped with Starlink's high-speed satellite internet. And here's the really good bit – it's going to be free for all Miles and More status customers and Travel ID users, across all cabin classes.
Now, for those of us in the UK, this is genuinely exciting news. Lufthansa Group airlines operate a significant number of routes from British airports, particularly through their hub cities like Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, and Vienna. If you're a Star Alliance frequent flyer or regularly connect through European hubs to reach destinations in Asia, Africa, or the Americas, you'll now have another compelling option with proper in-flight connectivity.
The key detail here is that the WiFi will be free for Travel ID users. Now, Travel ID is Lufthansa Group's registration system, and here's the best part – it's completely free to sign up. You don't need elite status, you don't need to jump through hoops, just register for a Travel ID, and you'll get access to free Starlink WiFi once it's rolled out. Pretty straightforward, really.
What sets Lufthansa Group apart from their competitors is just how comprehensive this rollout is. Let me explain why this matters. When Air France-KLM announced their Starlink plans, it initially didn't include KLM and Transavia, though this may have changed since. But Lufthansa Group? They're equipping everything. From their flagship Lufthansa long-haul jets to Eurowings' European short-haul fleet, from SWISS's premium service to Air Dolomiti's regional routes – absolutely everything.
As Dieter Vranckx, Lufthansa Group's Chief Commercial Officer, put it: "No other airline will equip more aircraft with Starlink technology." And honestly, I believe him. This is a proper commitment.
Now, it's remarkable how quickly Starlink has become the de facto standard for in-flight connectivity. Just a year or two ago, we were all suffering through painfully slow, overpriced WiFi that could barely load a text-based email. Now, we're looking at ground-like internet speeds at thirty-five thousand feet. The transformation has been incredible.
Let me give you a quick rundown of major airlines that have announced Starlink adoption. We've got British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus through IAG. There's Air France, Emirates, Qatar Airways who already have it live on over one hundred and twenty aircraft, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, SAS, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, and now the entire Lufthansa Group. The list is getting pretty long, isn't it?
The holdouts are becoming increasingly obvious. Any airline not investing in proper connectivity now is going to look decidedly dated by twenty twenty-seven. It's becoming a basic expectation, not a luxury feature.
For points collectors, this announcement doesn't fundamentally change Lufthansa Group's loyalty programme, but it does make their airlines more attractive for booking award flights. If you're an American Express cardholder, remember that Membership Rewards points transfer to various Star Alliance partners through Singapore Airlines, which can be used to book flights on Lufthansa Group airlines. You can also transfer Amex points to Avios, which can be used for multi-carrier awards that include flights on oneworld partners, though that wouldn't help you directly with Lufthansa Group flights.
So here's my take on all of this. I've been talking about in-flight WiFi for a while now, and it's genuinely exciting to see how quickly the industry is moving. The fact that we'll soon be able to stream, video call, and work properly on flights across virtually every major airline is remarkable. It's a complete transformation from where we were just a few years ago.
Now, the three-year rollout timeline is realistic but does mean patience is required. My guess is that Lufthansa and SWISS will be prioritised first, given they're the flagship carriers targeting premium travellers. If you're flying Eurowings to Mallorca, you might be waiting until twenty twenty-eight or twenty twenty-nine. But the important thing is, it's coming.
What I particularly appreciate is Lufthansa Group's decision to make this free for Travel ID users rather than keeping it behind a paywall or restricting it to their most elite frequent flyers. It's a recognition that connectivity isn't a luxury anymore – it's an expectation. People need to stay connected, whether that's for work, keeping in touch with family, or just staying entertained on a long flight.
If you're planning future trips that route through Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, or Vienna, this is definitely something to factor into your booking decisions. A SWISS flight with free Starlink WiFi might be worth the slightly longer routing compared to a direct flight with patchy connectivity. It's these kinds of things that can make or break the travel experience.
For now, if you want to experience Starlink in action, Qatar Airways is your best bet from the UK. They've already got it live on their entire Boeing seven seven seven and Airbus A three fifty fleets. The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with passengers reporting internet speeds that rival what they get at home.
So, the bottom line here is that Lufthansa Group's Starlink announcement is another nail in the coffin for overpriced, barely-functional in-flight WiFi. With eight hundred and fifty aircraft across eight airlines set to receive the upgrade, this is the largest European Starlink rollout to date. It's free for Travel ID users, which costs nothing to register, it's available across all cabin classes, and it's rolling out from the second half of twenty twenty-six. There's a lot to like here.
The age of usable in-flight WiFi is truly upon us, and I for one couldn't be more pleased about it. It's going to fundamentally change how we experience long-haul flights, and I think we're going to look back in a few years and wonder how we ever managed without it.
Right, that's all from me today. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Smart With Points. If you've enjoyed what you've heard, please do subscribe to the podcast on all major platforms, or head over to our website at smartwithpoints dot co dot uk. We've got loads of great content there to help you make the most of your miles and points.
Before I let you go, I want to tell you about Award Travel Finder. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.
Until next time, happy flying, and remember – travel smart, travel with points.