Ultimate In-Flight Luxury: Unleashing Blazing Fast Wi-Fi on a Semi-private Jet with JSX Starlink

Key Takeaways

JSX now offers free high-speed Starlink internet on all its planes, providing connectivity across all routes. My testing speeds reached up to 160Mbps.

Starlink's internet on JSX planes not only revolutionized convenience and performance but also enabled uninterrupted streaming of music, shows, and app downloads.

Over the past five years, Wi-Fi availability on airplanes has become the norm, although the cost varies greatly. However, JSX, as an air carrier, distinguishes itself by providing complimentary high-speed Starlink internet on all its flights and routes. To experience this firsthand, I recently flew from San Diego to Las Vegas and back, and I was truly amazed by the experience.

9 / 10High-speed, low-latency, in-flight internet with connectivity across the globe.

Pros Free on all JSX planes

No login or signup required to use

Fast, reliable connection during my flight

Cons Potential speed decreases or drop outs based on multiple factors

See at Starlink Aviation

Flying Semi-private on JSX

Tyler Hayes is associated with JSX, a niche air carrier that operates on select routes in different locations throughout the United States. While primarily serving smaller regional airports, JSX also offers flights from Los Angeles' LAX and Phoenix's Sky Harbor.

JSX offers a more exclusive travel experience, operating from private terminals and utilizing 30-seat jets. As a result, there are fewer crowds and passengers only need to arrive at least 20 minutes before their flight. The prices for this luxurious service can vary greatly depending on the location and demand. However, there are flights available for as low as $199 on certain routes. Even for longer journeys, I managed to find a round-trip flight from Dallas-Love Field, TX, to Miami, FL for $838 when I checked in early October 2023.

Using Starlink up in the Sky

Until recently, satellite internet service was known for being comparatively slow, often not much faster than dial-up. However, it is crucial for rural areas lacking access to cable or other infrastructure options.

Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, has revolutionized the industry by deploying advanced satellites that deliver high-speed internet capable of supporting video streaming, video calls, and other bandwidth-intensive tasks. This is made possible through SpaceX's rocket technology used to launch the satellites into orbit.

In the aviation industry, the company offers an advertisement claiming a speed of 350Mbps for every airplane, along with a remarkably low latency of only 20ms. This is promoted explicitly to facilitate activities such as video calls while onboard. Notably, the service remains accessible even during the crucial moments of takeoffs and landings, as long as the device remains powered on.

Here is a speed test conducted using Fast.com.

Upon boarding the plane, I immediately connected to the Wi-Fi without hesitation. Surprisingly, there was no need for a login or password. While still on the tarmac, the connection speed ranged between 10 to 15Mbps. However, as the plane took off, the speeds skyrocketed, reaching an impressive 160Mbps.

It is important to note that the use of Starlink on planes is not limited to JSX. Furthermore, the cost associated with this service is not a secret within the industry. Starlink openly states on their website that the equipment comes with a price tag of $150,000, including installation, while the monthly internet service cost for companies falls within the range of $12,500 to $25,000.

People who aren’t in an area JSX serves can look forward to Hawaiian Airlines adding Starlink to some of its fleet in 2024.

Streaming and Chatting Using Starlink’s Satellite Internet

Tyler Hayes Here's a snapshot of the Starlink Aero Terminal, a low-profile device equipped with an electronically steered phased array antenna mounted on my JSX plane.

During my trip from San Diego to San Francisco on Alaska Airlines in late September, I attempted to test the Wi-Fi speed using a speed test website. Unfortunately, the first page failed to load, and the second one only partially displayed. I experimented with solutions like disconnecting and reconnecting my phone, as well as trying various troubleshooting techniques. Despite browsing news websites with sluggish text loading, the onboard Wi-Fi always fell short of providing a fast enough connection to determine its speed accurately.

In contrast to my previous trip, I managed to swiftly make a video call via Starlink's service just moments after takeoff on my way to Las Vegas. Once the call concluded, I indulged in streaming The National's latest album on Apple Music. Throughout my journey, I diligently worked on this story using Google Docs. Additionally, I eagerly queued up a fresh episode of "The Great British Baking Show" on Netflix and eagerly hopped around between different segments. As a side note, a speed test was conducted mid-flight utilizing Ookla at speedtest.net.

The speed was adequate for the tasks I undertook, but it frequently varied and dropped to around 10 to 15Mbps whenever I conducted speed tests.

To be honest, my main constraint was time. The San Diego to Las Vegas flight duration was just over an hour, including boarding and disembarking, leaving me with no opportunity to fully engage in a movie or engage in more data-heavy activities.

Fortunately, I made the most of the entire flight duration and had no issues utilizing Starlink's Wi-Fi on my phone throughout the descent and landing process.

Before boarding my flight back to San Diego, I verified the internet speed, which measured around 150Mbps. As the aircraft departed from Las Vegas at night, I engaged in a FaceTime conversation with my wife, showcasing the captivating city lights from the window as the plane ascended. This call lasted significantly longer than my initial trial, yet it remained uninterrupted. I conversed with my wife at a sufficiently low volume, as if she were seated next to me.

How Well Did Starlink Work on a Plane?

During my lifetime, I have witnessed a significant shift in my travel entertainment needs. Previously, I used to bring along a backpack filled with books, a portable CD player, and a Gameboy to keep myself occupied during flights. However, thanks to the advent of high-speed internet provided by Starlink, I no longer have to plan my media consumption in advance. Nowadays, while using Starlink's internet services onboard a plane, I can effortlessly stream songs on Apple Music, indulge in a Netflix show, and even download multiple app updates exceeding 100Mb simultaneously, all without batting an eye.

There's a possibility that today, people on a JSX plane could have a faster internet experience using Starlink than they would have with a wired connection at home. This not only reflects the state of infrastructure in the U.S., but also highlights the advancements in wireless technology. While it remains uncertain how this scalability will fare for every commercial flight in the near future, the current convenience is truly remarkable. Throughout my journey, I never faced any limitations in connectivity on the plane, which made the entire experience feel truly revolutionary.

9 / 10High-speed, low-latency, in-flight internet with connectivity across the globe.

See at Starlink Aviation