Elon Musk's Starlink is becoming an in-flight must-have. I tried it on Qatar Airways, and it's a game changer.

The author filed a Business Insider article from 36,000 feet with Starlink WiFi.

Pete Syme/Business Insider Elon Musk's Starlink internet is becoming more and more popular for airline passengers.

I tried it out on Qatar Airways' first flight with the service in 2024.

It reached impressively high speeds that let me video call friends and file an article.

Elon Musk's Starlink is evolving from a niche perk to a necessity for high fliers.

The venture capitalist Jason Calacanis said he chooses flights based on whether they offer Starlink , regardless of price or journey length.

Rick Ross said he spent $700,000 putting it on his private jet.

And in the first earnings call after its IPO, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said one airline reported some customers were choosing unnecessary layovers to ensure they were on a flight with Starlink .

Back in October 2024, Business Insider was invited to try it out on Qatar Airways' first flight featuring the high-speed WiFi service.

At the time, just eight airlines had announced deals to install Starlink.

Nearly two years later, another 35 airlines have followed suit , including American Airlines, Emirates, and Southwest Airlines.

It will take years for them to have all installed Starlink across their fleets , with timelines varying due to the complications of taking airplanes out of service for installation.

But with connection speeds better than many home broadband services, let alone other in-flight internet providers, Starlink is becoming a must-have for airlines.

Qatar Airways' first flight with Starlink Approaching the gate at Doha's Hamad International Airport , animated archways celebrated the new partnership.