For those cheapskates out there who just can’t afford a WiFi/Hotspot account from AT&T, T-Mobile or Boingo (to be transparent my agency represents Boingo) you can take the advice of Popular Mechanics and find some airports offering WiFi for free. You can also learn about some cool apps that make it easy to find the open, unsecured hotspots too.
What’s more the article suggests camping outside the doors of airline clubs that offer free WiFi. I have to admit in the early days of WiFi that was the one way I could get access to T-Mobile’s Hotspot service and I’ve done it. It’s not exactly the best experience, especially when the only seat is the hard floor.
Now, with the clubs offering free access to their own WiFi network this “camping out and latching on” idea would in theory make sense for the Bandwidth Bandit, a first cousin to users of Minute Stealing services. But it’s not really, as many of the airport lounges have begun using WEP and WPA to limit the access to only their own patrons. Unfortunately, the perception is you have to join the club. That’s not exactly correct. Sure you can purchase a day pass, but there’s a better option.
I suggest investing in the Working Anywhere Approved Priority Pass to gain access to the airport clubs and all the free coffee and drinks you want. Between Boingo, T-Mobile and Priority Pass in the last two years I’ve always been able to find HotSpots that make it possible for me to be Working Anywhere.
A second way into the clubs of American Airlines and Continental Airlines is using an American Express Platinum Card. That’s a benefit which makes the card’s annual fee worth it.