Travelers are increasingly reliant on their smartphones, tablets, and laptops, leading to higher expectations for free, high-speed Wi-Fi upon arriving at airports. However, the availability, speed, and reliability of Wi-Fi can greatly differ from one airport to another, and often within the various terminals of a single airport.
The Truth about Wi-Fi
What many travelers do not realize is that airports invest millions of dollars into establishing and maintaining their Wi-Fi infrastructure. This system not only accommodates travelers but also supports airline tenants, concessions, and the airport’s own operations. Therefore, airports face the ongoing challenge of providing robust wireless systems that fulfill both passenger and operational needs.
A Wi-Fi Authority
Scott Ewalt, the vice president of product and customer experience for Boingo, a leading provider of airport Wi-Fi services, highlights the significant evolution in data consumption among passengers. “We’ve observed an expansion of consumers with an exponential increase in data consumption,” he states. Consequently, this has necessitated substantial infrastructure adjustments in airports to meet connectivity demands.
In the past, only 2 percent of passengers paid for Wi-Fi access, primarily for work-related tasks. However, with the shift towards more Wi-Fi-enabled devices came elevated expectations and increased data usage in airports.
Thus, airports have responded by providing free Wi-Fi, supported by advertising, which alleviates the financial burden on those maintaining the systems. Presently, most airports offer users the option to view an advertisement or download an app in exchange for Wi-Fi access.
Free vs. Paid Wi-Fi
Travelers typically have access to a basic, free tier of Wi-Fi. In contrast, they can opt for premium services at increased speeds. A notable offering from Boingo is Passpoint Secure, which allows customers to set up a profile for seamless access across its networks—thereby eliminating cumbersome login screens.
Boingo acknowledges the rising demand for Wi-Fi access. They proactively anticipate future needs, allowing them to make the necessary adjustments to infrastructure and network systems to support continued growth.
Best and Worst Airport Wi-Fi
In an evaluation of the Wi-Fi quality at the top 20 U.S. airports, Speedtest by Ookla analyzed upload and download speeds during the last quarter of 2016. The top five airports with the fastest internet speeds were Denver International, Philadelphia International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Dallas/Fort Worth International, and Miami International. Conversely, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International was found at the bottom of the list, followed by Orlando International, San Francisco International, Las Vegas’ McCarran International, and Minneapolis-St. Paul International.
Ookla urged airports at the bottom of the rankings to pursue larger investments to enhance benchmark speeds instead of making marginal improvements. In particular, Orlando International could significantly improve its services despite showing substantial percentage increases in connection speeds.
It was also noted that several airports experienced a drop in average Wi-Fi speeds, including Detroit Metropolitan, Charlotte Douglas, Boston-Logan, and Los Angeles International. Although these challenges exist, there is still potential for improvement as demonstrated by Idaho Falls Regional Airport, which offers high-speed connectivity.
Cheers to good news: Among the 20 busiest U.S. airports, 12 showed increased Wi-Fi download speeds between the third and fourth quarters of 2016. JFK airport successfully more than doubled its Wi-Fi speed, while Denver and Philadelphia continued to enhance their networks due to substantial infrastructure investments. Seattle-Tacoma also stood out for its significant improvement.
Here is a list of the Wi-Fi services available at the top 20 airports profiled in the Ookla report:
- Denver International Airport – Free connection available throughout the airport.
- Philadelphia International Airport – Free Wi-Fi in all terminals, courtesy of AT&T.
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – Free access offered in every terminal.
- Dallas/Ft Worth International Airport – Users can access free Wi-Fi in all terminals and gate-accessible areas, although an email is required for the newsletter.
- Miami International Airport – Free access to select websites; otherwise, $7.95 for 24 hours or $4.95 for the first 30 minutes.
- LaGuardia Airport – First 30 minutes are free; thereafter, $7.95 daily or $21.95 monthly through Boingo.
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport – Free for 30 minutes; paid access at $6.95 an hour or $21.95 a month via Boingo.
- Newark Liberty International Airport – Access is free after watching a sponsored advertisement via Boingo.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport – Free following viewing of a sponsored advertisement via Boingo.
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport – Free Wi-Fi available in all terminal gate areas.
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – Free in all terminals via Boingo.
- Los Angeles International Airport – Free for the first 45 minutes; thereafter, $7.95 for 24 hours through Boingo.
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport – Free across all terminals, available via Boingo.
- Boston-Logan International Airport – Free access throughout the airport provided via Boingo.
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – Offers free Wi-Fi in terminals and key areas, available through Boingo.
- Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport – Free for 45 minutes; $2.95 for 24 hours thereafter.
- McCarran International Airport – Free Wi-Fi in all public areas.
- San Francisco International Airport – Free access in every terminal.
- Orlando International Airport – Free access available in all terminals.
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Now offers free Wi-Fi through its network.
