Finally! Travelers now get unlimited, free, high-speed Wi-Fi at John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Newark Liberty International (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA) and New York Stewart International (SWF) airports.
Previously, passengers were limited to 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi via Boingo.
After that, you needed to switch devices to get another free session – or pony up cash.
Now, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey says the new high-speed Wi-Fi service offers free two-click access to Wi-Fi running a minimum of 20 megabits per second (Mbps) and up to 50 Mbps – in unlimited four-hour sessions.
“While the unprecedented rebuilding of our region’s airports is a multi-year effort, passengers shouldn’t have to wait for better Wi-Fi,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Simply put, free, reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi has become a bedrock expectation for today’s customers.”
Look for new signage about the enhanced Wi-Fi at the airport terminals and parking garages. To access the new and improved service, log on to the “Free Wi-Fi” listed in the drop-down menus at each airport (i.e. “LGA Wi-Fi,”).
The service is free, but you may need to sit through a short ad before getting your free session.
We can complain all we want about the NY cit -area airports (and now we can complain on better airport Wi-Fi), but the Port Authority seems to be trying to make improvements:
In addition to Wi-Fi, the agency notes that recently-launched mobile-friendly websites give easier access to information such as taxi wait times and lost-and-found info. There are also upgraded restroom facilities in many terminals outfittedwith real-time monitoring of bathroom conditions via customer feedback push-buttons.
Dining options are getting makeovers in many parts of the airports as well.
Longer term: There’s the $8 billion redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport, which should get its first new gates by the end of the year. Newark Liberty recently broke ground on a $2.7 billion construction of a new Terminal One to replace Terminal A, And a $13 billion plan to transform JFK was just unveiled promising two major new international terminals at the south and north ends of the airport.
