More Airports Adopt Free Wi-Fi

The roll call of free Wi-Fi arrangements -- entirely at some airports, in combination with premium-paid levels at others -- is growing, both domestically and abroad.

As airlines tack on fees for ever-fading courtesies, from checked baggage to advance seat selection, airports are headed in the opposite philosophical direction when it comes to Wi-Fi. Of the nation’s 30 busiest airports, 12 offer all-free Internet, up from nine in 2007, according to Boingo Wireless, a leading provider of airport wireless services. A dozen others opt for a tiered plan, with some free access. The shift is also playing out at smaller locations, where the financial and operational challenges are less daunting.