Small & medium business

Free wi-fi makes business travel bearable

Author: Hannah Gilchrist
Date: 28/03/2008

Flying around the world on business is never much fun, so now British Airways are upping their technology facilities at airports across the UK to ease you along the way.

Flying around the world on business is never much fun, so now British Airways are upping their technology facilities at airports across the UK to ease you along the way.

Forget the current crisis at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, travellers flying with either BA or other Oneworld alliance airlines can look forward to free wireless broadband in 25 UK airport lounges thanks to BT Openzone. But will these facilities be a good addition to life within the airport or will businesses pay the price with the cost of the ticket?

The new service will be available from 1 April with the final facility due to be finished by 2011. But as businesses find alternative ways to get from A to B, including the new Eurostar link across the channel, should these wi-fi areas be the future of business travel and if so what does this mean for your staff and your customers?

Bookmark with:

Comments

  • Date:

    28-Mar-2008

    Author:

    Neil Casey-Johnston

    Is it the fact the service is now becoming free that makes it more attractive? Bearing in mind that chargeable BT Openzone is already present throughout a number of UK airports, the convenience is already there. Making it free only to 'premium' passengers who have access to BA lounges begs the question as to whether this is an initiative to attract the Club/Silver/Gold passenger (who let's face it are rarely paying for their ticket anyway) or to retain the lucrative corporate contracts. In my experience, travellers in the lounges who really want to work, already work. The free ticket is unlikely to entice the remaining passengers away from their supply of free champagne and nibbles. I think we would see a much greater impact if it became free outside of the premium lounges, though my view is that cheap and accessible 3G dongles could change all that..

Post a comment

Fields marked with * are mandatory.

Comments in response to this post only please. Do not use this form if you have general questions or need help with your BT products and services. Visit help and support or contact us instead.

Please stay on topic. Your comment will need to be approved for publication. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.

Blog archive

Our top tips

  1. Do something you love — it makes the tough times easier.

  2. Don't do it alone — get helpa and advice from lots of people.

  3. Work out your market — who will you be selling to?

  4. Always be professional! — How you act reflects your business.