Travelers at Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International airports now can use the time between flights to check their e-mail.
Wireless Internet service is now available throughout the two airports, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which manages the airports.
Recommended Stories
The authority teamed with a consortium of Wi-Fi providers made up of AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile, according to spokesman Rob Yingling.
Travelers who already are customers of those companies may access the service for free through their own accounts, Yingling said. The companies also are working to bring into the consortium other providers that would offer the same deal.
Travelers who do not get Internet from the companies will be able to use a screen that allows them to buy access from the company they choose. Rates will vary among providers but will average about $9 a day, Yingling said.
The airport also is offering free access to a few airport Web sites, which feature incoming flight data and weather information, he said.
Access will run throughout the main terminals, restaurants and concourses. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport began providing high-speed Internet in March for $7.95 per day or $21.95 per month.
Charging for Wi-Fi service is fairly standard among airports, though the service is freeat some West Coast locations or through temporary company-sponsored promotions, according to Goran Gligorovic, executive vice president of Fairfax company Omega World Travel.
Many private airline clubs also offer free access in their lounge areas, Gligorovic said.
“There’s usually a charge, but it’s a nominal charge, $10 or less, and business travelers really enjoy it,” he said.
