QR Starlink wifi

[RooFlyer]

Just experienced QR's Starlink Wi-Fi. 200 Mbps. They offer live sport streaming.

One very interesting feature is that it’s available from the time you board the plane until you de-board at the end. None of that limiting 'only available in cruise mode'.

Can anyone say why they’ve got this liberal availability? Just company policy or is it something about Starlink that it's connected all the time?

 

[Human]

Reliable 200mbps onboard for the duration -- that really is a game-changer!

 

[kpc]

The WiFi is a hit and miss...recently from Mel to Doh the WiFi was not working the duration of the flight!

 

[markis10]

LEO (low earth orbit) satellites offer a mesh network rather than individual satellites that need to be tuned in. When an aircraft is on the ground or departing, heading changes are often frequent, making tuning in very hard for those satellites whereas it’s pretty easy for Leo networks. At cruise heading changes and turbulence are less likely.

Being a mesh network, the key to high bandwidth is offloading traffic ASAP, which is why ground stations play an important part in providing high bandwidth.

 

[jase05]

Was mostly excellent on KUL-DOH. Dropped out for about an hour over India but outside that I got to watch plenty of live streamed sport

 

[Princess Fiona]

Yeh it was pretty decent. This was DOH-JFK. My other sectors recently also good.
I have heard multiple reports from others of loud WiFi calls / FaceTime on speaker on some flights but I didn’t experience that at all, fortunately.

 

[SYD]

I have heard multiple reports from others of loud WiFi calls / FaceTime on speaker on some flights

Be careful what we wish for….

 

[SCM]

Starlink is much better for planes than the legacy providers other airlines use (and I imagine also more expensive to contract).

Every time I've used the internet on QR starlink it's been great, works even from when the plane is on the ground like others, and it's very fast and stable, can't say enough how much I love it.

 

[iflyineconomy]

I loved it! So much better for what I needed/wanted to do during the flight.

The only gripe I had was some very loud face time calls (without headphones!) from a couple in the middle 2 suites on the MEL-DOH leg. I didn't see crew intervene unfortunately but I can also understand that must be very delicate for them also unless someone else makes a complaint.

Lucky I always have headphones and ear plugs, however a bit of decorum never went astray.

 

[VPS]

Just checking because I did use it on my flight over. Does it matter if you don’t have a QR frequent flyer number in there?
I’m thinking about crediting my flight home to Virgin.

I agree it was amazingly fast

 

[RooFlyer]

Dropped out for about an hour over India

You likely know, but for others, I don't think India allows any system to operate over its airspace. Stand to be corrected.

Does it matter if you don’t have a QR frequent flyer number in there?

I don't recall having to put anything in. Its advertised as free for everyone.

I didn't see crew intervene unfortunately but I can also understand that must be very delicate for them also unless someone else makes a complaint.

They do broadcast a request not to make calls and respect other pax, so If I had to complain, I'd make sure that they followed-up (to the extent that's reasonable )