Is free WiFi an unreasonable expectation in public places? I mean, sure, someone is paying for it, so I can see how it’s not reasonable to expect it in a park or pretty much anywhere you can hang out for free. But most places we spend any period of time are places we go to buy things (food, drinks, coffee) or see things (theaters – why not free WiFi in the lobby?), or wait to go somewhere else (airports, train stations). Lots of those places DO offer free WiFi, and for the most part, people are buying things so the cost can be covered, and that makes sense. Even in places where an individual might not buy anything, like, say, an airport, the vast majority of the people around that individual are nearly guaranteed to buy something, so again – cost covered. So why would O’Hare only offer 30 minutes of free WiFi? The airport is enormous, they probably make a ton from parking alone, and everyone who walks through here buys snacks, water, magazines, whole meals – the money goes to the stores, sure, but O’Hare didn’t give those stores space for free.
I suppose I should be glad they’re offering any WiFi for free (I wouldn’t be typing this right now if they didn’t), and I know it’s not the airport’s responsibility to make our layovers fun (FOUR HOURS this time) or to make up for the airlines who make us pay for every little thing, but they could help. If I know I can’t get online at a particular airport, I might choose to fly through a different one next time. Maybe they should consider THAT.
Aaaaaannnnnddddd #firstworldproblems.