(Credit: Douglas Sacha via Getty Images)
SpaceX is lowering the prices and changing the names of Starlink plans for small plane owners, but it might not be enough to win back the aviation community.
A new email blast titled "More Data. Lower Price" touts Starlink's Aviation 300MPH plan, which SpaceX introduced in March for $250 per month alongside a $1,000 Aviation 450MPH plan.
Previously, aviators could use the $165-per-month Starlink Roam plan on their aircraft, but as its name suggests, Aviation 300MPH capped the in-motion internet access at 300mph, so Roam was no longer an option on planes. It also swapped unlimited data for 20GB per month, and charged $10 for every extra GB used.
That didn't sit well with the aviation community, so SpaceX has now lowered the price of Aviation 300MPH to $200 per month and increased monthly data to 50GB. Users can also buy extra data in blocks of 50GB for $25.
Meanwhile, the pricer Aviation 450 MPH plan remains at $1,000 per month, but monthly data has also been increased to 50GB, and users can buy extra blocks of data at 50GB for $100.
On a support page, SpaceX said it made the revisions last week “to better reflect how customers fly—with more included data, simplified pricing, and clearer plan naming.”
The company has also changed the naming for both plans; Aviation 300MPH is now General Aviation Local 50GB while Aviation 450MPH is General Aviation Global 50GB.
(Credit: Starlink)Despite the better terms, some small plane owners are still upset with SpaceX. Tim McMichael, who started a petition protesting the original Aviation plans, noted that many small plane owners bought Starlink dishes, believing the satellite internet plans wouldn't change drastically. “While I appreciate that it appears we’re being heard, I do not think this plan demonstrates that we’ve been heard,” he said.
Some users on Reddit say the aviation plans are still too expensive, especially since Starlink Roam was previously available for use on a plane for $50 per month for 100GB of data. But last month, SpaceX imposed a 100mph speed limit on Starlink Roam and Priority plans, clamping down on the aircraft connectivity.
“Pass. Go back to their previous pricing or not going to bite,” wrote one user on Reddit.
Another user added: “Everyone here complaining realizes Starlink is a business, not a government service you're entitled to, right? They don't give a flying f*** about GA [general aviation] or serving our community, they care about making as much money as they can squeeze from us.”
Last month, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), which represents 400,000 pilots, wrote a letter to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, warning “a large portion of the installed general aviation user base will likely be forced to discontinue service” if the company raised prices.
Although SpaceX has since introduced better terms, AOPA is subtly suggesting it wants the company to do more. “It is our understanding that this price change was the result of complaints Starlink received immediately after last month's price hike, but before they received AOPA's letter. AOPA is continuing ongoing discussions with SpaceX about the best ways to serve general aviation pilots,” the group told PCMag.
SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.