Do You Use Airport WiFi?

December 8, 2008

One thing that makes me happy is free WiFi in airports. Something that doesn't make me happy is when I have to pay $9.95 for one hour of Internet use in most airports across the United States.

Once in a while I'm fortunate to be armed with a wireless broadband card so I don't have to stress about whether or not an airport has free WiFi, but quite often, it's just me and an expensive connection. Traveling is stressful enough without having to dig deep in your pockets to pay hefty WiFi rates. So I'm curious to know what you do — Do you pay the rates or turn to some other means?

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27 Comments

3 years 44 weeks

Is there free wifi connection in Paris airport?

loopymoi 4 years 23 weeks

Only when its free. I hate having to pay for internet besides at home.

Liz4aker 4 years 23 weeks

I have to long on my computer when traveling a lot even though I have a blackberry. Jacksonville has free wifi but Indy makes me pay which is crazy. Also Indy has greatly increased their price on everything in the airport from fees to parking since the new airport opened last month.

hyacinthsuarez 4 years 23 weeks

I've been in 12 different airports in a span of three months as I travel for work, and I can't imagine not having my laptop with me through the waiting...but I haven't and wouldn't pay for wifi at the airport. I"ve only been to three airports that didn't have free wifi, so it's cool.

kia 4 years 23 weeks

I can get by doing computer stuff without an internet connection a lot. So I plan to do projects in software while I travel. However I do indulge if there is free internet. I just learned that Denver has free Wi-Fi so I guess I'll be playing more than working when I fly out of that hub. The free Wi-Fi thing kind of upsets. The airport in San Jose, Costa Rica was the first one that I noticed offered it free years ago. YEARS AGO. WTF is up with stingy U. S. airports that still want you to pay??

kia 4 years 23 weeks

sonya ina 4 years 23 weeks

Only if it's free and I have my MacBook with me... ; P

said8me 4 years 23 weeks

i'm rarely in an airport, but when i am... i give myself plenty of time to get through security and yadda yadda (re: i'm sitting there for a couple hours). so whether it's free or costs a few bucks, i'm on it. -a bit of an internet junkie, i guess. :)

Baby Girl 4 years 23 weeks

So far all of the airports I've been in have free WiFi and I use it on my phone. (Philadelphia, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Detroit and DFW)

NurseDeAnna 4 years 23 weeks

Sea-Tac and Sacramento both have free internet.

nals33 4 years 23 weeks

Jessiebanana - I just never really felt the need to take my laptop with me. It was one more thing I have to look after/take care of when I'm traveling. But that was before I got my beloved MacBook. :) (Which, I'm pretty close to my Macbook as well! lol) If I do travel anytime soon, I will definitely be taking my laptop with me. - I guess I forgot to clarify that part..lol

nals33 4 years 23 weeks

kscincotta 4 years 23 weeks

I always travel with my laptop, but I never use the WiFi because it's too expensive and a pain in the ass to connect to (at least in my experience). My hubs is more tolerant, so he connects, but I just skip it and read a book or magazine instead.

kcwebgirl 4 years 23 weeks

i don't pay for wifi. if it's not free i'm not using it! kc has free wifi at the airport and so does seattle.

caroline 4 years 23 weeks

the best is free WiFi paired with a charging station!! flying through new york is only ok because of this.

bleached 4 years 23 weeks

I didn't even know there was free WiFi. I thought you had to pay everywhere!

kcochrane 4 years 23 weeks

I hate that some airports have free wifi and others don't! My home airport PDX International in Portland Oregon has awesome free wifi and it's extremely helpful when sitting in the terminal waiting for flights to take off. I wonder if cities getting "blanket" wifi systems like WiMax in Baltimore and Portland, will extend the service throughout the airports?

kcochrane 4 years 23 weeks

I hate that some airports have free wifi and others don't! My home airport PDX International in Portland Oregon has awesome free wifi and it's extremely helpful when sitting in the terminal waiting for flights to take off.I wonder if cities getting "blanket" wifi systems like WiMax in Baltimore and Portland, will extend the service throughout the airports?

Jessiebanana 4 years 23 weeks

Nals33 I could never travel without my laptop. I'm closer to my macbook then I am to anything/one else :p. PDX still has free wifi, so I'm happy. I never understood why a airport as huge as LAX wouldn't have free wifi.And I always surf on my iPod Touch. I kind of like that it isn't the phone because it's thinner and lighter and I don't need to accidentally lose too many things at once. I think Geek doesn't like the iPod Touch cause she never brings it up on posts.

Jessiebanana 4 years 23 weeks

Nals33 I could never travel without my laptop. I'm closer to my macbook then I am to anything/one else :p. PDX still has free wifi, so I'm happy. I never understood why a airport as huge as LAX wouldn't have free wifi. And I always surf on my iPod Touch. I kind of like that it isn't the phone because it's thinner and lighter and I don't need to accidentally lose too many things at once. I think Geek doesn't like the iPod Touch cause she never brings it up on posts.

AnnaOnTheMoon 4 years 23 weeks

I have a Nokia N810 internet tablet for travel, and I signed up for a Boingo account for it (and I think it would work with iphones/itouch too). It's less than $10/mo (though I can't remember exactly how much now) and it logs you onto nearly all the pay wi-fi zones at airports, coffee shops, etc. Well worth it if you travel alot!

nals33 4 years 23 weeks

I don't usually travel with my laptop. I just take over whoever I'm visiting's laptop. :P