Google starts the holiday season with free WiFi at selected airports

November 11, 4:01 PMNY Student Travel ExaminerTeresa Gotay

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the NY Student Travel Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Travelers can use their mobile device to access Google through the free wireless promotion.

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Who says nothing comes free with the holiday season? Google is starting the 2009 holiday season by offering free WiFi at 47 participating airports and on all Virgin American flights.

Travelers going on family vacations for Thanksgiving or Christmas will be able to stay in connected with family and friends even through the NewYear. Or, if you're a student, you can finish your final papers before starting your vacation.

The promotion launched on November 10th, 2009. If you're traveling now through January 15th, 2010, your WiFi-enabled laptop or mobile device will be able to pick up the signal. Virgin America is powered by Gogo Inflight internet.

Even at 35,000 feet in the air, your connection will be powerful enough to check email, browse the web or chat online. Look for the 'gogoinflight' signal in your available wireless networks, launch your web browser and get ready to surf for free!

Although New York City local airports are not included in the list of participating airports, you might be traveling to a destination where the promotion runs.

Participating Airports include:

* Austin (AUS)
* Baltimore (BWI)
* Billings (BIL)
* Boston (BOS)
* Bozeman (BZN)
* Buffalo (BUF)
* Burbank (BUR)
* Central Wisconsin (CWA)
* Charlotte (CLT)
* Des Moines (DSM)
* El Paso (ELP)
* Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
* Fort Myers/SW (RSW)
* Greensboro (GSO)
* Houston (HOU)
* Houston Bush (IAH)
* Indianapolis (IND)
* Jacksonville (JAX)
* Kalamazoo (AZO)
* Las Vegas (LAS)
* Louisville (SDF)
* Madison (MSN)
* Memphis (MEM)
* Miami (MIA)
* Milwaukee (MKE)
* Monterey (MRY)
* Nashville (BNA)
* Newport News (PHF)
* Norfolk (ORF)
* Oklahoma City (OKC)
* Omaha (OMA)
* Orlando (MCO)
* Panama City (PFN)
* Pittsburgh (PIT)
* Portland (PWM)
* Sacramento (SMF)
* San Antonio (SAT)
* San Diego (SAN)
* San Jose (SJC)
* Seattle (SEA) *
* South Bend (SBN)
* Spokane (GEG)
* St. Louis (STL)
* State College (SCE)
* Toledo (TOL)
* Traverse City (TVC)
* West Palm Beach (PBI)

Google is also sponsoring a "Google Holiday WiFi Photo Contest" Submit a photograph of yourself using the WiFi in any participating airport or Virgin American flight and you might be able to win a prize. Your photo will also be featured on Google. The contest starts Monday November 16, 2009.

In addition to the wireless promotion, Google is asking users to give back to the community. If you make a contribution to one of the three organizations listed, Google will double your donation.

You can give back to the following organizations:

One Economy Corporation

Climate Savers Computing

Engineers Without Borders USA

It looks like this is the year to ask for a new laptop or mobile device this Christmas, or better yet, a vacation abroad.

For more information, visit the Google WiFi site.