Google Offers Free Wi-Fi in US Airports During the Holidays

Hoping to bring holiday cheer to harried travelers, Google is footing the bill for Wi-Fi access at 47 U.S. airports through mid-January, so that people can connect free to the Internet while they wait at airline gates and other areas.

Google is working with airports and Wi-Fi providers like Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group and Airport Marketing Income to offer this in cities like Las Vegas, San Jose, Boston, Baltimore, Houston, Indianapolis, Seattle, Miami, Orlando, St. Louis and Charlotte.

As part of the service, people who log in to the free Wi-Fi service will have the opportunity to make donations to Engineers Without Borders, the One Economy Corporation and the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. Google will match the donations up to US$250,000.

The offer ends Jan. 15, except at the Burbank and Seattle airports, which will offer free Wi-Fi indefinitely as a result of this initiative, Google said Tuesday.

Last month, Google and Virgin America announced free Wi-Fi service on the airline's flights during the holidays.