Bangok, Thailand - BANGKOK, THAILAND - I can't figure out why every airport in the world does not offer free (or at least very low cost) access to the Internet. I think there is a huge opportunity in this. Let me explain why.
Our journey from Vancouver to Bangkok included a 7-hour stop over in Taipei, Taiwan. When we arrived in Taipei, I was hoping to check email and, maybe, do a little work.I spent a long time trying to find an Internet connected computer in this older international airport. And, what I eventually found was very expensive to use.
There is not a lot to do in Taipei airport. My wife and I exhausted all the possibilities pretty quickly. And then, we were really just bored stiff.
We will not be going back there soon.What if Taipei airport had provided just one kiosk of free Internet terminals? I think that it would have made the world of difference. We could have checked email and researched our next destination a little more. I could have done a bit of work. And Marsha could have played her beloved free cell game.
I know that I likely work, depend, and play on the Internet more than most. But, there were a lot of bored people in Taipei with me. At least some of us would have been less bored and cranky if we could have accessed the Internet. And we might be more interested in coming back.
I do not want to single out one airport. The situation in Vancouver Airport was not much better.The international terminal in Vancouver where we were waiting for our flight offered no Internet access.
I have been told that airports worldwide compete ferociously for passenger traffic. Offering free and easy access to the Internet certainly is a feature that is attractive to many travelers.Even if there was a reasonable charge, I do not think people would mind paying. The most important thing is to make it easy.
Instead of only accepting credit cards, airports could install Internet kiosks that directly take bills and coins. If big enough, the airport could hire a young geek to help people as they are online.There are some interesting possibilities here!