What it’s like to use Elon Musk’s Starlink WiFi on board a plane

• I was on board Qatar Airways’ first flight with Elon Musk’s Starlink internet.
• It achieved impressively high speeds, allowing me to video call friends and write an article.
• The availability of high-speed Wi-Fi made it difficult to disconnect in one of the last bastions of poor connectivity.

Qatar Airways launched its first flight involving Elon MuskStarlink WiFi on Tuesday – and Business Insider was invited to the event.

Approaching the gates of Hamad International Airport in Doha, busy arches celebrated the partnership. A promotional video was shown on board after the safety briefing. Starlink Cupcakes were distributed to passengers.

Having connected to the airline’s regular Wi-Fi on another flight the day before, I was impressed that my phone automatically connected on the Starlink flight.

Even if it’s your first time flying through Qatar, all you have to do is select the “OryxComms” Wi-Fi network without having to enter an email address or pay for access.

One flight attendant I spoke with during the flight said this could reduce their workload because there would be fewer passengers asking for help with transfers or complaining about spotty connections.

I was flying to QSuite Business Class for this media event, but Starlink WiFi is free for passengers in every cabin.

On a flight from London to Qatar on the same airline, I paid $10 for Wi-Fi on boardwhose download speed was typically around 5 megabits per second. I was able to watch some YouTube videos in 360p and stream music, but I had to be patient with buffering.

In contrast, Starlink Wi-Fi speeds were 215 megabits—faster than most home internet speeds. However, I saw speeds drop to 11Mbps as we flew over the Black Sea, before returning to triple digits over Central Europe.

I was able to catch up on my favorite quiz show, University Challenge, by watching it in high definition without buffering, plus I was able to stream music without any problems.

Several influencers and YouTubers were also on board Tuesday’s flight, and I saw them live on Instagram from the air.

However, I think business travelers will appreciate the benefits of high-speed Internet on board the most. It’s important to note that there is virtually no downtime since Starlink operates gate to gate, while standard in-flight Wi-Fi only activates at cruising altitude.

I didn’t have any work meetings scheduled, but I did video call a few people on WhatsApp, starting with fellow journalist Tom Boone of Simple Flying, who was also on the flight. I also called my parents and my friend Tom at home in West London. He said the video quality looked as good as on the ground.

I can see this being a game changer for senior business people because it means you can be almost constantly aware of what’s happening on the ground. This is especially noteworthy given that Qatar prides itself on its business class offering, named the best in the world by Skytrax.

Some managers praise private jets for the time saved during boarding, plus improved Wi-Fi services, but Starlink’s superior connectivity should make commercial flights nearly as attractive, especially as they spread to more and more airlines.

Similar stories

Hawaiian Airlines also has Starlink on board. United Airlines and Air France are among other carriers that have announced plans to install Musk’s superfast satellite Wi-Fi service.

At 36,000 feet above the Persian Gulf, I was able to easily write and publish a story about the event for Business Insider—something I was unable to do due to poor Wi-Fi the previous time. train ride.

This did mean that I had nowhere to hide when colleagues and my editor wrote to me with work questions, highlighting what could be seen as the negative side of improved communication.

With typically spotty Wi-Fi, planes may be one of the last bunkers where you can stay away from work, relax and forget about the outside world. Take, for example, this summer’s bizarre TikTok trend about “rough” flying—flying without any in-flight entertainment.

This is much less likely if you can easily scroll through Twitter or Instagram on your phone or receive an invitation to join a Zoom meeting.