Airport wi-fi access?

With business travellers rating their smart phones and tablets as travel necessities, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has compared the wi-fi access available at UK airports.  The research evaluates the availability and cost of accessing wi-fi across 25 UK airports.  Heathrow went free wi-fi last week. (see BTN 3 June)

Of the 25 airports surveyed, 16 (now with Heathrow) were found to offer free wi-fi available in the terminal areas, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, London City and Stansted.  With some the time was limited.  Belfast International and Exeter will sell you the service but Blackpool and Newquay only has it available in the executive lounges.

Hotspots offering a wi-fi fixed tariff are available at several airports.  These include BT at Belfast and Exeter; Boingo at Gatwick; Arqiva at Cardiff, Leeds and Luton; and The Cloud at Durham, Liverpool and Doncaster Sheffield Airports.

In terms of cost, Arqiva was found to charge the highest hourly rate for wi-fi at £5 per hour, whereas both BT and Boingo offer 24 hours unlimited access for just under £10.

Additionally, travellers should be aware that Newcastle Airport, which offers free wi-fi for up to 30 minutes, stipulates that this is only available “at certain catering outlets on purchase”. www.aph.com/airportwifi

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