WiFi Free-For-All

my_LART writes "Information Week reports that WiFi access is becoming a free commodity. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) has recently dropped its pay-per-use model and has installed free access to the WLAN in the food court and will be expanding access to the gates. On a similar note, Choice Hotels International is planning a WLAN rollout at its 370 Comfort Suites and 140 Clarion properties by the end of May. Choice Hotels International plans on expanding the rollout to two more of the company's brands by the end of the year. While this is great for us Road Warriors, how can this make financial sense? Choice Hotels can certainly markup the cost of the rooms by a few dollars per night, but how is PIT planning on reclaiming the costs? Regardless, lets hope other airports and hotel chains follow suit."

Comments

Re:How will they pay for this?

[stuffman64]

Slightly off topic, but somewhat relevant nonetheless.

As many may know, PIT's layout is interesting in that the terminals are separated from the main building (where you check in and stuff) by a subway-like transport. PIT also has a fine foodcourt and many stores like you would find in a mall. Living about a half-hour from the airport, I would occasionally venture down just to get lunch, check out the stores, maybe trade in my money for some Yen and watch planes take off.

Now, that is nearly impossible, considering the security checkpoint is located prior the the transport thingy. This means if you want to eat, check out the stores and watch planes take off, you need to have a boarding pass! I talked to many airport staff over this matter, and they said it is simply too expensive to have it nearer to the terminals, as they would need multiple checkpoints (since the foodcourt-mall thing is in the middle, and terminals are on the sides). Apparently businesses are quite upset as they signed long-term leases for thier stores, as this area used to be accessable to anyone who wanted to spend a day at the airport (and yes, many people used to go to the airport just for shopping and lunch and whatnot). Read some more here.

I guess my point is that free WiFi is dandy and all, but this airport needs more that if they want to stay cutting edge. Letting me eat lunch and shop there would help, but what they really need is THIS!

Re:How will they pay for this?

[leandrod]

> some politicians have actually suggested eliminating bus service on Sundays

Let them do it. Perhaps that will prompt some savy businessmen to enter the public transportation market and revitalise it, or else the public outcry could make them revamp it themselves... worst case people will get some rest, go to the local church, to the park, whatever.