Comments for Google Offering Temporary Free WiFi Access At 47 Airports

Google Offering Temporary Free WiFi Access At 47 Airports

2009-11-11T03:46:09Z

From now until January 15th, 2010, Google will offer free WiFi access at 47 airports around the country. As part of the promotion, they'll be collecting donations through Google Checkout for three non-profit organizations and will provide matching funds up to $250,000. But whether you donate or not, there's a much better chance now that you'll be able to go online while waiting for your flight. Imagine all the airline tips you can send to us!

"Free WiFi for the Holidays" [Google via IntoMobile]
(Photo: quinn.anya)

Comment from AbsoluteIrrelevance on 2009-11-18

2009-11-18T21:52:44Z

@soloudinhere: SF has free wifi and pay wifi throughout the airport. Free wifi is available in the food area right before the security line in the domestic terminals. (Sit at the table at the sushi place) TMO almost everywhere else.

Comment from andoman on 2009-11-18

2009-11-18T21:52:26Z

How about free wifi all the time at airports but I have to watch a few google ads or something based on my recent searches or some crap. I really dont mind.

Comment from theblackdog on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:47Z

@jhuang: I am so glad BWI is one of the airports because I have to fly from them next month in the morning. I'm tempted to get there late the night before and sleep at the airport.

Comment from theblackdog on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:47Z

@H3ion: As I said on Lifehacker, perhaps it's because Google knows that IAD and DCA suck ass to fly from and no one wants to go there unless they have to.

BWI FTW!

Comment from Bargaineering.com on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:37Z

This is awesome, I had no idea when I walked into BWI that I'd be getting free wireless courtesy of The Google. Very nice of them!

Comment from dlab on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:36Z

No love for ATL... booo!

Comment from hotdogsunrise on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:32Z

Syracuse!!!! (shakes fist) Why do you always have to not get cool things? If it wasn't for JetBlue, there'd be no point to the airport at all.

Comment from soloudinhere on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:32Z

Why are none of the major California airports on here? Hello, SFO? OAK? the ones right near google headquarters and silicon valley?

At least I get free wifi at Logan for the trip out...I guess I'm stuck giving TMobile my firstborn at SFO on the way out.

Comment from larrymac thinks testing should have occurred on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:31Z

@AbsoluteIrrelevance: CLT has had free WiFi for awhile, although I think it may be underprovisioned, because it's usually about 50/50 on getting actually connected to the outside world.

Comment from PsiCop on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:31Z

@PsiCop: Ugh. That final ">" should have been a "."

Comment from PsiCop on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:31Z

Last time I was in our nearby airport (Bradley International, aka BDL), wi-fi was free, provided by the airport itself, which is part of the state DOT. Worked pretty well too. One of the few times I can think of in which the Connecticut state government ever did anything right, much less gave away something of value for free (given how much the folks who run the Nutmeg State LOVE "user fees")>

Comment from BytheSea on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:31Z

Yah I don't think free wifi is a cause that needs my donation money.

Comment from mianne on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:31Z

@ZeGoggles: It looks as though most of the major airports are not on the list (JFK, LaGuardia, LAX, SFO, Dallas, O'Hare, Denver, Atlanta, etc.) I have to wonder if it's due to extremely high franchise/vendor fees or too much political pressure from the entrenched WiFi providers?

Comment from parrotuya on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:31Z

Google-dom!

Comment from logic meme on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:31Z

Discovered this today when I was in Houston Bush International - Score! I will be traveling a lot over the next 2 months so this is perfect timing, thanks Google!

Comment from karan1003 on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

Pittsburgh already has wifi. Wonder what's going on there.

Comment from RedwoodFlyer on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

@TCama: Yep, free WiFi (sans censorship) if you fly with us!

It's amazing that Google could get this done, considering the hell JFK gave jetBlue when they started giving free WiFi in their terminal.. the incumbent WiFi provider threw a huge hissyfit.

Comment from utensil42 on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

@jmtb02: Terminal A, alas. Though I can never find an open outlet either!

Comment from AbsoluteIrrelevance on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

Sweet! I stumbled across this promo this morning in Charlotte's airport. I opened my wifi and against my better judgement, connected to the open wifi signal. Then it sent me through to Google's page.

Thanks Google, for making my REALLY early morning layover awesome.

Comment from TCama on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

Also, Google will be paying for free WiFi on Virgin America flights during that time.

Comment from wcnghj on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

@pecan 3.14159265: If it's stolen, you aren't liable.

Comment from ngoandy on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

Pittsburgh has had free Wifi for a while.

