Because of an irrational fear of missing flights, I tend to arrive at airports around three or four hours before departure. While I have missed no flights, I have missed my sanity as I sat at gates, mindlessly staring forward, silently urging Jonathan Rosales to make it to gate 36 before it closes.
The question that has flitted into my mind on many an occasion: Why do most airports not offer free wi-fi? A recent USA TODAY poll found that it was travelers’ most requested free service, yet large airports stubbornly insist its customers pay exorbitant fees to access a service becoming increasingly prevalent, expected, and oftentimes necessary.
Notably, not all airports charge for wireless. Across the board, smaller airfields have started offering free wi-fi (including not-so-small airports like San Jose and Las Vegas), but these places tend to be nicer anyway.
It is the behemoth, soul-crushing airports like Atlanta or O’Hare that force travelers to pay up to six dollars per hour for the Internet.
I understand that the demand is there, but imagine how much more pleasant traveling would be with free wi-fi in every airport.
After being hit with extra luggage fees, then checked, scanned, poked and patted-down, travelers deserve a service at airports that most coffee shops offer for free.
Let’s install wireless now, so that our kids don’t have to live in a world where they have to debate the merits of a daily or monthly subscription to airport Internet.
A note to travelers stuck in large airports and not willing to pay insane fees: A recent LifeHacker article notes that for wi-fi networks which allow images to go through without a redirect, adding a “?.jpg” to the end of any URL should allow you to bypass being a sucker.
May not work everywhere, but definitely worth a try.
