Free Airport Wi-Fi FTW

[amol]

I'm at the airport outside of Hartford, CT (not a very big one) and my flight out just got delayed by 3 hours. Because of that, I'm going to miss my connection and won't get to my final destination until 11pm at night.

Normally, I'd be pissed, but I have free wi-fi here and so the work I would have done at home (I have to do some research for a small presentation tomorrow) is getting done now.

Plus, I don't feel bad about leaving my computer for 10 minutes to go get something to eat at the airport café. If I had to pay for wi-fi, I wouldn't have gone there to eat, so they just made $8 they wouldn't have made otherwise!

AND ... I can nef on ATOT.

NEF NEF NEF.

 

[CrazyLazy]

I hate airports that charge you like $10 for wifi. Who actually pays that?

 

[xanis]

<-- Official Nef thread is that way... in case you're interested.

I'm guessing more airports don't do it because it's a good, easy way to make money.

 

[RFtesla]

Thankfully my small airport here in college station has free wifi as well, it's all of those huge ones that don't.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: Xanis
<-- Official Nef thread is that way... in case you're interested.

I'm guessing more airports don't do it because it's a good, easy way to make money.

This^


and yes I wish it were free here in seattle.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
I hate airports that charge you like $10 for wifi. Who actually pays that?

I do, because the company actually pays for it

 

[DanTMWTMP]

With the amount of travel, I found that very few airports provide free wi-fi. It's absolutely essential. I've had to pay for it on occasion. It's bullshit. Other airports have crappy security and you can figure out how to go online w/o their login crap.

 

[l0cke]

Denver is bad, they used to have free wi-fi before it was that popular, then when laptops started coming with it they started charging.

 

[xSauronx]

ive never paid for it, usually when i fly i take a laptop...and a book to read. if theres no free wifi, i just read.

thankfully i havent had to endure any long layovers yet (i dont fly often)

 

[amol]

Seems like it's the smaller airport which offer it. I guess it's a way of getting passengers to use their airports versus their bigger rivals?

I have to connect through O'Hare and it's not free there. My main airports are LAX and Atlanta and those cost big money.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Sacramento International has this and it's awesome. John Wayne Airport used to, but they started charging since they realize they could make money. :| Knowing that I have something valid to waste my time with makes the traveling experience more bearable for me and that's why I like Sac airport.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Tampa International has free Wi-Fi

 

[speg]

LAX was free when I was there this summer? Though maybe that was because it was international?

 

[ehhhh]

If you constantly travel I would suggest getting a data plan for your phone and tethering your phone to your laptop. I almost always have a good 3G signal, even on interstate highways.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: l0cke
Denver is bad, they used to have free wi-fi before it was that popular, then when laptops started coming with it they started charging.

Denver has had free wifi for at least a year or more, what are you talking about. I just flew out of Denver on Wednesday night and used the free wifi. It is ad-enabled, so you have to watch a 30 second video to get it, but it still gives you full internet access in the end. It has been this way for the last several times I have flown out of there too.

Honestly ad-enabled free wifi in airports seems to me to be the best business model. Gives everyone what they want free and still turns an income of some sort.

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: speg
LAX was free when I was there this summer? Though maybe that was because it was international?

It's not free in Terminal 4 American or Terminal 5 Delta. Then again, LAX Int'l terminal has to compete with SFO, so my guess it might have something to do with that.

 

[venkman]

Tethering FTW

 

[KentState]

I know the Dayton, Ohio airport has free WiFi. When I was traveling, I would play WoW to pass the time and the connection was fast enough to give me a >100ms ping.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: venkman
Tethering FTW

Except when you have a con call. Don't think there is anything out there that will do voice and data at the same time.

 

[Loreena]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: venkman
Tethering FTW

Except when you have a con call. Don't think there is anything out there that will do voice and data at the same time.

Embedded 3G takes care of both issues.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: KentState
I know the Dayton, Ohio airport has free WiFi. When I was traveling, I would play WoW to pass the time and the connection was fast enough to give me a >100ms ping.

O RLY?

 

[Anonemous]

It's the same with hotels and motels. Motels provide free wifi while hotels charge 10-15$/day.

 

[Walking in Circles]

I just use my Telus EVDO card when there's no wireless around.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: venkman
Tethering FTW

 

[Ika]

Funny you should post this topic, I'm at Pittsburg International Airport on the free wifi right now... it's a pretty decent network too. I don't think Philly's airport has free wifi, though (not counting WirelessPhiladelphia, which has a shitty signal).