Los Angeles - LAX to add option for free Wi-Fi

USA Today: LAX to add option for free Wi-Fi (http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2012/06/lax-to-add-option-for-free-wi-fi/708887/1)

SWEET! Hopefully, it works okay... ;)

Los Angeles International will soon join the list of airports offering passengers free Wi-Fi, a move the airport says will allow it to "meet one of the top demands by passengers.

LAX gave no set date for when the free service would begin, saying only that it "could begin as early as this summer."

Once it begins, fliers will be able to use "basic" Wi-Fi basic for free for sessions of 45 minutes or less. However, customers will have the option for paying a fee "for premium and uninterrupted Wi-Fi service" that would last for a 24-hour period.

Hopefully there will be a sponsor, which will extend the 45 minutes for an extra half hour or so. Amex does this for cardholders in many places.

Hopefully there will be a sponsor, which will extend the 45 minutes for an extra half hour or so. Amex does this for cardholders in many places.

Good point - I've seen the same with Citi at DXB. :)

Hopefully there will be a sponsor, which will extend the 45 minutes for an extra half hour or so. Amex does this for cardholders in many places.

Won't it simply work unlimited if you do a quick "random mac" change? Never had problems doing so and getting unlimited access on other "time limited" airports..

And let's hope it's not on the model of DEN's free wifi, which is excruciatingly awful and more like COS or PDX.

And let's hope it's not on the model of DEN's free wifi, which is excruciatingly awful and more like COS or PDX.

+1 :)

Won't it simply work unlimited if you do a quick "random mac" change? Never had problems doing so and getting unlimited access on other "time limited" airports..

+1 yup :)

Well, it is about time - looks like LAX will [FINALLY] start offering free WiFi this summer - only for 45 mins or less though (hey, it is a start)

http://laist.com/2012/06/05/finally_free_wi-fi_at_lax_starting.php

Nice. I'll finally be able to cancel my Boingo subscription.

Good news! IMO 45 minutes is plenty just to get through some work email and the like.

What? LAX is entering the 21st century?

What? LAX is entering the 21st century?

Not with 2 years of road closures... :confused:

Not with 2 years of road closures... :confused:

Which road closures do you speak of? I'm always at LAX, and haven't noticed any construction besides TBIT remodeling.

Which road closures do you speak of? I'm always at LAX, and haven't noticed any construction besides TBIT remodeling.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-lax-traffic-closures-20120605,0,1976530.story

If you are heading in or out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) anytime soon, you might want to pack a little patience. Roadway closures linked to construction projects mean the beginning of traffic headaches that start today (Tuesday) and will continue for the next two years, according to an airport statement.

It won't exactly be carmageddon, but travelers would be wise to allow more time getting to and from LAX. The airport will begin closing some lanes on departure and arrival roadways because of a $4.1 billion airport upgrade known by the acronym (trademarked, no less) LAneXt. Most of the disruption in traffic and other services involve the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Three inner lanes on the arrivals level (lower level) and a lane on the departures (upper) level between Terminal 3 and the Bradley terminal will be closed to traffic. On the lower level, drivers can still pick up passengers by entering the inner lanes at the north end of the international terminal. Escalators and stairs on the north side of the Tom Bradley terminal will be closed through September.

Not with 2 years of road closures... :confused:

roads are NOT being closed. lanes are being limited.... all is still normal at LAX.

roads are NOT being closed. lanes are being limited.... all is still normal at LAX.

I suspect these lane closures are going to make an already chaotic situation WORSE...

I suspect these lane closures are going to make an already chaotic situation WORSE...

If you've been to LAX, between T3 and TBIT, there are 7 arrivals lanes split into 4/3. The 3 inner lanes are being lost to construction. This will not cause chaos because one can go into the inner lanes at TBIT. I suspect few people who want to pick up someone at TBIT would go in to inner lanes at T3 to wait behind everyone waiting to pick up people at the curb at T3....

More info here http://www.lawa.org/laxdev/RoadAlerts.aspx

I don't see any info about departures lanes being closed....

I suspect these lane closures are going to make an already chaotic situation WORSE...

The more reason why people should not drive to LAX

Nice. I'll finally be able to cancel my Boingo subscription.

Not so fast.

LAX’s plans for free WiFi grounded by LA City Council (http://www.scpr.org/blogs/news/2012/06/12/6593/laxs-plans-free-wifi-grounded-la-city-council/)
A contract that will bring free wireless Internet to Los Angeles International Airport hit a speed bump today as the Los Angeles City Council voted to review the contract because of concerns it was selected in a vacuum.

The two-year contract with Advanced Wireless Group will be reviewed by members of the Trade, Commerce and Tourism Committee on Monday. Council members said they were concerned about the contract because it was not selected through a competitive bidding process.

<snip>

Councilmen Dennis Zine and Richard Alarcon were the most vocal critics of the contract.

“My concern is that we have to be honest with what we’re doing and I think there’s some – I’m not going to say dishonesty – but some suspicion as to why it’s being done in this matter,” said Zine, who is running for city controller.

The city council was able to review the Board of Airport Commissioners’ decision under Section 245 of the city charter, which gives members 21 days to affirm or reject the contract by a two-thirds votes. Over the years, the city council has used the privilege to review lucrative concession agreements at LAX.

Representatives for Los Angeles-based Boingo also appeared before the city council to ask for a review of the contract awarded to one of its competitors.

<snip>

Not so fast.

LAX’s plans for free WiFi grounded by LA City Council (http://www.scpr.org/blogs/news/2012/06/12/6593/laxs-plans-free-wifi-grounded-la-city-council/)


Sounds like Zine and Alarcon were paid off by Boingo. Just like what's-his-name by Supershuttle, Primetime, etc to not connect the Green Line to LAX.

The city council approve the contract today.

Free WiFi coming to LAX despite council opposition to way airport handled the deal (http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_20900329/free-wifi-coming-lax-despite-council-opposition-way)
Free Wi-Fi will be coming this summer to Los Angeles International Airport after all.

The Los Angeles City Council today voted 11-1 to uphold a two-year, $633,333 contract awarded to Miami-based Advanced Wireless Group to provide free wireless Internet access to travelers passing through LAX.

<snip>

If the contract was not approved, LAX could have completely gone without Wi-Fi service by July 16, when T-Mobile's paid Internet access is scheduled to go dark, said Steve Martin, LAX's chief operating officer.

Martin told the City Council that airport officials had to scramble to find a temporary replacement after T-Mobile said it would no longer provide Internet access at LAX.

As a result, LAX "piggybacked" on a similar deal struck up between Advanced Wireless Group and San Francisco International Airport, Martin said.

"This process stinks, folks," Councilman Richard Alarcon said before he ultimately voted in favor of the contract with Advanced Wireless Group.

<snip>

In the meantime, airport officials said they will spend the next two years finding a permanent Internet provider willing to spend $20 million on a distributed antenna system, or DAS, to provide Wi-Fi service at LAX.

<snip>

The city council approve the contract today.

Free WiFi coming to LAX despite council opposition to way airport handled the deal (http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_20900329/free-wifi-coming-lax-despite-council-opposition-way)


^ Hopefully, we'll see wifi sooner rather than later at LAX! :)