Comment from boricuachick on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

In case anyone ever has a stop over in Albuquerque (ABQ), the Sunport airport has free wifi throughout the airport. They also provide really nice areas with a counter, chairs and outlets for your laptop in both terminals. It's nice.

Comment from Bizdady on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

Sweet I have to pickup my daughter later this month from the airport. Usually im stuck waiting for an hour so I'll at least have some free wifi.

Comment from Paladin_11 on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:30Z

@trekwars2000: It's an improvement to the provider. If the city or port authority is responsible for your free wi-fi, Google will be picking up the tab for the duration of this promotion. So you'll save some tax dollars if nothing else.

Comment from UGAdawg on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:29Z

This is the on good thing about flying out of Kansas City International, the wi-fi is ALWAYS free. It really makes delays a non-issue. I whip out my laptop and surf away.

Comment from jhuang on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:29Z

@trekwars2000: I just posted about how happy I am to get WiFi at BWI, which had only pay WiFi I believe, but yeah, I just noticed that SJC is on the list, too. They proudly tout their free WiFi all over the airport.

Comment from jhuang on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:29Z

BWI YES!!! It's the only airport I spend any large amounts of time at, since I usually have to take SuperShuttle or public transit to get there, and yet there is no WiFi. Until now!

My love for Google just increased twofold. I wish I were flying Virgin America instead of Southwest, though. Too bad I'm a broke college student.

Comment from catastrophegirl on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:29Z

I sent the google link to my world traveling dad and he also wanted me to share that he's tried this and it works:
"There is also a free trial code for the inflight wifi on Delta good through the end of the year. I forget what it is but you can find it with a search."

which is here:
[www.dealsvista.com]

Comment from jmtb02 on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:29Z

@utensil42: Are we talking Terminal A or B here? I find that flying Terminal B (pretty much everyone but Southwest) my internet is much, much happier. I think that is due to it being a tiny terminal; you're less likely to be away from a wifi hotspot. But then again you're at a loss with the power stations with seem to engulf Terminal A and seem to be non-existent in Terminal B.

Comment from ZeGoggles on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:29Z

@H3ion: Looks like you posted what I was going to post. IAD and DCA never get anything for free. Both have a handful of WiFi hotspots... all for the "low price" of 10 to 15 bucks.

Comment from H3ion on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:28Z

Notice that Dulles and National are not on the list, nor are any of the New York airports. Is Lagos going to have free wi-fi. I'm going to pick up my check.

Comment from Quatre707 on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:28Z

@Ratty: When I was at DIA in May '09, there were rogue access points all over the damn place. They were all setup with the exact same broadcast SSID as the free wi-fi, and upon connecting I still had the same external IP block, but these APs had a different brand MAC address than the ones used by the airport's networking vendor. Someone had went through a lot of trouble to steal the data traffic crossing as visitors accessed the Internet on their laptops.
If that's not bad enough; While connected to one of the proper access points I was hit with endless port scans from several computers. Oh, and even worse than that was when I went to Windows workgroup sharing, under the workgroup name HOMEGROUP, there were several people openly sharing full-control permissions to file folders containing confidential information!

Always set a password on all user accounts no matter the operating system you run! Always select "public" when connecting to a wi-fi hotspot. And always enable the Windows Firewall before connecting to any wi-fi hotspot!

Comment from utensil42 on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:28Z

@trekwars2000: To be fair, the WiFi in SMF is pretty darn bad at times. So if the Google provided WiFi is good quality, it'll be a hell of an improvement.

Comment from EarlNowak on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:28Z

The New Orleans airport has had free wifi for years.

Airports that charge for wifi (especially hubs- I'm looking at you, Houston) drive me crazy.

Comment from trekwars2000 on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:28Z

Lots of the airport listed already have free WiFi (like Vegas and Sacramento). I'm curious how this is an actual "improvement"....

Comment from Ratty on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:28Z

Yeah, seattle! Such a connected city not offering free WiFi always baffled me. If only it stayed there...

I am very grateful that the last time I was stuck in an airport due to inclement weather they had free WiFi. Go Denver! You made the delay a lot more tolerable.

Comment from pecan 3.14159265 on 2009-11-13

2009-11-13T21:36:28Z

Win: Free WiFi in the airport! Awesome when those of us who have to fly are stranded in terrible weather, delays, and surrounded by angry passengers who are muttering obscenities under their breath.

Fail: Google Checkout only, really? Come on! I would have donated, but if their only method is Google Checkout, I don't know if I want yet another company to have my credit card info.