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Qatar Airways is well into its plans to equip its fleet with high-speed Starlink internet. The integration continues to run far ahead of schedule, and the newest update is the best yet. Here’s what you need to know about the current and upcoming Wi-Fi options on Qatar Airways flights.
Current Qatar Airways Wi-Fi Availability and Cost
Right now, Qatar Airways offers limited Wi-Fi access. Select passengers get one hour of complimentary internet, but speeds are notoriously slow. Wi-Fi is only available on certain aircraft, including Boeing 777s, 787-9s, 787-8s, and Airbus A350s and A380s. Narrowbody aircraft — such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 — do not have Wi-Fi, nor do Qatar’s older Airbus A330s.
Qatar Privilege Club members receive one hour of complimentary access, and Qatar Student Club members enjoy unlimited high-speed internet on board.
For those who don’t qualify for free access, Wi-Fi passes start at $10 — with a 20% discount if purchased before the flight. Fortunately, high-speed Wi-Fi will soon be available for free to everyone.
Qatar Airways Updated Timeline for Starlink Aviation Wi-Fi
At the end of 2023, Qatar Airways announced plans to install Starlink on its fleet, with an initial goal of connecting three aircraft by the end of 2024. Then, in August 2024, the target was updated to outfit the entire fleet with Starlink by the end of 2026. As of March 2025, over half of the airline’s 777 fleet was equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi, with a target to finish the retrofit by June 2025.
A new announcement puts the retrofit of 777s even further ahead of schedule. As of early April, only a handful of 777s are left to retrofit, and Qatar Airways now plans to have the last 777s installed with Starlink Wi-Fi by May.
Once the 777s have high-speed Wi-Fi, Qatar Airways will start retrofitting its Airbus A350s — several months ahead of schedule. Lastly, the smaller Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s will require Starlink installation, as well as the more modern Airbus A350s, A380s, and Boeing 787s. Considering Qatar Airways is currently well ahead of schedule, the entire fleet could have Starlink Wi-Fi by early 2026, rather than the end of 2026.
As the Starlink connections go live, all passengers — including those in economy — get Starlink Wi-Fi for free.
What is Starlink Aviation Wi-Fi?
Starlink offers high-speed, in-motion Wi-Fi connections via SpaceX's satellite network. United, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, Air New Zealand, JSX, and ZIPAIR have already installed or are planning to install Starlink, and the reviews have been stellar.
Starlink Aviation is the Starlink brand for aircraft. The service offers download speeds ranging from 40 to 200 Mbps and upload speeds from 8 to 25 Mbps. The service also features a very low latency (the time between the source and destination) of less than 0.1 seconds. In other words, it's fast and not laggy.
How To Get Qatar Airways Wi-Fi for Free Before Starlink Arrives
If you need only a little onboard Wi-Fi, become a Privilege Club member before your flight. All Privilege Club members — including base-level Burgundy members — receive 1 hour of complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. Qatar Student Club members get unlimited Wi-Fi on Qatar flights.
If you aren't a student and need more than one hour of connection, several credit cards offer airline incidental credits that can cover your onboard Wi-Fi purchase. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees) offers a $300 travel credit. That's enough to cover Qatar Wi-Fi purchases on at least 30x flights. Just note that some cards limit reimbursements of incidental credits, so check your benefits before making your purchase.
Qatar Onboard Data Roaming and Entertainment
If you don't want to pay for Wi-Fi, you have the option to roam using your mobile data plan until Qatar makes its Wi-Fi free. Just connect to the OnAir or AeroMobile network and turn on data roaming with your phone. Your service provider will bill you at normal roaming rates — which might be considerably higher than paying for Wi-Fi.
If you just want to watch movies, you don't need data or Wi-Fi. The Oryx One entertainment system offers movies, TV shows, music, and games. The catalog is robust and includes numerous recent Hollywood blockbusters.
Our Take
As a digital nomad, staying as connected as possible is vital. I'm always happy to find blazingly fast connections in remote villages, thanks to services like Starlink. Now, I'm excited to see airlines offering free Wi-Fi on long-haul flights so I can use that time for productivity.
Qatar Airways remains one of the best airlines in the world, and offering free Wi-Fi via Starlink will only enhance its reputation even further. Starlink is an incredible Wi-Fi service anywhere you use it, and having it onboard your flight will greatly enhance your productivity or gaming experience if you prefer to relax during your flight.
We'll continue to update this article as more details emerge. Qatar Airways is currently 70% ahead of schedule in getting Starlink onto its fleet. We are optimistic that Qatar will complete its goal of outfitting the entire fleet with Starlink by the end of 2026.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
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